Page 3 - Hindu Temples

Bangladesh crisis: 24 burnt alive by mob, temples damaged. Top updates

Bangladesh crisis: A mob set fire to a hotel in Jashore district, killing 24 people; hotel staff says the death count can increase as more bodies may be trapped under the debris

HC clears path for Krishna Janmabhoomi vs Shahi Eidgah Mosque legal suits

Allahabad High Court dismissed a plea challenging the 18 pleas filed by Hindu worshippers seeking the restoration of the Lord Krishna temple in the place currently occupied by the Shahid Eidgah mosque

Budget 2024: Bihar temples to be transformed into world-class destinations

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday announced that comprehensive development of Vishnupad Temple corridor at Gaya and Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya in Bihar will be supported by the government to transform them into world-class pilgrim and tourist destinations. These corridors will be modelled on the successful Kashi Vishwanath Temple Corridor, she said. Vishnupad Temple is one of the most ancient Hindu shrines located next to the Falgu river, while the Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. "Tourism has always been a part of our civilisation. Our efforts in positioning India as a global tourist destination will also create jobs, stimulate investments and unlock economic opportunities for other sectors," Sitharaman said in her Union Budget 2024-25 speech. In addition to the measures outlined in the Interim Budget, she proposed some measures related to the tourism sector. "Vishnupad Temple at Gaya and Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya in Bihar are of immense

Extremists vandalise BAPS Hindu temple in Canada with anti-India graffiti

A BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in the Canadian city of Edmonton has been vandalised with alleged hateful and anti-India graffiti, amidst rising Hinduphobia in the country. The Consulate General of India in Vancouver said in a post on X: We condemn the defacing of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in #Edmonton with anti-India graffiti. We have requested the Canadian authorities to investigate the incident and take prompt action against the perpetrators. There has been no reaction as yet from the BAPS the Bochasanwasi Aksharpurushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, the organisation that runs the temple. Also, there are no reports yet of any official action against the vandalisation that took place on Monday morning. Earlier today, the Edmonton BAPS Mandir was vandalised with paint, displaying hateful rhetoric on the walls of what should be a place of refuge. Hate has no part in Canada - much less in places of worship & prayer. This incident is wrong & goes against the values of our city, said .

Experts recommend memorial for temples destroyed by Portuguese in Goa

An expert panel has recommended construction of a memorial in Goa for temples destroyed during the Portuguese rule and a museum to showcase the ancient heritage temples in the state, as per a report tabled in the legislative assembly. The committee has claimed that more than 1,000 temples were destroyed by the Portuguese rulers in Goa. Goa Archaeology Minister Subhash Phal Desai said in the House on Monday that his department is in the process of identifying a suitable site for the construction of the memorial. He tabled in the House a report of the committee of experts for the reconstruction of temples destroyed during the Portuguese regime, as a part of reply to an unstarred question. " As per the recommendation of the expert committee, the department is in communication with the Department of Goa Gazetteer and Historical Records for translation of related books in English to facilitate further research," he said. The report of the committee, which was formed in the 2023, has ..

Rajasthan govt to boost religious tourism by enhancing temple towns, infra

Tourism contributes roughly 12-14% to the state economy and employs over 7.5 million to 8 million, the third largest after agriculture and textiles

Case booked over portrayal of Hindu Gods in Pondy varsity cultural event

A case has been registered in connection with a play staged at the annual cultural festival of Pondicherry Central University here recently, in which Hindu gods were allegedly depicted in an objectionable manner, police said on Tuesday. The Kalapet police registered the case against those who staged the play, including the Director and Script Writer following protests by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) against it on the campus on March 30. The Pondicherry University has initiated an inquiry into the incident. "The University has received a complaint against a play staged by the Department of Performing Arts of the University, the University sources said. It also added that an enquiry committee was being constituted to look into the matter. The Registrar In charge of the University has appealed to all those concerned to cooperate with the administration to maintain peace on the campus. Meanwhile, the ABVP has condemned what it termed as "distorted and disrespectful"

SC refuses to stay Hindu prayers in southern cellar of Gyanvapi mosque

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the Hindu prayers in the southern cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque in Varanasi even as it ordered a "status quo" on the religious observances by both the Hindu and Muslim sides inside the mosque premises. The court was hearing a fresh plea of the Gyanvapi mosque management committee against an Allahabad High Court decision upholding a lower court's order allowing Hindu prayers in the southern cellar of the mosque. The top court noted that both the Muslim and Hindu sides have been conducting their respective religious observances "unhindered" inside the mosque premises and, therefore, a status quo would serve the ends of justice for now. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud also sought the response of priest Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas by April 30 on the plea of the mosque committee. "Bearing in mind the fact that the namaz is offered by the Muslim community unhindered after the orders dated January 17, 2024 and January 31, 2024,

14 injured in MP's Mahakal Temple fire; CM announces aid of Rs 1 lakh each

The blaze took place in the 'garbha griha' (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple at 5:50am, Ujjain Collector Neeraj Kumar Singh said

Mahakal temple fire: All possible help being given to injured, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Mahakal Temple fire incident was very painful and wished those injured a speedy recovery.A fire broke out in the 'garbha griha' (sanctum sanctorum) of the temple at 5:50am, injuring 14 priests and 'sevaks' (assistants), officials said. In message on social media platform X, the PM said, "The accident that happened in Mahakal temple of Ujjain is very painful. I wish for the speedy recovery of all the devotees injured in the accident. Under the supervision of the state government, the local administration is engaged in every possible help to the victims." Talking to reporters in Indore, where eight of the 14 victims are admitted, MP Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the PM spoke to him over phone and inquired about the health of those injured. President Droupadi Murmu also spoke to him about the incident over phone, Yadav added.

