INDIA, October, October 22, 2021 (Times of India): Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments minister P. K. Sekar Babu is devout, sports the tilak on his forehead and visits at least one temple a day – as part of his duty, of course. A crossover from the AIADMK, he had one request to late DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi [an outspoken atheist]…
DHAKA, BANGLADESH, October 15, 2021 (NY Times): Paramilitary forces spread through much of Bangladesh on Friday to help curb the worst communal violence in years targeting members of the Hindu minority as they celebrated their largest annual religious festival. At least four people have been confirmed to have died and more than 100 others wounded since Wednesday as violence expanded…
INDIA, October 12, 2021 (BBC): An exquisitely carved maze of 3,500 steps, arranged in perfect symmetry, descends with geometrical precision to reach a well. Criss-crossed steps encircle the water on three sides, while the fourth side is adorned by a pavilion with embellished galleries and balconies. Built by Rajput ruler Raja Chanda during the 8th-9th Century, Chand Bawri in Abhaneri,…
INDIA, October 1, 2021 (BBC): Between 1961 and 1971, thousands of languages vanished from Indian census data. One man decided to track them down, before they were lost forever. It was 2010 and Ganesh N. Devy was concerned about the lack of comprehensive data on the languages of India. “The 1961 [Indian] census recognized 1,652 mother tongues,” says Devy, “but…
UNITED STATES, October 18, 2021 (Spotify): Ganesh or Ganesha – also known as Ganpati – is one of the best known Hindu Gods. Easily identified by His elephant head, pot belly and four arms, Ganesha has many fine attributes and is revered as the remover of obstacles and the God of beginnings. As Hindus prepare to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi (the…
HONG KONG, October 15, 2021 (SCMP): Dussehra, also known as Dashain, which takes place on October 15 this year, is marked by thousands across Hong Kong. While Diwali – the Hindu Festival of Lights – is more widely celebrated by local Indian communities, Dussehra is beloved of the Nepali contingent. From Yau Ma Tei to Yuen Long, the festival is…
DHAKA, BANGLADESH, October 16, 2021 (ABC News): Protests erupted for a second day in Bangladesh’s capital on Saturday, amid a wave of violence against local Hindus following a viral social media image perceived as insulting to the country’s Muslim majority. Some 10,000 protesters — many of them carrying banners of Islamist political parties — took to the streets outside the…
KOLKATA,INDIA, October 15, 2021 (NPR): When Sharmistha Chaudhuri decided to get married in her native India, she faced a dilemma. Chaudhuri, 35, is a PR professional in Austin, Texas. She’s independent, educated and has traveled the world. She wanted her wedding to reflect her liberal values and the equal partnership she has with her American fiance. But Chaudhuri found some…
BANGLADESH, October 14, 2021 (News Track Live): In Bangladesh, the inhuman treatment of Hindus has once again come to the fore. Hindu temples were ransacked here due to Durga Puja in such a way that riots broke out. Three persons reportedly died and several others injured in the riots. At present, the Government of Bangladesh has deployed paramilitary forces in…
KANNUR, KERALA, INDIA, October 13, 2021 (The Hindu): The Malabar Devaswom Board took over the administration of the Mattannur Mahadeva Temple amid strong protests by people, who resisted the entry of the officials and the police into the temple, on Wednesday. Despite the protest, officials led by executive officer P. Sreekumar entered the temple by breaking open the locked gate…