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🔴 RELIGIOUS CRIMES, BIG STORIES, ROWS
🔷 CHAR DHAM NON-HINDU BAN Uttarakhand CM backs temple panel’s demand to bar non Hindus from religious sites
🔷 DIVINE BOUNCERS – The divine bouncers: Restricting access to Uttarakhand shrines insults India, Hinduism
🔷 JAINS, SIKHS & BUDDHISTS Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists exempted from Kedarnath, Badrinath ban: Temple committee
🔷 FAITH VS ACCESS Faith Versus Access Debate Erupts As Char Dham Temples Kedarnath, Badrinath Weigh Ban On Non Hindus
🔷 GANGOTRI NON-HINDU BAN Gangotri Dham bans entry of non-Hindus; Congress calls it BJP’s ‘new election agenda’
🔷 PHONE BANUttarakhand bans phones & cameras on all Char Dham temple complexes
🔷 STOLEN MURTI RETURNED Smithsonian museum to return three South Indian bronzes to India
🔷 SRI VAISHNAVA SECT FIGHT SC appoints ex-judge SK Kaul as mediator in 120-year-old Tamil Nadu temple ritual dispute
🔷 TEMPLE GOLD MISSING ₹10 Lakh Worth Yadagirigutta Temple Gold, Silver Found Missing During Audit
🔷 GLAMOROUS THIEF Bengaluru: Woman Spent ₹5 Lakh Month on Makeup to Steal Gold at Temples, Couple Arrested
At Rs 5 Lakh a Month, This Bengaluru Thief’s ‘Robbery Budget’ Costs More Than Your Annual Expenses
🔷 WEDDING PHOTOSHOOT ROW Newlywed Couple Triggers Controversy After Photoshoot In Restricted Areas Near Tirumala Temple
🔷 SLEEPING HINDU BURNED Sleeping Hindu man burnt to death in Bangladesh; body charred beyond recognition
🔷 16 TEMPLES VANDALIZED Assam: 16 temples vandalized on same night – Kali murtis beheaded
🔷 MANIKARNIKA GHAT ROW CM Yogi Adityanath Rejects Claims Of Idol Damage At Manikarnika Ghat during renovation
Misinformation At Manikarnika: How Old Images and False Claims Fuelled Outrage
🔷 TIRUPATI GHEE ADULTERATION ROW Tirupati laddu case: CBI chargesheet names TTD staff, ghee suppliers as part of adulteration racket
Ghee was made with adulterated palm oil and not cow’s ghee – the offered to Venkateswara!
🔷 MURUGAN HILL ROW Plea In Supreme Court Challenging Madras High Court’s Decision Mandating ASI’s Approval For Lighting Lamp At Thiruparankundram Hill
Backstory – there’s a dargah and Murugan temple on the same hill. On Karthigai Deepam, Hindus walked to light a large lamp at the top of the hill close to dargah. They say that’s where it was traditionally lit. Currently thane been lighting it in the middle of the hill. Court ordered they couldn’t light it at top of hill. Protesters broke a barrier.
In the Kaumara religion, Murugan is worshipped as the Supreme God. There are 6 abodes of Murugan. This hill, with a dargah on it, is one of the 6 abodes of Murugan. This is the equivalent of a Hindu temple being in the Kaaba complex.
🔷 SABARIMALA GOLD THEFT ROW Kerala High Court says Sabarimala gold theft looks organized & orders further investigation
Sabarimala Temple Gold Theft Case: ED Raids 21 Locations
🔷 LARGEST MAHAKAL MURTI West Bengal to have world’s largest Mahakal murti
🔷 GURUVAYUR HEAD PRIEST Guruvayur head priest on controversial topics!
Guruvayoor head priest talks caste discrimination, allowing non-Hindus in temples, devotees only getting seconds of darshan, women not wanting priests for husbands & more!
🔷 AMAVASYA CHAOS Kolkata temple Amavasya chaos as cops baton charge devotees!
Kolkata temple abruptly closed at 6pm though people waiting for hours in queue to offer prayers on Amavasya! Devotees complained to Shyamsundari temple staff who called cops. Stones thrown at cops who charged crowed with batons!
