Explainer I ghtn.in Basant Panchami, also known as Vasant Panchami, is an ancient Indian festival marking the arrival of spring (Vasant Ritu). Celebrated on the fifth day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Magha (January–February), it has been observed since Vedic times, when seasonal change was closely linked to agriculture, education, and spiritual life. The day is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the deity of knowledge, wisdom, music, and the arts. According to tradit

Connecting Global Threads of Faith Editor’s Note Somnath stands not as a monument of reconstruction, but as an indictment of every attempt to annihilate a civilisation that rose, again and again, from deliberate ruin. As its resilience is honoured today, Bangladesh reminds us that the same civilisational war against Hindu existence continues, only the geography has changed.   January Newsletter – 1 (January 1 – January 15) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience

Explainer I ghtn.in Every Lohri, voices rise around the fire to sing “ Sundar Mundariye Ho .” Most hear it as tradition. Few pause to ask why this song survived, unchanged, for centuries. Because it was never meant to entertain. It was meant to warn. The song emerged in medieval Punjab, during periods of hindu persecution under Islamic rule, when Hindu girls were frequent targets of abduction, forced conversion, and erasure. Folk memory did what institutions could not, it enc

Editor’s Note As systematic violence, targeted killings, and social exclusion push Hindus in Bangladesh toward erasure, regional and global silence continues to embolden persecution. From lynchings such as that of Dipu Chandra Das to the everyday fear of being openly identified as Hindu, this is not episodic unrest but a sustained dismantling of a people’s right to belong. Over the past year, the Global Hindu Temple Network has tracked these patterns across borders. In Novemb

CoHNA Youth Action Network and Hindu Yuva Succeed in Advocacy on Campus By Amitabh Sharma CoHNA Youth Action Network (CYAN) and Hindu Yuva, two organizations led by Hindu youth on university campuses in America, have achieved a milestone in getting the University of California, Berkeley to proclaim October as Hindu Heritage Month. This achievement is particularly significant in the backdrop of persistent and rising Hinduphobia on college campuses in the United States of Ameri

Editor’s Note… Across continents, the Hindu world reveals a stark duality where resilience expressed through faith, service, and renewal, even as violence, neglect, and distortion persist in silence. This fortnight reminds us that cultural dignity, civilisational memory, and religious freedom must be defended not episodically, but with sustained moral clarity.   December Newsletter – 1 (December 1 – December 15) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid viole

By Vinay Nalwa While the political confrontation between West Pakistan’s military elite and the democratically elected Awami League defined the immediate trigger of the 1971 crisis, what is often overlooked is how this turmoil simultaneously unleashed unprecedented brutality on the most vulnerable, particularly the Hindu minority of East Pakistan. As the Pakistani army moved to crush Bengali nationalism through Operation Searchlight, Hindus were specifically profiled, and tar

On December 1, 2025, Chinmaya Mission South Africa achieved a historic milestone with the Prana Pratishtha and inauguration of the world’s first dedicated Annapoorna Devi Temple outside the Indian subcontinent. Located in Durban, home to one of the largest Indian-origin communities globally. The temple has received appreciation from both the Indian and South African governments and was recently highlighted by the Hon’ble PM of India, Mr Narendra Modi. More than a spiritual la

Editor’s Note… Whether in acts of faith or assaults on sanctity, every fortnight reminds us that Hindu dharma endures because its keepers refuse to abandon it… November Newsletter – 2 (November 15 – November 30) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overlooked realities, offering a global overview of incidents affecting Hindus and celebrating our heritage, advocating for Hindu righ

On this sacred day of Gita Jayanti, we honour the moment when Bhagwan Śrī Krishna’s eternal wisdom flowed from the battlefield of Kurukshetra, not to glorify war, but to awaken clarity, duty, and inner freedom within humanity. “कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।”Karmanyeva adhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana (Gita 2.47)“You have the right only to your actions, never to the fruits.” In a world drowning in anxiety, competition, noise, and constant comparison, this one shloka shin

Editor’s Note… As the sacred glow of Dev Diwali fades from the ghats of Kashi, its light endures within every heart that upholds Dharma against darkness. This edition reflects that spirit — illuminating the unseen struggles and steadfast resilience of Hindus worldwide, and reminding us that the flame of truth and faith must never be allowed to dim. November Newsletter – 1 (November 01 – November 15) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often rem

Inspired by Rajiv Malhotra’s seminal work Being Different and his vision through the Infinity Foundation, the Banyan Tree Network (BTN)  embodies the spirit of Sanatana Dharma decentralized, diverse, and deeply interconnected. Founded under Malhotra’s guidance, the network serves as a living metaphor for India’s civilizational ethos  where each branch, root, and leaf draws nourishment from a shared soil of dharmic wisdom. The Infinity Foundation, established in 1994, has bee

The tallest Lord Ram statue in North America! Editor’s Note… The eternal struggle of light against darkness plays out on a global stage, testing cultural identity and demanding spiritual autonomy. Yet, in monuments of devotion and landmark legal truths, the flame of Dharma is reaffirmed, not diminished.   October Newsletter – 2 (October 15 – October 30) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light

Abu Dhabi's BAPS Hindu Mandir Editor’s Note… As we chronicle both wounds and wonders of our global community, may this effort continue to affirm the eternal dharmic truth that good, though tested, always prevails…   October Newsletter – 1 (October 01 – October 15) "In a connected world, Hindu struggles and resilience amid violence often remain unseen. This fortnightly report sheds light on these overlooked realities, offering a global overview of incidents affecting Hindus an

Diwali is not just a historical or theological subject, but a living, felt experience for millions Diwali, or Deepavali, the “festival of lights,” is a celebration symbolizing India’s civilizational spirit. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Ayodhya to Arunachal, the festival unites diverse regions in one luminous expression of faith, joy, and renewal.The word Deepavali  derives from Sanskrit: dīpa  (lamp) and āvali (row), meaning “a row of lamps.” Yet beyond the glittering l

Global Hindu Temple Network US President Mohinder Gulati's address at the CSO meet of the World Bank -Global Hindu Temple Network (US) President Mohinder Gulati raised the issue of the abduction and forcible conversion of minor Hindu, Christian, and Sikh girls with the Managing Director of the IMF.

Editor’s Note… In the silence of suffering, Dharma still speaks to remind us that truth and faith endure beyond fear. This fortnight, as...

Editor’s Note… From safeguarding traditions in Puri to defending rights in America, every incident speaks to a single truth: Hindu...

By Vinay Nalwa “Mark me, then and then alone you are a Hindu when the very name sends through you a galvanic shock of strength. Then and...

Connecting Global Threads of Faith Editor’s Note… Temples are not just stone structures but living vessels of memory, devotion, and...

By Vinay Nalwa The cries of a father outside a police station in Sindh capture the tragedy of an entire community:“How can my 14-year-old...

Editor’s Note… Across nations and centuries, the Hindu community face trials that test its resilience, be it through violence or systemic...

Arun Anand This is one of the most shocking incidents that took place during the partition of India. Even more shocking is the fact that...

Connecting Global Threads of Faith Editor’s Note… As attacks on temples and Hindu voices intensify across borders, our silence can no...