Connecting Global Threads of Faith Newsletter
- Sandhya Jha
- 13h
- 4 min read
Editor’s Note
As chants of Mahashivratri rise in sacred spaces, stark realities elsewhere remind us that while faith endures, security and equal protection remain uneven across regions.
January Newsletter – 1
(February 01 – February 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 and celebrating our heritage, advocating for Hindu rights and religious freedom worldwide."
North America
United states of America
Hindu American Foundation condemned a Plano City Council meeting in Texas after comedian Alex Stein, dressed in Indian attire, mocked Hindu beliefs and sacred traditions, calling the event a “circus of hatred.” The incident reflects growing anti-Hindu and anti-Indian rhetoric in parts of the US, with advocacy groups urging authorities to prevent public platforms from enabling targeted hostility against any community.
Asia
Bangladesh
An international coalition of over 125 organisations has issued an urgent appeal warning of escalating violence and systematic persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh ahead of national elections, calling for immediate global intervention. Citing thousands of attacks, demographic decline, and incidents such as mob lynchings over blasphemy allegations, rights groups argue that continued inaction risks the gradual erasure of the country’s Hindu minority.
Senior BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, who denies allegations of his party’s anti-Hindu bias, became the only Hindu elected to Bangladesh’s new parliament amid rising violence and tensions affecting minority communities.
Ahead of Bangladesh’s elections, many Hindus report growing fear and insecurity amid recent targeted killings and rising extremist influence, while minority groups warn that without accountability and protection, the country’s secular and democratic foundations remain at risk.
A Hindu businessman was brutally murdered in Bangladesh on the night of February 9, three days before the South Asian country votes for its national parliamentary elections. The incident took place in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh, where another Hindu man, Dipu Chandra Das, was also lynched and burnt.
On the eve of Bangladesh’s pivotal election, Hindus visiting Dhakeshwari Temple voiced deep anxiety over rising targeted violence and political shifts, fearing for minority rights and security if power changes hands.
As the BNP claimed election victory amid sporadic unrest, multiple attacks—including arson and targeted killings—against Hindu individuals and families underscored escalating communal violence and minority insecurity across Bangladesh.
A 28-year-old Hindu tea garden worker, Ratan Shuvo Kar, was found murdered in northeast Bangladesh ahead of parliamentary elections, marking the second killing of a Hindu individual in two days amid rising communal violence. Independent groups report a surge in targeted attacks against minorities in the run-up to the polls.
Malaysia
Thaipusam in Malaysia marked one of the world’s largest Hindu gatherings outside India, where over 2.5 million devotees honoured Lord Murugan’s victory of good over evil through a grand chariot procession to Batu Caves, acts of penance, and public expressions of faith celebrated as a symbol of national harmony.
India
The annual Brahmotsavams(grand festival) of Sri Kapileswara Swamy Temple in Tirupati(in Andhra Pradesh) began with the traditional Dhwajarohanam ceremony, marked by Vedic rituals and a grand procession of the deities through the town to bless devotees.
The Mahasivaratri Brahmotsavams began grandly at Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple with traditional Agama rituals, Dwajarohana ceremony, and arrangements including free prasadam and bus services for devotees.
An intervention application in the Supreme Court seeks equal protection under Article 25 for Hindus against hate speech, arguing that constitutional safeguards must apply neutrally to all religious communities.The plea calls for a balanced, community-neutral approach, stating that speech inciting enmity or violence against any religion violates fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19, 21 and 25.
The Kerala High Court dismissed a petition challenging the entry of two Christian priests into the Sree Parthasarathy Temple, noting inconsistencies between the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship (Authorisation of Entry) Act, 1965 and Rule 3(a) of its Rules, which restricts entry of non-Hindus.The court urged the state government to review the rule, emphasising that laws must align with constitutional principles and should not become instruments of religious discord.
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