Grandparent Uses Modern Media to Pass on Her Faith
American Hindu parents and grandparents are grappling with how to keep their children connected to Hinduism as religiousness among youth in the US continues to drop. A report by Religion News Service in July, 2024, explains how social media, summer camps, Sunday schools and more are used to spark excitement about the faith.
Social media in particular is becoming more crucial. Every day since March, 2024, 63-year-old Ranjani Saigal has posted a 90-second Instagram reel. “I’m not a social-media person,” said Saigal, who goes by “thehindugrandma” on Instagram. “I didn’t know what a reel was, I didn’t know what TikTok was, any of that. Like many other grandparents, I was like, ‘Social media? I should stay away from that.’”
But Saigal, who lives in Boston, was determined to reach the next generation of Hindu children, and she knew social media is the place to find them. Through short educational videos answering questions such as “Why do Hindus wear a bindi?” or demonstrating a step-by-step everyday morning prayer ritual, Saigal has become a symbolic “dadi,” “ajji,” or “ammamma” to over 100,000 followers. “Somehow people seem to like to learn from grandma, and hence seem to listen in more,” she said. “People love their grandmas, at the same time they’re kind of missing them in their lives. And I don’t know, it touches me a lot, so it makes me keep wanting to go with it.”
Saigal is a trained purohita, or family priest, and a Bharatanatyam teacher. She feels Hinduism is a “star-studded, gem-filled” tradition that has a real power to connect with youth. “The more Hindu a teacher you are, the more you should allow for questions,” she said. And I think that kind of vibes with the modern generation.”
Troupe Dances in Temples in Several Countries
The Global Sivapadam Dance team has a mission to reinspire Hindus everywhere about their cultural wealth, especially the centrality of temples in our life. It was founded by art director Vani Gundlapalli as part of a larger initiative called Know Your Roots Foundation, according to their website. Comprising dance gurus and their students from many countries, the team creates shows mainly based on over 1,000 poems by composer Brahmasri Dr. Samavedam Shanmukh Sarma, collectively called SivaPadam. Vani focuses on the theme of oneness, or advaita, by bringing all six classical dance forms into one production. The shows are taken on the road to temples in India, USA, Singapore and Cambodia.
Photo: Vani Gundlapalli
In fifteen years Vani has produced more than 50 shows, with themes centered on Lord Siva, Ramayana, Annamayya and Saint Ramadasu. In July 2021, Vani produced a SivaPadam dance production called Jyotirlingam, a historic composition on the 12 jyotirlingam temples across India, many centuries after Jagadguru Adi Shankara composed Jyotirlinga Stotram.
New Consciousness Theory
A new theory by Michael Pravica, a professor of physics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, suggests that human consciousness could originate from hidden dimensions of the universe rather than solely from brain activity—something Hindus have known for eons. Featured in the Economic Times, Pravica asserts that during moments of heightened awareness—like making art, practicing science or even dreaming—our consciousness can transcend the limitations of our physical dimension and tap into these invisible realms.
At the core of Pravica’s theory is hyperdimensionality, the idea that the universe consists of more dimensions than the four we experience: height, length, width and time. He explains this concept using a hypothetical scenario involving a two-dimensional being: “Imagine you’re a two-dimensional being living in a two-dimensional world, like a character in a comic book.” As a three-dimensional sphere passes through, it would appear as a dot that grows and shrinks, illustrating how limited perceptions can hinder understanding of higher dimensions.
Til Creatives
Pravica believes that just as two-dimensional beings cannot perceive three-dimensional shapes, we might have difficulty detecting higher dimensions that exist around us. Pravica’s theory has sparked significant debate within the scientific community. Some—including Stephen Holler, a physics professor—express skepticism. Holler suggests that the cornerstone of Pravica’s theory “borders on science fiction.” Despite the controversies surrounding his theory, Pravica remains optimistic about future advancements in technology that may provide evidence for hyperdimensionality.
Filipino Citizen Converts to Balinese Hinduism
Part of the full legal balinese Hindu wedding ceremony is Sudhi Wadani, a purification ritual in which a couple pledges adherence to the faith. It is also used for rare occasions when the bride or groom is converting into Balinese Hinduism from another religion.
