Hinduism

Franklin: Two Hindu temples proposed near each other on South Middlebush Road

September 23, 2020

Two Hindu temples are proposed within a half mile of each other on South Middlebush Road.

The township's zoning board is scheduled next month to hear the applications of Dada Bhagwan Vignan Institute and Sai Datta Mandir to build the temples on either side of South Middlebush Road near Jacques and Cortelyous lanes.

Dada Bhagwan Vignan Institute, 630 South Middlebush Road, is proposing to build a 21,083-square-foot house of worship on a 15.96-acre lot on the eastern side of the road, several hundred feet south of Cortelyous Lane. The existing two-story home will...

Yoga’s 'father in the West' still defining our spirituality and celebrity 100 years later

September 17, 2020

One hundred years ago on Sept. 19, the Indian yogi and guru Paramahansa Yogananda arrived in Boston as the Indian delegate for the Unitarian Conference of Religious Liberals. Yogananda’s arrival, along with an earlier visit by another Indian teacher, Swami Vivekananda, began yoga’s rise on these shores into a major industry, as well as one of the most significant examples of syncretism — a religious and cultural mashup — in the history of the West.

Yogananda’s contribution to the growing diversity...

Hoover zoning board recommends plans for Hindu temple, Bluff Park and Trace Crossings subdivisions

September 16, 2020

The Hoover Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday night recommended approval for a Hindu temple in the former AMC discount theater off Lorna Road. as well as a 44-home subdivision in Bluff Park and a revised plan for the Trace Crossings Village Center.

All three of the proposals now go to the Hoover City Council for final approval.

The AMC Classic Lorna Ridge 10 movie theater, which closed permanently, is now proposed to be turned into a Hindu temple.

The 38,000-square-foot theater, which was built in 1983, is wanted for use...

Staying spiritual, safe: Campus religious groups adapt to social distancing

September 9, 2020

The Hillel Jewish Student Union used to pack hundreds of students into its Forbes Avenue building almost every Friday evening. Although students can no longer gather in crowded rooms, they’re still spending their Fridays with a few friends and a whole lot of challah.

From socially distant Shabbat to virtual Bible studies to international pen pal programs, students of various religions are solidifying their faith and their communities while following public health...

Biden campaign launches initiative to woo Hindus in US

September 4, 2020

The Biden campaign has announced the launch of 'Hindu Americans for Biden', as part of its efforts to attract the over two million members of the community in the US and address their issues, including hate crimes.

Indian-American Congressman from Illinois, Raja Krishnamoorthi, is scheduled to address the first meeting of 'Hindus for Biden' on Thursday, the organisers said on Tuesday.

The move from the Biden campaign comes over a fortnight after the Trump campaign on August 14 announced the formation of the 'Hindu Voices for Trump'.

In the November 3...

Canton City Council to open with Hindu mantras Sept. 15

September 3, 2020

CANTON-Hindu prayer will open the meeting of Canton City Council Sept. 15, containing verses from world’s oldest extant scripture.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed will deliver the invocation from ancient Sanskrit scriptures via Zoom before Canton City Council. After Sanskrit delivery, he then will read the English interpretation of the prayers. Sanskrit is considered a sacred language in Hinduism and root language of Indo-European languages.

Zed, who is the President of Universal Society of Hinduism, will recite from Rig-Veda, the oldest scripture of the...

Butler District 53 won’t be able to add requested Hindu holiday of Diwali to school calendar

August 21, 2020

A request from the president of Universal Society of Hinduism to make Diwali a school holiday in Butler Elementary School District 53 won’t be possible, said Superintend Paul O’Malley.

The request to add Diwali, the festival of lights, to the school calendar as a holiday, starting in November 2021, came from Rajan Zed, who said in a statement that doing so would be “a step in the positive direction” in light of there being a substantial number of Hindu students...

Hindus seek Diwali holiday in Oak Brook schools in Illinois, starting 2021

August 19, 2020

Hindus want all public schools in Oak Brook (Illinois) to stay closed on Diwali; the most popular of their festivals; starting 2021.

They are thus urging Christopher Edmonds and Dr. Paul O’Malley, Board President and Superintendent respectively of Butler School District (BSD) 53 in Oak Brook, to adopt Diwali as an official holiday on their 2021-2022 school year calendars and beyond.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement today, pointed out that it would be a step in the positive direction in view of presence of a substantial number...

Harris brings Baptist, interfaith roots to Democratic ticket

August 12, 2020

Kamala Harris, tapped on Tuesday as Joe Biden’s running mate, attended services at both a Black Baptist church and a Hindu temple growing up – an interfaith background that reflects her historic status as the first Black woman and woman of South Asian descent on a major-party presidential ticket.

The 55-year-old first-term Democratic senator, whose name means “lotus” in the Sanskrit language, identifies as a Baptist as an adult and brought another faith into her life in 2014 when she married Douglas Emhoff, a Jewish attorney. Their wedding featured the...

Valley’s religious turns to faith without framework as virus ravages

July 23, 2020

During times of turmoil, many people turn to their respective places of worship for comfort and guidance.

With COVID-19 ravaging much of the Rio Grande Valley and new orders reissued to mitigate the disease’s spread as hundreds more are infected and dozens die daily, many local faith leaders are faced with something of a conundrum: how to provide hope during what many feel is a hopeless time.

For the Valley’s spiritual leaders, the answer lies in social media.

“Almost all of our parishes were able to kind of switch to social media to...