Jakarta Establishes Grand New Murugan Temple
The shri sanathana Dharma Aalayam, also known as the Jakarta Murugan Temple, is a new Hindu temple in Jakarta, Indonesia. The temple was officially opened to the public on February 2, 2025, with a grand Maha Kumbabhishegam (consecration ceremony). The event was attended by notable dignitaries, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who participated virtually. He emphasized the temple’s role in strengthening India-Indonesia cultural and spiritual ties, highlighting their shared heritage and values. The presence of Dr. Pichai Gurukkal along with 70 of his students further elevated the significance of the event. A traditional elephant procession, approved by the Indonesian Ministry, was a highlight, symbolizing the divine presence of Lord Ganesha. The temple is the first Dravidian-style Hindu temple in the city according to indoindians.com.
The establishment of the Shri Sanathana Dharma Aalayam was driven by the need for a Hindu place of worship for the Indian community in Jakarta. Collaboration with the city government led to the allocation of a 4,000-square-meter plot of land in Kalideres district for the construction.
The project was made possible through generous contributions from diverse communities including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Catholics and Sikhs. This act shows Jakarta’s spirit of unity and religious harmony despite following different belief systems. “Jakarta Murugan Temple represents Indonesia’s unity in diversity, serving as a fundamental part of its cultural and spiritual heritage,” said Selwendren, Temple Chairman.
Beyond its religious importance, the Aalayam serves as a cultural hub for the Hindu community. The Kumara Dharsan Mandabam facilitates educational and traditional programs, fostering a sense of belonging among devotees. This multipurpose hall hosts Tamil language classes, yoga and meditation sessions, marriage ceremonies, cultural and religious events.
Flights Pause for Faith in Kerala
On a warm april day every year, jets pause and silence reclaims the skies above the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala.
The airport’s closure is not due to bad weather or a technical glitch, as one might assume, but to make way for a Hindu temple procession that marches right across its runway, as reported by the BBC.
Devotees pull ornate wooden chariots bearing temple Deities along a two km stretch of runway, a tradition so revered that it shuts down operations for a few hours at the airport, which usually handles 90 landings and take-offs daily. Elephants, a common part of Hindu religious events in India, also walk along the runway.
The event is part of the annual Painkuni festival held by the famed Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, home to treasures worth billions of dollars.
The procession, held on the final day of the 10-day festival, begins at the temple and heads through the runway to Shanghumugham Beach, around six km away.
When the procession arrives at the beach, priests give the Deities a ritual bath in the sea. The return journey follows the same route, crossing the runway again and reaching the temple.
The procession is led by the head of the former royal family of Travancore, which built the airport in 1932. It’s not clear when the festival and the procession started but the ritual has been followed since then, even when the management of the airport was passed on to the government and then a private company.
The airport is currently managed by Adani Airport Holdings Ltd, owned by billionaire Gautam Adani’s Group.
The airport also shuts down operations for a few hours for a similar procession during the temple’s Alpashi Festival, usually in October or November each year.
The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is one of the few airports in the world that closes down for a religious event. Others include Indonesia’s Ngurah Rai Airport during the Balinese Hindu new year and Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Yom Kippur, which is the holiest day in Judaism.
But these are public holidays when the airport shuts down entirely and it’s rare for a high-security runway to be used in the service of a religious or cultural event.
Yoga Day Highlights Soaring Wellness Industry in India
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ndia celebrated the 11th annual International Day of Yoga on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The theme was “Yoga for One Earth, One Health.” A signature event, Yoga Sangam, featured mass yoga demonstrations across the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the celebrations in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh according to India Entreprenuer.
The yoga and meditation industry—a curious term for a practice that has existed since time immemorial—in India has witnessed significant and rapid growth. According to a study by Future Market Insights, the industry is expected to grow from us$81.7 billion in 2025 to us$155.2 billion by 2035. The statistics indicate that the industry will expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6 percent during this period.
“Honestly, I think India is just coming back home to itself,” says Sarvesh Shashi, CEO of SARVA Yoga. He feels it’s a beautiful shift where people are no longer looking at yoga as just something you do on a mat. “They’re beginning to see it as a way to breathe better, live lighter and feel more grounded in a very noisy world.” Though he also believes a lot of it is driven by stress, he adds it’s fueled by curiosity because of people wanting more peace and meaning. “Thankfully, technology has made it easier to access even the most ancient of practices with just a tap,” Shashi says.