🔷 KASHMIRI PANDITS Holocaust Day: ‘Homeland or demographic balance’ will only lead to resettlement of pandits in Kashmir
🔷 MEAT AT ALWAR TEMPLE? Priest accused of cooking meat at Alwar temple:Forced out after clash, say attack linked to attempts to grab temple land
🔷 MISMANAGED TEMPLE Residents stage protest over ‘mismanagement’ of Malvai village temple
🔷 SILVER SHIVLING STOLEN Silver Shivling worth Rs 25 lakh stolen from Nirmaan Vihar temple
🔷 CROWD MISTAKENLY WORSHIPS DUSTBIN! Video Shows Crowd Worshiping Dustbin After Mistaking It For Temple
🔷 TEMPLE VANDALISM Tensions Rise After Temple Vandalism in Puranapul
“The incident on January 15 involved damage to a banner and idol at the Mysamma temple.”
🔷 DURGA CROWN STOLEN Fake seer steals Durga’s silver crown & hundi money at Lucknow temple
🔷 TEMPLE TAKEOVER PLEA SC notice to Centre, TN over temple takeover plea by ASI
🔷 AMRITSAR GRENADE ATTACK 2025 Amritsar temple grenade attack: NIA searches 10 Punjab locations in expanding probe
🔷 RATS BY PRASHAD Annavaram temple suspends two employees after rat sighting at prasadam counter
🔷 GOSWAMIS PROTEST Uproar at Banke Bihari ahead of CM Yogi’s arrival:Goswamis say ‘We are not terrorists’, warn against misbehaviour with women amid police standoff
🔷 TEMPLE THEFT 4,000 rupee shoes stolen from MP Hanuman temple
🔷 VIP DARSHAN ROW Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Plea Against ‘VIP Dharshan’ At Ujjain Mahakaleshwar Temple
🔷 BANGLADESH TEMPLE TARGETED Another Hindu Temple Targeted In Bangladesh Amid Minority Safety Fears
🔷 CONVERSION SHOCKER Gurugram Shocker: Man Hides Muslim Identity, Marries Hindu Woman in Temple, Demands Conversion After Son’s Birth
🔷 HINDUS TARGETED Hindu Hate Watch-A Weekly Tracker: 89 cases targeting Hindus reported across Bharat
🔷 TEMPLE THEFT Patna temple theft
🔷 LANDS MAFIA Bangladesh: innocent Hindu murdered by ‘Momin’ land mafia, temple looted
🔷 ISKCON THEFT Major theft at ISKCON temple in Bangladesh’s Brahmanbaria
“Thieves broke into the Sri Sri Pagal Shankar ISKCON temple in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria district, and stole 14 idols, 20,000 Taka in cash, gold and silver ornaments, and several ritual items, according to reports.”
🔷 BANGLA HINDU PUSHED TO DEATH Another Hindu man killed in Bangladesh: Madhu Chandra Shil pushed to death by Ashraf Ali over land dispute
🔷 ILLEGAL TEMPLES Rajasthan HC orders removal of illegal temples in Jaipur:Asks govt to shift idols to a nearby temple; action should be taken against responsible officers
🔷 PRAYER BEFORE THEFT Prayed to Goddess, then committed theft:Thief breaks into Ujjain Temple’s sacred chamber, steals ₹16 Lakh
🔷 KALI TEMPLE THREATENED Assam: Encroachment crisis threatens historic Shamshan Kali Temple in Dhubri
🔷 BHAVANI JEWELRY STOLEN Masked men steal silver ornaments from Maa Ashapuri Bhavani Temple in Ujjain
🔷 TERRORIST MONK Terror unleashed by Junagadh’s Shivgiri in monk’s attire:Bulldozer action taken on encroachment at Bhavnath, earlier attacked woman with sword
🔷 NO ANIMAL FAT No animal fat in TTD ghee, CBI confirms in final chargesheet
🔷 AIRPORT SECURITY Security check at airport while returning after temple visits
“Panic was triggered at the airport after 38 live cartridges were found in the handbag of a Delhi-based passenger during Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) screening while he was returning after temple visits in the state.”
