Every time followers of Sikhism pray, they beseech God to let them freely visit their gurdwaras in Pakistan. For 77 years, they have been separated from their most revered shrines left behind after India’s partition. The relentless animosity between the two neighbors made it almost impossible for Sikh pilgrims to pay homage even at the birthplace of Shri Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of their faith. The barriers are coming down slowly, as found by a group of 135 pilgrims,... Read more
A massive global religious event is unfolding with astonishing numbers Four hundred million pilgrims are expected to take a holy dip at the confluence of three sacred rivers in Prayagraj, north India, during the six weeks of the Maha Kumbh Mela, which began on January 13. Kumbh melas go back in antiquity and occur every three years by rotation in four cities – Prayagraj (erstwhile Allahabad), Haridwar, Ujjain, and Nashik. They are the largest gathering of humanity anywhere in the... Read more
Pope Francis recently addressed an international delegation of Jains, highlighting the urgent need to tackle global issues such as caring for vulnerable populations and environmental stewardship as a shared responsibility of all faiths. In his prepared remarks to the delegation that visited the Vatican as part of a decades-old Jain-Christian dialogue, Pope Francis said, “I thank you for your efforts to seek together ways of caring for the earth, the poor, and the most vulnerable in society. These areas of... Read more
“What is the purpose of life?” I once asked an Indian spiritual guru. I expected him to say: Enlightenment, moksha! But no. I was surprised when he replied, “The purpose of life is to serve others.” I am reminded of that simple but profound line on the eve of Giving Tuesday, which follows Thanksgiving. Yes, we express gratitude for gifts we have received. The best of them is the gift of life – just being alive and kicking. And then... Read more
America is the first nation in the modern world whose Constitution espouses the democratic values of freedom and equality, ideas which came to the fore during the French Revolution. But much before that, Guru Nanak Dev (1469-1539), the founder of Sikhism, made a fervent appeal for equality, including gender equality. Guru Nanak, whose 555th birth anniversary is being celebrated this year on November 15, said, ‘Awwal Allah noor upaaya, kudrat ke sab bande…’ First God created light, then by his... Read more
The White House celebrated Diwali on October 28, as in previous years. Pennsylvania announced Diwali as a public holiday. New York City schools have declared November 1 as a holiday to mark the Indian festival for the first time. I also notice an ever-increasing number of Diwali melas (fairs) and public functions organized by the growing and successful Indian community in America. The festivities have a cultural tinge and assertion of Hindu and Indian identity. Chhavi Arya Bhargava, a... Read more
At the CNN Presidential Town Hall on October 23, Vice President Kamala Harris said she prays every day. Yes, we know she was raised Baptist – the faith of her father, Jamaican American economist Donald J. Harris. But her mother was Shyamala Gopalan, a Hindu immigrant from India, belonging to the highest Brahmin caste – Iyengar. In a Christian-majority country, where Hindus or Indians account for just 1% of the voting population, Kamala Harris finds it prudent to not highlight... Read more
India was not mentioned in the Donald Trump-Kamala Harris debate on September 10. But soon after, Laura Loomer, the former President’s controversial ally, stirred the cauldron for Indian Americans by posting on social media that the White House would ‘smell like curry’ if Kamala got elected. She could as well have said ‘sambar’, the spicier staple of south India, to which Kamala traces her ancestry, as does Usha Vance, wife of the GOP vice-presidential nominee. After speaking to prominent Indian... Read more
When I was a teenager, I had this apocalyptic declaration on a patch embroidered on my jeans that said: ‘God is dead.’ Nietzsche’s misconstrued words perfectly reflected my loss of faith in my religion, Hinduism. A few years later, I learned meditation and was ready to vouch for at least the esoteric parts of my faith. Wearing your beliefs on your sleeve can anger some folks and lead to unending arguments. I was reminded of my teenage peccadillo when reading... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In