First Hindu Temple Opens Near Kraków
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new hindu temple opened in 2022 close to the city of Kraków—the first in the region and one of few in Poland—at a ceremony attended by local dignitaries and the Indian ambassador. According to Notes From Poland website, the Radha Govind Bhakti Yog Mandir was under construction in Brzegi—between Kraków and the nearby town of Wieliczka—since 2017. As well as serving a growing local Hindu community, it aims to spread knowledge about India’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Artur Kozioł, mayor of Wieliczka, said that “Each of us in the world builds our home according to our own culture, religion, tradition, what we have in our heart.” The mayor also presented Indian ambassador Nagma Mohamed Mallick with a symbolic miner’s lamp, a reference to the historical salt mine in Wieliczka that makes the town a popular tourist destination.
The temple is the first to be built by the international Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat in Europe and is a copy of the Radha Madhav Dham temple and ashram complex in Austin, Texas, reports Dziennik Polska.
The Indian diaspora in Poland is estimated to be between 10-15,000 out of a total population of 38 million.
Leaders Unite in Bengaluru for Dharma and Culture
To strengthen and facilitate coordination between the various denominations of Sanatan Dharma, over 1,000 spiritual heads, saints, acharyas and mahatmas from India and across the globe attended the inauguration ceremony of Bharateeya Santa Mahaa Parishhad (BSMP) on June 16, 2025, in Bengaluru, South India. It was organized by Sri Kailash Ashrama, Suttur Mutt and Hariharapura Mutt, all located in Karnataka state.
As reported by the organizers’ promotional material and the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, distinguished participants included Shankaracharyas and heads of major mathas. Related dharmic religions were represented by Jain acharyas, and Buddhist monks from countries such as Japan and the United States, reflecting the event’s international outreach.
Among the prominent figures were Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami of Kauai’s Hindu Monastery (home of Hinduism Today), Jagadguru Shankaracharya Vijayendra Saraswati of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya, Acharya Govinddev Giri Maharaj and representatives from BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.
According to the organizers’ press release, Bharateeya Sanskruti (Indian Culture) proclaims unity in diversity. It is the only culture where religious diversity is most naturally and completely accepted. Thus, Bharatiya Sanskruti is the basic foundation of world peace and global harmony.
The core objectives of the BSMP are to strengthen unity among India’s diverse spiritual traditions and promote the preservation of Sanatana Dharma. The inaugural gathering aimed to create a coordinated platform for saints to collaboratively address challenges facing dharma, including the erosion of traditional values, diminishing awareness among youth and external threats to religious identity. Emphasis was placed on revitalizing temple-based learning, safeguarding scriptures, empowering religious institutions and fostering interfaith respect. The Parishhad also sought to inspire a global resurgence of spiritual values rooted in Indian culture, encouraging saints and communities to work together in the spirit of “Ekam Sat”—One Truth.
Briefly
A lingam was quietly Discovered at the Cat Tien excavation site inVietnam in 2012 but it went viral on social media in 2024. The Lingam measures 2.27 meters in height according to Varnam Malaysia. It is said that the Cat Tien archaeological site was accidentally discovered in 1985 and since then numerous excavations have been conducted.
According to the Pew Research Center’s “The Future of World Religions” 2025 report, by 2050 Muslims will nearly equal Christians in numbers. India will retain a Hindu majority, but will also have the largest Muslim population of any country in the world, surpassing Indonesia. The Hindu population is projected to rise by 34%, from a little over 1 billion to nearly 1.4 billion, roughly keeping pace with overall population growth.
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, according to a EurasiaReview.com analysisinMarch 2025. 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 Gajamurak Bajrasudha model, which successfully integrates traditional and modern strategies to harmonize human-elephant coexistence.
A surprising new study by John Nezlek at Poland’s SWPS University may turn our most basic assumptions about people who choose plant-based diets upside down. It turns out that vegetarians might actually be more power-hungry, achievement-oriented and individualistic than their meat-eating counterparts, as reported by StudyFinds.org in July 2025. Vegetarians appear to be independent thinkers who aren’t afraid to buck social trends, even if it means prioritizing personal goals over group harmony.
More than 20,000 devotees gathered to witness the reconsecration of the Sri Sivan Temple in Singapore on June 8, 2025, as reported by The Straits Times. The Geylang East temple, one of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, has a history that dates back to the 1800s. The event was attended by Minister for National Security and Home Affairs, K. Shanmugam. He said,“Today’s ceremony is very significant. This temple has a special place in the heart of the Hindu community.” Shanmugam unveiled a plaque commemorating the event.