🔷 RAJASTHAN ENCROACHMENT Rajasthan HC orders removal of illegal temples from roads, sidewalks in Jaipur
🔷 MISSING TEMPLE JEWELS Share report on ‘missing’ temple jewels with officials: Madras HC
🔴 TEMPLE NEWS, NON-CRIMES
🔷 RAHU TEMPLE Ancient Rahu Temple In Pauri Garhwal Set For Major Development To Boost Tourism
🔷 ASSAM VENKATESWARA TTD to construct Venkateshwara Swamy temples in Assam, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
🔷 TEMPLE FIRE Shimla Temple Fire: Centuries-Old Baan Devta Mandir Gutted After Forest Flame
🔷 RELIGIOUS TOURISM Strategic Expansion of Tripura Spiritual Infrastructure via the New Matabari Tourism Circuit
🔷 OMKARESHWAR DEATH Odisha devotee dies during Omkareshwar temple darshan:Blood pressure rises suddenly; collapses while standing in a long queue amid heavy rush of pilgrims
🔷 RAM’S SON TEMPLE Temple dedicated to Lord Rams son restored, opens for public in Pakistans Lahore
🔷 NO CONSERVATION How a political and legal battle halted efforts to conserve Tiruvannamalai temple 25 years ago
🔷 TEMPLE DEMOLISHED MP: Parts Of 300-Year-Old Gaurihar Temple Demolished In Chitrakoot, HC Order Halts Action
🔷 SHIVRATRI BRAHMOTSAVAMS Srikalahasti Temple to host Mahashivaratri Brahmotsavams from February 10 to 22
🔷, HINDU MUSLIM RITUALS Locals defend historic Hindu-Muslim rituals at Gogaji temple amid online uproar
🔷 KUMBH ABHISHEKAM Kumbabhisekam of Kalyana Venkatramanaswamy Temple performed
🔷 AI TEMPLE GOVERNANCE Tirumala emerges as a role model for AI-enabled temple governance
🔷 KUMAR ECLIPSE CLOSING Tirumala temple to remain closed due to lunar eclipse on March 3
🔷 TIRUMALA STYLE LADDU Kanaka Durga devotees to get Tirumala-style laddu, meals
🔷 TEMPLE MISMANAGEMENT Kerala High Court’s New Guidelines to Tackle Temple Mismanagement
🔷 TEMPLE RENOVATION STAYED Madras high court stays renovation, construction of ancient TN temples
🔴 FESTIVALS
🔷 GAVAI JAYANTI Ganesh Jayanti for Maharashtra on Jan 22nd
🎉 GANESH JAYANTI to be celebrated on January 22nd in Maharashtra!
In Maharashtra state, Ganesha’s birthday is celebrated in January and not on the more popular, pan Indian celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi.
🔷 BASANT PUJA Grand Basant Puja held at Mussoorie Sanatan Dharma Temple
🔷 ADYANOSTAVALU Adyanostavalu begins at Patagutta temple
🔷 SURYARADHANA Suryaradhana performed at Srisailam temple
🔷 RATHA SAPTAMI Grand celebrations mark Ratha Saptami at Agiripalli temple
🔷 SURYA SAPTAMI Surya Saptami chariot in city spotlights state’s solar push
🔷 MEDRAM JATRA Telangana’s Medaram Jatra Fetches Huge Crowd On First Day, Sammakka To Arrive Today
“Devotees were in tears when priests carried Sarlamma, a forest goddess, in a bamboo basket, walking over the devotees as part of the traditional ritual.” (Tribal festival)
🔷 BRAHMOTSAVAMS Jubilee Hills Sri Venkateswara Temple Brahmotsavams From February 17
🔷 YALLAMMA DEVI FAIR Yallamma Devi temple fair begins in Sagar village, devotees gather in large numbers
🔷 THAI POOSAM Arrangements under way ahead of Thai Poosam at Palani temple
🔷 NITYANANDA TRAYODASHI Devotion, grandeur mark Sri Nityananda Trayodashi at Hare Krishna Golden Temple
🔴 PILGRIMAGES
🔷 CHAR DHAM Badrinath Dham portals to open on April 23 as Char Dham pilgrimage season begins
🔴 CELEBS & POLITICIANS AT TEMPLES
🔷 NITISH KUMAR Nitish Kumar Reddy offers prayer at Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple
