Connecting Global Threads of Faith Newsletter # 1 June
- GHTN Admin
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Editor’s Note
The events chronicled here span different countries and contexts, yet they are connected by a common thread, the ongoing journey of a civilisation that continues to preserve its identity while adapting to a changing world.
June Newsletter – 1
(June 01 – June 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
Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna has joined 32 co-sponsors in backing House Resolution 69, introduced by Shri Thanedar, which celebrates the contributions of over four million Hindu Americans to U.S. society and economy while condemning rising Hinduphobia, anti-Hindu bigotry, and attacks on Hindu temples and individuals.
Europe
Germany
After 21 years of community-funded construction, the Sri Ganesha Temple in Berlin, one of Europe’s largest Hindu temples was consecrated on 7 June 2026, symbolising the growing presence and cultural contribution of Hindus in Germany.
Asia
Bangladesh
Idols at three Hindu temples in Bogura, Bangladesh, the Kanchgari Shiva Temple, Shitala Temple and Mahashashan Temple were vandalised on the night of 12 June, prompting demands from the local Hindu community for a thorough investigation and swift action against the perpetrators.
A Kali Temple at the Pirojpur Municipal Crematorium in Bangladesh was vandalised and partially set ablaze, with a Shiva idol damaged and temple property stolen, prompting a police investigation.
The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has urged immediate government action after threats to demolish the historic Radha-Govinda Temple in Gaibandha were circulated on social media, raising fears of communal violence and insecurity among minority communities.
India
Kerala’s 2023 vital statistics show Hindu (-0.115%) and Christian (-0.084%) communities recorded negative natural growth rates for the second and third consecutive years respectively, with deaths exceeding births, while the state’s overall population growth remained positive at 0.249% due to continued positive growth among Muslims.
The death of a 55-year-old Parsi woman in Gujarat highlighted the challenges of interfaith exclusion, as her Parsi community reportedly declined to conduct her last rites due to her marriage to a Muslim man, while her husband’s Muslim community also did not arrange her burial, leaving her body in a mortuary for nearly two days.
The funeral was ultimately conducted by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), bringing attention to questions of religious exclusion, gender discrimination in Parsi personal laws, and the lack of support extended by both her birth and marital communities at the time of her death.
Five Muslim students in Assam's Goalpara face expulsion after allegedly bringing beef to school and attempting to feed it to two Hindu classmates, leading to police action, the arrest of one student's mother, and a magisterial inquiry.
Delegates attending the 2026 BRICS Culture Working Group meeting in Varanasi visited the Kashi Vishwanath Temple and Sarnath, highlighting India’s Hindu and Buddhist civilisational heritage and its enduring global cultural significance.
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