Connecting Global Threads of Faith Newsletter # 1 March
- Sandhya Jha
- Mar 21
- 4 min read
Editor’s Note
From Houston to London, the colours of Holi travelled across continents this month, carrying with them a message of renewal, courage and faith.Yet the same stories also remind us that preserving Hindu traditions globally often requires vigilance, unity and an unwavering commitment to dharma.
March Newsletter – 1
(March 01– March 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
Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colours celebrated worldwide on the full moon of the month marks the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil through traditions such as bonfires and the throwing of coloured powders (gulal). In Houston, celebrations included cultural events at the Children’s Museum Houston and a community festival at Midtown Park featuring music, dance and art.
Europe
United Kindom
A group of youths reportedly linked to a nearby mosque disrupted a permitted Holi celebration in Harrow, London, creating chaos and attacking attendees before police arrested a 14-year-old on suspicion of affray. The incident revived concerns within the Hindu community of earlier violence during the Leicester riots where Hindu homes and symbols were targeted.
Kate Middleton Says Her Kids 'Love Their Dancing' Before She Goes Barefoot for Dance at Hindu Temple
Catherine, Princess of Wales visited Leicester to celebrate the heritage of the British Indian community after Holi, marking her first official visit to the Shreeji Dham Haveli Hindu temple.
She observed temple traditions respectfully and joined a devotional dance, acknowledging the Vaishnav community’s faith, culture and Holi’s message of spiritual renewal and community harmony.
A Bharat Hindu Samaj Temple serving around 18,000 Hindus has secured a temporary injunction from the High Court preventing Peterborough City Council from proceeding with the sale of its building in the New England Complex to Masjid Khadijah and Islamic Centre of Khadijah.
UAE
Abu Dhabi
The Baps Hindu Temple, Abu Dhabi, located in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, was temporarily closed for devotees and visitors due to the current security situation. However, the lords and saints residing in the temple will continue regular prayers and worship.
Asia
Bangladesh
A priest was injured after a masked attacker detonated a crude bomb during Shani puja at the Kaligach Tala Kali Mondir in Cumilla, triggering panic among devotees gathered for prayers.
Thieves broke into multiple shrines within the Maayer Bari Temple Complex, including the Kali, Annapurna, Radhagobinda and Jagannath temples stealing about eight bhori of gold (approximately 93.31 grams) ornaments from idols and Tk10,000 in cash.
Protesters formed a human chain outside the National Press Club in Dhaka to condemn ongoing violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, accusing the new government led by Tarique Rahman of failing to curb attacks on the minority community.
The demonstration followed recent killings of Hindu men and a crude bomb attack at the Kaligach Tala Kali Mandir in Cumilla during a puja, which injured a priest and several devotees and intensified fears among the Hindu minority.
India
The Maharashtra Cabinet approved the draft ‘Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam, 2026’, proposing up to seven years’ imprisonment and a ₹5 lakh fine for forced or fraudulent religious conversions, with the government stating it aims to prevent coercive marriages and conversions of Hindu girls.
The Kumbha Abhishekam Mahotsav, a sacred consecration performed once every 12 years, will be held at the Kanaka Durga Temple to ritually renew the temple’s divine energy through elaborate Vedic and Agama ceremonies.
The roof of a shed collapsed at the Sri Subramanyeswara Swamy Temple premises while devotees were present, though no injuries were reported. Devotees criticised temple management negligence, noting that a similar roof collapse occurred at the same location in 2024 and demanding an official inquiry.
Major temples including Tirumala Tirupati Temple, Simhachalam Temple and Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple have sought uninterrupted LPG supply to ensure continuous preparation of annadanam and prasadam for thousands of devotees daily.
The Badrinath‑Kedarnath Temple Committee has decided to prohibit entry of non-Hindus into 47 temples in Uttarakhand, including Badrinath Temple and Kedarnath Temple, starting this year’s pilgrimage season.
The rule, rooted in traditions attributed to Adi Shankaracharya, will come into effect with the upcoming Char Dham Yatra beginning in April.
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