🔷 VIRAT KOHLI Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav visit Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple ahead of ODI
🔷 TEAM INDIA Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir visits Kamakhya Temple ahead of 3rd India vs New Zealand T20I
🔷 SONAKSHI SINHA Kerala temple gets life-size mechanical elephant from actor Sonakshi Sinha, PETA
🔷 INDIAN CRICKET TEAM Indian cricket team visits Simhachalam Temple ahead of 4th T20I vs NZ
🔷 DHANUSH Dhanush’s sons Yatra and Linga shield him from fans amid crowd during Tirupati temple visit
🔷 AKHILESH YADAV Kolkata: Akhilesh Yadav Offer Prayers at Kalighat Temple
🔷 TANISHAA MUKERJI Tanishaa Mukerji visits Shirdi Temple, seeks Sai Baba`s blessings
🔷 ANANYA PANDAY Ananya Panday performs ‘Gau Seva’ during her visit to Lord Shiva temple
🔴 LISTS
🔷 SARASWATI PUJA Saraswati Puja 2026: 5 Best places to experience Basant Panchami in India
🔴 OVERSEAS HINDU NEWS
🔷 UK UK: Hindu parents remove son from London primary school in row over tilak-chandlo
🔷 FRANCE Carved stones for Hindu temple reach France
🔴 MISC: RELIGIOUS
🔷 VALMIKI RAMAYAN 233-year-old Valmiki Ramayana manuscript handed over for display at Ayodhya Ram Temple
🔷 MUSLIM RAMAYAN “I Am a Muslim, Yet I’m Composing Ramayana”: AR Rahman’s Words Are Breaking the Internet
🔷 SUN TEMPLE A week at the Katarmal Sun Temple
🔷 KASHMIR GENOCIDE Genocide In Kashmir: Forgotten And Buried- Part 1
🔷 VEG ON TRAINS Food, Faith And Choice: Railways Revisit Vegetarian-Only Menu On Howrah-Guwahati Vande Bharat Express
🔷 CHINESE KALI WORSHIP Chinese Kali worship in Kolkata – noodles for prashad
🔷 KINNAR YONI PUJA Why Kinnars perform Yoni Puja at Magh Mela:Aghori Kinnars cite Maa Kamakhya link;
🔷 SPIRITUAL MAHARASHTRA Spiritual Circuits Of Maharashtra: A Journey Through Faith, Topography, And Living Traditions
🔷 GOA TOURISM Goa in a New Avatar of Religious Tourism
🔷 NAGA SCULPTURE Naga Sculpture, Terracotta Object Found At Lakkundi Site
🔴 MISC: NON-RELIGIOUS
🔷 CENTURIES OLD MANUSCRIPTS Centuries of India’s manuscripts set for digital revival with Kashmir University Cluster Centre
🔷 CHINA’S TIBET CLASSES China faces criticism as record 10,500 Tibetan students enrolled in ‘Tibet Classes’, raising concerns of cultural assimilation
🔷 DOG GUARDS DEAD OWNERS ‘Loyalty humans can’t afford’: Pet dog guards teen’s body for 4 days in Himachal’s freezing snowfall
Missing Cousins Found Dead In Chamba Snow, Dog Guards Bodies For 72 Hours
🔷 INDIAN CURRENCY STORIES The Stories Behind the Monuments Printed on India’s Currency
🔴 OTHER RELIGIONS
🔷 ABLUTION AT SIKH TEMPLE Youth booked for ablution at Golden Temple sarovar
🔷 GARGLING AT GOLDEN TEMPLE Ghaziabad: Man arrested for gargling in Golden Temple sarovar after video goes viral
🔷 GARLANDED WITH SHOES Christian pastor garlanded with shoes, paraded & forced to bow to temple – now being evicted!
“On January 4, pastor Bipin Bihari Naik was assaulted by a mob of 15–20 youths at Kandarsinga village under Parjang police station in Dhenkanal district”
The pastor was also forced to eat cow dung.
🔷 PASTOR ASSAULT Meghalaya CM writes to Odisha counterpart over pastor assault incident
🔷 COMMUNAL TENSIONS Bareilly village with no mosque or temple faces fresh tensions after namaz inside home
🔷 FIR OVER GOLDEN TEMPLE SGPC to file FIR over act of disrespect at Golden Temple Sarovar
🔷 CATHOLIC VILLAGE Last Catholic Village in Manipur Marks Golden Jubilee with Dedication of New Church
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