INDIA, January 12, 2026 (Anuradha Goyal): Culture is a part of our DNA, especially for those who trace their lineage to the culturally rich land of Bharat. They carry it with them wherever they go. Just like a plant uprooted and replanted, sheds a few leaves before it grows new ones, Indian diaspora is also embracing its root culture with…
NEPAL, February 15, 2026 (Spotlight Nepal): Today is Maha Shivaratra, an official holiday in Nepal. Pashupatinath Temple, one of the most revered Shiva temples, is decorated particularly for the auspicious day of Shivaratri. Over a million devotees from home and abroad visit Pashupatinath temple for Maha Shivaratri. Prakash Mani Sharma, Member Secretary of Pashupati Development Trust, said that they started…
INDIA, February 12, 2026 (Hindu Tone): Maha Shivaratri, the “Great Night of Lord Shiva,” is one of Hinduism’s most sacred festivals. Devotees across India, Nepal, Mauritius, Indonesia, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and the Pacific unite in fasting, meditation, night-long vigils (jaagaran), mantra chanting of “Om Namah Shivaya” and abhishekam rituals using milk, water, panchamrit and bilva…
TAMIL NADU, INDIA, February 15, 2026 (The Hindu): Lord Shiva temples in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts witnessed unprecedented rush on Maha Sivaratri, celebrated today. Temples such as Ramateertham, Punyagiri, Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Sahitha Pasupathinadeswara Swamy temple in Vizianagaram, Mudu Kovellu in Vizianagaram and others wore a festive look with special prayers offered to the presiding Deities. Pilgrims thronged the Pasupathinadeswara temple…
BHUBANESWAR/LUCKNOW/VARANASI, February 15, 2026 (mathrubhumi): Hundreds of thousands of devotees thronged major Shiva temples across Odisha and Uttar Pradesh to celebrate Maha Shivaratri with chants, prayers, and elaborate rituals. In Odisha, prominent shrines such as the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, Loknath Temple in Puri, Chandrashekhar Temple at Kapilash, and Dhabaleswar Temple in Cuttack district witnessed massive crowds from early morning,…
THAILAND, November 16, 2025 (the witty passport): Thailand’s temples are places of serene beauty and deep spiritual significance. Visitors are welcome to experience their tranquility. However, you must show respect through your attire. Understanding the dress code is essential for a smooth and meaningful visit. It shows reverence for Thai culture and Buddhist traditions. There are basic guidelines that will…
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, February 11, 2016 (SAYS, by Sadho Ram): My family traces its roots to the Marwar region of Rajasthan, and my early understanding of Hinduism was shaped by that geography and by the eastern part of India in which I was raised. Ours was a faith practiced through Rajasthani customs and eastern Indian beliefs. We prayed to Surya,…
GERMANY, December 25, 2026 (Indian Express): Naveen Kakkar and his wife Sheela fled Afghanistan nearly three decades ago as the first Taliban regime was ready to take control of Kabul. Later, their son, Nishant, a special child, was born in Germany in 1991. Three decades on, with the Taliban back in Kabul, the religious fundamentalist group seems to be controlling…
INDIA/NEPAL, OCTOBER 29, 2022 (YouTube): This video explores how social media activism is being used to pressure museums, auction houses, and private collectors to return cultural artifacts that were taken from their countries of origin—often during colonial eras or periods of conflict. Activist groups and online sleuths are leveraging platforms like Twitter and Instagram to track down looted statues, challenge…
INDIA, February 9, 2026 (NT by Leila Saldanha and Sheela Krishnaswamy): This academic article examines how vegetarianism in India is deeply rooted in the country’s religious and cultural traditions, with about 83% of the population belonging to religions founded in India (Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism) that promote vegetarian dietary practices and about 39% of Indians self-identify as vegetarians —…
