INDIA, February 14, 2025 (YouTube): The Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj is not just a religious spectacle but an economic powerhouse, with 400 million devotees expected to fuel an estimated US$2.3 billion impact on Uttar Pradesh’s economy. From luxury tents priced at $1,153 per night to small vendors betting on 10-fold returns, the 40-day event is a convergence of faith,…
MALAYASIA, February 13, 2025 (MSN): Hundreds of thousands of Hindus flocked to temples across Malaysia to celebrate the Thaipusam festival Tuesday, with many piercing their bodies with hooks and skewers in acts of devotion. Thaipusam is marked with particular zest in multicultural Malaysia, a Muslim-majority nation where ethnic Indians make up about seven percent of the 34 million population. One…
SINGAPORE, February 13,2025 (mid-day): Around 16,000 devotees fulfilled their vows to Lord Murugan during a Thaipusam festival celebrated in Singapore on Tuesday. Most of the participating devotees undertook to carry the paal kudam, or milk pot, while around 300 carried spike kavadis, also known as alagu kavadis, which involves piercing of the torso, face and tongue. They walked two miles…
GUYANA, February 13, 2025 (WIC News): A 50-foot statue of Lord Shiva was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Badrinaath Ashram in Guyana. This statue is the largest of its kind in South America, marking a significant development for Hindu community residing in Guyana. The statue has been installed by Badrinath Ashram, and it was handcrafted in India and assembled by…
PRAYAGRAJ, INDIA, February 2, 2025 (Hindustan Times): A 73-member delegation of diplomats and foreign guests arrived in Prayagraj for Mahakumbh 2025 on Saturday. The dignitaries, representing various countries, were deeply impressed by the event’s grandeur and spiritual essence, calling it a profound reflection of India’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage. Expressing their gratitude, the guests noted their good fortune in…
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, February 2, 2025 (The South African): As the largest Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere, this awe-inspiring structure in Northriding, Johannesburg, is set to become a hub for faith, education and community service. Phase one of the temple and cultural complex opened to the public on Sunday. Developed by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a global spiritual and…
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, February 2, 2025 ( Yahoo News): Coconuts are a must-have in almost all Hindu rituals as they are considered harbingers of auspicious beginnings. For devotees, breaking coconuts marks a symbolic surrendering of one’s ego at God’s feet. But times are changing and today, sustainability has become the operative word due to supply shortages. Malaysia Council of Hindu…
GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA, February 2, 2025 (The Sun): More than 1.5 million Hindu devotees from across the nation and tourists are expected to throng Penang for this year’s Thaipusam festival, which falls on Feb 11. Penang Hindu Endowments Board (LWHPP) Chairman RSN Rayer said all parties, especially temples and committees involved, are actively preparing to ensure a smooth progress of…
INDIA, January 29, 2025 (Swarajya): The Maa Kamakhya Kshetram in Assam is a spiritual site of devotion and historical importance, drawing millions of pilgrims annually. Perched atop the Nilachal Hills in Guwahati, this ancient Shakti Peetha is a sacred center of mysticism, associated with the worship of Goddess Kamakhya and Dasha Mahavidyas — a group of 10 Goddesses in the…
PRAYAGRAJ, INDIA, January 24, 2025 (Swarajya, by Vivek Sunder): I did a fair amount of research before heading off to Prayag. Research, however extensive, proved inadequate. No amount of preparation could have readied me for the scale, energy, and spiritual magnetism of the Maha Kumbh — a phenomenon so immense, it defies description. Yet here I was, determined to document…