In September 2024, Camille Ginn Custodio Caballes, a Filipino citizen, underwent the ritual before marrying Ida Bagus Gede Ady Suryana, a local Balinese Hindu. The ceremonies took place in Bakas Village, according to Jarrakposbali.com.
“Sudhi Wadani aims to cleanse oneself from the influences of previous religions or beliefs, so that the person can begin their spiritual journey in Balinese Hinduism in a pure condition,” said village head, Cokorda Oka Adnyana. This indicates that the person is now considered part of the Hindu community and has the right to follow all the teachings, ceremonies and traditions of Balinese Hinduism.
Mattel Unveils Diwali Doll
Barbie launched its first-ever Diwali doll in October, 2024, collaborating with Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre. India Currents reports that Barbie Diwali is outfitted in a Moonlight Bloom set with a choli top, floral Koti vest and lehenga skirt adorned with dahlias, jasmine and Indian lotus—symbols of strength and beauty. Golden bangles and shimmering earrings complete the look, reflecting radiant lights of the festival.
Photo: Devin Tucker (mattel pr)
Dongre advocates for female empowerment. Her fashion brand has spearheaded initiatives for training tribal women in garment-making and partnered with government agencies and NGOs to provide steady employment opportunities to skilled rural artisan women.
Building New Wheels for Rato Machindranath Chariot
Every year in April/May, the Newar community of Nepal celebrates the Rato Machindranath Jatra in the city of Patan. The festival is a major religious event that honors Rato Machindranath, the God of rain and compassion. According to the Ask Me About Nepal blog, it is held just before the monsoon season hits the Kathmandu Valley, and the date is based on the lunar calendar. A special feature of this event is that every 12 years, the Barahi carpenters of the Newar clan build new wheels from scratch for the chariot. Their skills pass through the generations.
They do certain work on the chariot annually, starting as early as December. They scour forests for specific types of timber for the wheels or to refurbish other parts of the chariot. The wood used for the wheels is a rare type, monkeypod (Samanea Saman), and also for the dhombar—a long wooden trunk in front of the chariot upon which the charioteer stands to lead the procession.
varnabas.com
The Yewal clan joins the Barahis by weaving rope and rattan to make sure the structure of the chariot doesn’t collapse. These craftsmen are not provided with insurance to cover the dangers of construction, but they devotedly continue to refurbish the chariot every year to preserve their culture. The refurbishing happens 10 days before the events begin. Before the Deity is placed in the chariot, it undergoes 10 ritual ceremonies performed by local priests.
World’s First Stamp Released Of Ayodhya’s Ram Lalla Deity
Indian Express
In July, 2024, Laos became the first nation to feature the main Deity of Ayodhya’s new Ram Temple on a postage stamp. OpIndia reports that India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, and Laos’s Deputy Prime Minister, Saleumxay Kommasith, jointly unveiled the stamp in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. It is part of a set, the other featuring Lord Buddha of Luang Prabang, Laos’s former ancient capital.
Briefly
Dr. Deokinanan Sharma of Trinidad, age 87, passed away in August 2024. The Trinidad Express recalls him as the visionary who created the foremost institution for Indian culture in the island nation, Divali Nagar.
Around 2,500 delegates of the 10th World Water Forum met in Bali in May 2024, emphasizing the sustainability of water resources. They partook in the Segara Kerthi traditional water purification ritual. Antara News quoted I Nyoman Kenak: “This ritual is a means to ask for blessings, so that the sea, as a water resource, can be clean both in the physical and non-physical terms.”
Cambodia’s Angkor Wat faces problems with international visitors who intend to recreate the famous mobile game called “Temple Run“ by running, leaping and crashing through the temple. The Curly Tales blog, in August 2024, has stated that by doing this, the 900-year-old structure could get seriously damaged over time, and the spiritual vibration is lessened. Local authorities have warned visitors to not recreate videos as seen in the game.
the koh-i-noor diamond finally has been recognized by the British Crown as “A Symbol Of Conquest“ in a new exhibition at the Tower Of London in May 2024. As per CNN, the most controversial gem was in the public eye in the same month as the coronation of the new king and queen.
A new Hindu temple opened in Gothenburg, Sweden, in late 2023, as reported in Business Region Goteborg. Up to 4,000 visitors attended on opening day. The temple serves a growing, highly educated, 11,000-strong Indian population that moved to this region to fill a skills gap.