'Heartfelt greetings': PM Modi's letter to citizens of UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar on Chaitra Navratri, New Year

IANS | March 19, 2026 9:56 AM

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday wrote to the people of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi on the auspicious occasion of Chaitra Navratri and the New Year, marking the beginning of Yugabda 5128 and Vikram Samvat 2083.

Chaitra Navratri: May Maa Durga infuse new energy into resolve of Viksit Bharat, says PM Modi

IANS | March 19, 2026 8:12 AM

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday extended Chaitra Navratri greetings to the countrymen and wished that Goddess Durga's grace brings new energy to the resolution of Viksit Bharat.

Devotees in large numbers throng temples across nation on first day of Chaitra Navratri

IANS | March 19, 2026 7:19 AM

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Devotees in large numbers thronged temples across the country on Thursday as India marked Chaitra Navratri, one of the most auspicious Hindu festivals dedicated to Goddess Durga with prayers, fasting and rituals.

Ganga's purity must be preserved: BJP MPs on Varanasi meat throwing incident

IANS | March 18, 2026 4:25 PM

New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) The arrest of 14 youths in Varanasi for allegedly dumping non-vegetarian food into the Ganga during an Iftar party on a boat, triggered sharp reactions from leaders across political parties on Wednesday.

Hinduism unites, not divides: Opposition on Sara Ali Khan temple row

IANS | March 18, 2026 2:04 PM

New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) A controversy erupted on Wednesday after Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan was asked to submit an affidavit if she wishes to seek blessings at the Badrinath and Kedarnath temples.

Religious freedom in South Asia: India's pluralist framework in troubled neighbourhood

Narender Kumar | March 17, 2026 9:44 PM

New Delhi: Freedom of religion and belief is among the most fundamental of human rights. It safeguards human dignity, allowing individuals to practice their faith without fear and enabling diverse communities to coexist peacefully. Nowhere is this principle more significant — and more contested — than in South Asia, a region that is home to some of the world’s oldest religions and an extraordinary mosaic of beliefs including Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism. While most South Asian nations constitutionally seem to guarantee religious freedom, the lived reality for many minorities reveals a more troubling picture shaped by politics, historical grievances, and social tensions.

BAPS swami Bhadreshdasji’s work 'Prasthanachatushtaye Brahmaghosha' receives national honour

IANS | March 17, 2026 6:45 PM

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) The prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award 2025, presented by the Government of India in the field of literature, was announced recently. This year, the honour in the Sanskrit category has been conferred upon the eminent scholar Mahamahopadhyaya Swami Bhadreshdasji for his monumental work "Prasthanachatushtaye Brahmaghosha."

Varanasi: 14 arrested for throwing non-veg food into Ganga during Iftar party on boat

IANS | March 17, 2026 2:26 PM

New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) A video showing a group of people reportedly holding an iftar party on a boat in the middle of the Ganga River at Varanasi has gone viral on social media, triggering a police complaint after which 14 individuals were arrested.

Maha Assembly passes Freedom of Religion Bill to curb forced conversions

IANS | March 17, 2026 8:36 AM

Mumbai, March 17 (IANS) The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill-2026 was passed after a heated debate on late Monday night in the state Legislative Assembly. The ruling Mahayuti government strongly defended the necessity of the Bill to curb the unlawful and forced conversion, while cracks surfaced within the Maha Vikas Aghadi government after the Shiv Sena(UBT) extended its support, but other allies, including Congress, NCP(SP) and Samajwadi Party, opposed the bill.

Turkey engaging in severe violations of religious freedom: US watchdog

IANS | March 16, 2026 4:17 PM

Ankara, March 16 (IANS) The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has urged the Donald Trump administration to include Turkey on the Special Watch List (SWL) for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom pursuant to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).

Religion

'Heartfelt greetings': PM Modi's letter to citizens of UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar on Chaitra Navratri, New Year

Chaitra Navratri: May Maa Durga infuse new energy into resolve of Viksit Bharat, says PM Modi

Devotees in large numbers throng temples across nation on first day of Chaitra Navratri

Ganga's purity must be preserved: BJP MPs on Varanasi meat throwing incident

Hinduism unites, not divides: Opposition on Sara Ali Khan temple row

Religious freedom in South Asia: India's pluralist framework in troubled neighbourhood

BAPS swami Bhadreshdasji’s work 'Prasthanachatushtaye Brahmaghosha' receives national honour

Varanasi: 14 arrested for throwing non-veg food into Ganga during Iftar party on boat

Maha Assembly passes Freedom of Religion Bill to curb forced conversions

Turkey engaging in severe violations of religious freedom: US watchdog

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