8 injured in fire at Ujjain's Mahakal temple moved to Indore for treatment

All the injured persons are out of danger and complete arrangements have been made for their treatment here, the collector added

Restoration of Hindu places of worship done in all fairness: Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday defended restoration of Hindu places of worship saying they are being done in all fairness and backed by proof, and not an attempt to emotionalise anything. The construction of the three-storeyed Ram temple in Ayodhya is underway after the Supreme Court verdict came in favour of the temple in 2019. Earlier in January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the 'Pran Pratishtha' of Ram Lalla idol as per prescribed rituals. "We need the right kind of storytelling, highlighting it and wherever necessary... so that the civilizational attempt to restore (temples) is done with fairness...we are not trying to emotionalise anything...emotion we have inside, but proof with which we go to the court should stand out for itself," Sitharaman said at a book release event here. Releasing a book titled 'Waiting for Shiva Unearthing the Truth of Kashi Gyan Vapi' written by Vikram Sampath, she said documentation has been an inherent part of the Hindu wa

K'taka temple bill fails to pass in Legislative Council amid uproar by BJP

In a setback to the ruling Congress in Karnataka, a bill that sought to collect funds from temples with over Rs 10 lakh annual income was defeated by the opposition BJP-JD(S) combine in the Legislative Council. The Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was passed by the Legislative Assembly earlier this week. It was defeated by a voice vote in the Upper House, where the opposition has a majority, on Friday. The bill among other things, proposes to collect five per cent from temples whose gross income is between Rs 10 lakh and less than Rs one crore and 10 per cent from temples whose income is above Rs one crore, to be put into a Common Pool Fund, administered by 'Rajya Dharmika Parishath', which is proposed to be used for Archakas' (priests) welfare and upkeep of 'C' category temples (state controlled) whose annual income is less than Rs five lakh. The act that was earlier amended in 2011 had made way for five per cent of the net .

Karnataka ministers defend 10% tax on temples amid row, criticise BJP

Minister for Transport, Ramalinga Reddy alleged that BJP is 'anti-Hindu' adding that the party which was in power in 2011 had made the amendments to the Bill

BAPS Hindu Temple in UAE: Matter of pride, cultural icon, says diaspora

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first Hindu temple, BAPS Hindu Temple here on Wednesday

PM Modi flexes global muscle with Abu Dhabi visit, temple opening

The UAE and India have historically enjoyed close ties. A third of the Gulf country's population hails from India and Dubai counts Indians as among the top buyers of real estate in the city

Will forget other things if Gyanvapi, Mathura freed: Ram Mandir treasurer

"The country's future should be good and if we get these temples (Gyanvapi and Krishna Janmabhoomi) peacefully we will forget about all other things," Dev Giri Maharaj said

Gyanvapi case: Varanasi court allows Hindu side to pray in mosque basement

Gyanvapi case: The Hindu side's advocate Madan Mohan Yadav said that the Varanasi court has allowed Hindus to worship in the "Vyas ji ka tahkhana" located in the Gyanvapi complex

1 dead, 17 injured as wooden stage collapses at Delhi's Kalkaji temple

A 45-year-old woman died and 17 people were injured when a stage set up for a religious function at the Kalkaji temple here collapsed in the early hours of Sunday, police said. The tragic incident occurred around 12.30 am, they said. The identity of the deceased is yet to be identified. According to police, a 'jagran' (religious function) was organised at the Mahant Parishar of Kalkaji temple on Saturday and around 1,600 people attended it. "No prior permission was granted for the event. However, sufficient staff was deployed to maintain law and order. There was a gathering of around 1,500 to 1,600 people at around 12.30 am on Sunday," Deputy Commissioner of Police (southeast) Rajesh Deo said. An elevated wooden platform supported by an iron frame was set up near the main stage for the families of the organisers and VIPs. Around 12.30 am, the elevated platform collapsed as it could not bear the weight of the people sitting on it and fell on those seated below, the DCP said. All t

Schools, colleges in Odisha to be shut on Jan 27 for temple project launch

Schools and colleges across Odisha will remain closed on Saturday on the occasion of the launch of a temple redevelopment project in Sambalpur, officials said. The decision was taken to facilitate people to join the inauguration of the Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economy Initiatives (SAMALEI) project, they said. All government offices will remain shut on that day as it's the fourth Saturday of the month. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is scheduled to launch the Rs 200-crore project, spread over an area of around 40 acres. The initiative includes beautification and peripheral development of the temple, a heritage corridor and modern amenities, the officials said.