Designated “Hindu Prayer Room” sought at University of Iowa

Hindus are urging for a permanent and exclusive Prayer Room at University of Iowa (UI), a top public research university in Iowa City founded in 1847. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, said that UI should respond to the requirements of Hindu students to provide designated prayer-meditation hall for rituals, […]

University of Iowa Museum has “murtis” of Hindu gods

University of Iowa Museum of Art (UIMA) has “murtis” of Hindu gods. A “murti”, per Oxford Dictionary of Hinduism, is “image, icon, or concrete form of a deity; i.e. its manifestation, or incarnation”. UIMA has bronze murti of Brahma (creator god), brass murti of Ganesha (god of wisdom and remover of obstacles), murti of Lakshmi […]

Hindu chariot procession in Lagos in August

Ratha Yatra (Hindu Festival of Chariots) will be the central spectacle of international Festival of India planned to be held in Lagos (Nigeria) on August 13, reports suggest. It is like getting a taste of India and Hinduism without leaving Lagos. Besides Ratha Yatra, it will also reportedly include parade of various groups displaying diverse […]

New Muscat Airport to have 24 prayer rooms—Hindus seek one

The new Muscat International Airport (MIA), currently under development in Oman, will reportedly have 24 prayer rooms for men and women. Hindus are urging Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC), responsible for the management and operation of all Oman airports including MIA, for a designated “Hindu Prayer Room” out of the reported 24-prayer rooms in the […]

Hindus happiest group in United Kingdom

Hindus are the happiest among all the religious communities/groups of United Kingdom (UK), according to a dataset of Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK’s National Statistical Institute. This was the finding of its study “Measuring National Well-being—Personal Well-being in the UK, 3 year data 2012 to 2015”, which was released on February two. Quantifying Happiness […]

World’s largest folk art museum to showcase Lord Brahma Shrine

Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe (New Mexico, USA) will showcase Lord Brahma (Erawan) Shrine in its upcoming “Sacred Realm” exhibition, which runs from February 28 through March 19. On the opening day, henna artists will paint blessings on visitors’ hands and a Bharatnatyam performance will be held. “Sacred Realm” shows the dynamic […]

Hindus upset at parading of Hindu gods at Mardi Gras related New Orleans event

Hindus are upset over reported parading of Hindu deities at a Lundi Gras parade associated with Mardi Gras celebrations on February eight evening in uptown New Orleans, calling it highly inappropriate. According to reports, Krewe of Proteus presented the “The Hindu Heavens” themed parade which featured various Hindu deities; including Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna, Lakshmi, […]

Europe’s “largest Hindu temple” plans to expand

Shri Venkateswara (Balaji) Temple of UK in Tividale village (England), claimed to be the “largest Hindu temple of its kind in Europe”, is planning to expand. In an application to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Temple has submitted plans for erecting a Chariot House to store a chariot (usually pulled by few dozen devotees during processions) […]

Nevada’s Sparks City Council starts day with ancient Hindu mantras

Sparks City Council in Nevada (USA), incorporated in 1905, started its meeting on February eight with ancient Gayatri Mantra, considered the most sacred mantra of Hinduism. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed opened this meeting of Sparks City Council with an invocation which began with Gayatri Mantra in Sanskrit, which he later translated into English. Sanskrit […]

Duke University opens two interfaith prayer rooms

Two new interfaith prayer rooms were reportedly launched in prestigious Duke University (DU) in Durham (North Carolina) last week. One “Interfaith Prayer Room”, also known as The Mosaic, opened in Keohane 4B; which includes diverse religious texts, prayer mats, floor cushions, facility to store removed shoes when entering the room, etc. It is a place […]

Hindu Community Centre planned in Preston England

A Hindu Community Centre has been planned in the city of Preston in England. According to reports, land has been purchased for it and plans have been filed with the Preston City Council. To be developed by Mandhata Samaj, it will be used for religious, cultural and educational activities; besides holding community festivals and gatherings. […]

Hindus seek Diwali holiday in New Jersey’s Parsippany-Troy Hills School District

Hindus are urging Parsippany-Troy Hills Township School District (PTHSD) in New Jersey to include Diwali, the most popular Hindu holy day, as a schools holiday in their 2016-2017 calendar and beyond. The 2015-2016 Calendar of PTHSD, whose “mission” includes “to develop a feeling of self-worth and confidence”, showed schools were closed for Rosh Hashanah and […]

Hindus welcome Kenya’s withdrawal of proposed religious regulations

Hindus have welcomed the Kenya government’s reported decision to withdraw the proposal of regulating the religious organizations. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, thanked Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta for withdrawing proposed Societies (Religious Societies) Rules, 2015, and thus showing a strong political will on this issue of unnecessary and […]

US yoga practitioners grow to 37 million

US yoga practitioners grow to 37 million.. Hindus are highly pleased with the fast and tremendous growth of yoga in the United States of America; with yoga practitioners reaching to about 37 million according to a recently released “2016 Yoga in America Study” conducted by Yoga Journal & Yoga Alliance. Calling it a step in […]

“Faith in Birmingham” gallery opens showcasing Hindu deities Vishnu & Ganesh

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) in United Kingdom reportedly launched a new gallery “Faith in Birmingham” on February five; providing unique insight into Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Judaism. BMAG in Birmingham, which claims itself to be a “world class museum”, is showcasing 11th Century Ganesh and Vishnu statues from Bihar, an 11th […]

Hindus urge Sega for removal of Lord Krishna from video game

Hindus are upset at “Shin Megami Tensei IV: Final” role-playing video game being developed/published by Sega’s subsidiary Atlus depicting Lord Krishna, saying it trivializes a highly revered Hindu deity. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, urged Tokyo headquartered Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. CEO Hajime Satomi to not include Lord Krishna […]

Amsterdam Airport carries Hindu Vedas for passengers

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Netherlands’ largest and one of the world’s leading airports; carries Bhagavad-Gita, Vedas and other Hindu holy books. These are available to passengers in the Meditation Centre, located near the F-gates, which is open 24-hours a day for prayer or meditation or relaxing in silence or holding a group service. Distinguished Hindu statesman […]

Hindus criticize Coldplay-Beyoncé video for trivializing Hinduism

Hindus have criticized Coldplay music-video hit single featuring Beyoncé Knowles and titled “Hymn For The Weekend”, saying it trivializes Hinduism. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that this party-anthem/club-song music-video unnecessarily dragged sacred Hindu concepts and symbols with no linkage to the lyrics/storyline. What was the connection of—depicting […]

Hindus seek Diwali holiday in Massachusetts’ Chelmsford Public Schools

Hindus are urging Chelmsford Public Schools (CPS) in Massachusetts to include Diwali, the most popular Hindu holy day, as a school holiday in their 2016-2017 school calendar and beyond. The 2015-2016 Academic Calendar of CPS, whose “mission” includes to cultivate “well-rounded lifelong learners”, showed Good Friday as a holiday. Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in […]