WASHINGTON, D.C., September 2, 2025 (pewresearch.org): Over the past decade, the share of people affiliated with a religion has fallen by at least five percentage points in 35 countries, including drops of 17 points in Australia and Chile, and 13 points in the United States. The article explains this pattern by drawing on a recent study published in Nature Communications,…
CEUTA, SPAIN, October 16, 2025 (El Faro De Ceuta, translated from Spanish): Ceuta was once again filled with light and color for Diwali, the great Hindu festival. This Thursday afternoon witnessed the official lighting of the lights, announcing the beginning of one of the most anticipated celebrations for this community. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, represents the…
NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 19, 2025 (NDTV): Canada Post has released a new stamp to celebrate Diwali 2025, continuing an annual tradition which began in 2017. The stamp showcases a Rangoli pattern and features the word Diwali in both Hindi and English. It’s been released in recognition of the country’s cultural diversity, Canada Post said. Diwali is a major festival…
BALI, September 20, 2025 (Bali Portal News): Hindus across the archipelago once again celebrated the Holy Day of Tumpek Landep on Saturday (September 20, 2025), which falls every 210 days (six months). On this day, various metal objects, such as motorcycles, cars, and computers, are decorated with coconut leaves and flowers, and offerings (banten) are offered as a symbol of…
PENANG, MALAYSIA, October 5, 2025 (MSN): Penang Arulmigu Sri Maha Mariamman Temple’s new chariot for the Navarathiri festival is being unveiled today. The 23.6 foot-high chariot bearing Goddess Durga will begin its processional journey from the temple in Queen Street, circle Little India and return to the temple. Designed specifically for this nine-day festival, it replaces the temple’s 20-year-old wooden…
LOS ANGELES , CALIFORNIA, October 7, 2025 (Santa Maria Times): California has become the third U.S. state to designate Diwali — the Hindu “Festival of Lights” — as an official statewide holiday. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law Tuesday to go into effect on Jan. 1. It would authorize public schools and community colleges to close on Diwali.…
JAMMU AND KASMIR, October 4, 2025 (Organiser): For the first time in over three decades, Srinagar, the summer capital of J&K, came alive with the grandeur and fervor of Dussehra (the tenth day, after the nine-day Navarati festival). On October 2, thousands of Kashmiri Hindus, alongside Hindus and people from other communities, gathered at the Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium to celebrate…
IRVING, TEXAS, October 2, 2025 (Desi Talk): The Hindu Mandir Empowerment Council (HMEC) and Hindu Mandir Priests’ Conference 2025, were a resounding success, according to HMEC. Organizers described it as a “landmark gathering of Hindu temple leaders, priests, scholars and community members from across North America.” This year’s Conference theme was Hindu Diaspora: Mahakumbh of Sanatan Tradition, and it was…
TIBET, October 4, 2025 (The Hindu): Rising high on the Tibetan Plateau stands Mount Kailash. To millions, it is not just a mountain. It is the axis of the universe, a gateway to the divine. At 21,778 feet,, Kailash towers near the borders of China, India, and Nepal. At its base lie the sacred lakes, Manasarovar, symbol of purity, and…
UNITED STATES, October 4, 2025 (anews.com.tr): The US could face a potential closure of 15,000 churches this year, vastly outnumbering the few thousand expected to open, Axios reported on Friday. Over the next decade, the sharp decline in churches is expected to continue, potentially leaving communities, particularly rural ones, without essential services such as food aid, childcare, and disaster relief…
