UNITED STATES, March 13, 2025 (RNS): Thursday marked the start of Holi, the colorful festival welcoming in springtime. But it’s not just for Hindus anymore. Anshul Virmani, a software consultant in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, said his colleagues at work begin asking about Holi long before his children do. “They always ask, ‘When is the color festival? When are you guys gonna…
SRI LANKA, March 9, 2025 (Eurasia Review): The human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka continues unabated. Although efforts by successive governments since the 1970s have reduced the rate of attrition, the issue remains a pressing concern. Various mitigation methods have been attempted with mixed success. Given this, it may be worthwhile for the Sri Lankan government to consider adopting Thailand’s Bajrasudha…
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, March 11, 2025 (The Citizen): Joburg residents gathered on Sunday to celebrate the traditional Indian Holi festival with dance performances and colorful activities. India Club South Africa and the Consulate General of India hosted an informal Holi celebration at the Shree Radhe Shyam Mandir, Marlboro. Attendees were treated to traditional songs and dancing, along with the usual…
INDIA, March 9, 2025 (Indian Express): The Maha Kumbh may be over for pilgrims and the Akharas, but for the government authorities, a mammoth task awaits: dismantling the temporary city spread over 9,884 acres on the banks of the Ganga. According to various authorities and agencies involved in the uninstallation and cleanup, while the deadline to bring the entire area…
BALI, INDONESIA, March 3, 2025 (YouTube): A Hindu temple in Singaraja, Bali was broken into last April. Twelve figurines of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, a dagger and two silver plates were stolen. The thieves were eventually caught but the items were never recovered. These objects have been passed down for generations and now they are gone. Such theft is not…
INDIA, March 25, 2021 (Firstpost, by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev): Last year, the government of Tamil Nadu submitted a report to the Madras High Court stating that in 11,999 temples in the state, there is no puja or ritual taking place as there is no revenue. In 34,000 temples, there is only one person to manage all the affairs of the…
HYDERABAD, INDIA, February 26, 2025 (The Hindu): Streets lined with flower and fruit vendors, and temples adorned in vibrant hues of saffron, white, and pink, marked Maha Shivaratri in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Palash, marigold, jasmine and roses hung in neat bunches, ready to decorate temples and homes, while fruit sellers weighed out watermelons, apples and guavas – for the steady…
UNITED STATES, February 26, 2025 (Pew Research Center): After many years of steady decline, the share of U.S. adults who identify as Christians shows signs of leveling off – at least temporarily – at slightly above six-in-ten, according to a massive new survey of 36,908 Americans by Pew Research Center. The new study finds that 62% of U.S. adults identify…
KATHMANDU, NEPAL, February 26, 2025 (The News Mill): Nepal’s Pashupatinath Temple, the revered Hindu pilgrimage site, came alive with devotees and ascetics on Tuesday, the Eve of Mahashivaratri. Entry gates have been set up leading to the main temple complex, which has been decorated with flower garlands, further embellishing the area and attracting more devotees. Ascetics from various parts of…
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, February 21, 2025 (RNS): The first that the vast majority of turn-of-the-20th-century Americans heard of Swami Vivekananda was the speech the 30-year-old Hindu delegate gave at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 1893 in Chicago. Vivekananda captivated his audience, addressing them as his “sisters and brothers,” and spoke about Hinduism’s teachings of the “oneness of existence” —…
