Chicago Hindu temple mass shooting plot foiled, police say, after authorities arrested a 19-year-old Palatine man accused of sending threatening messages and an alleged manifesto targeting minorities. Police recovered a rifle and ammunition, while Hindu places of worship were alerted as investigators examined the potential target. Alleged manifesto targeting minorities Police in suburban Chicago arrested 19-year-old Alexandros Paporakis

The Swaminarayan temple attack in Ohio damaged windows at Shree Swaminarayan Vadtal Dham in Richmond Heights while priests and devotees were inside. Authorities are reviewing surveillance footage as Hindu groups call for an investigation. A Hindu temple in Richmond Heights, Ohio, was attacked with bricks on Friday, October 2, 2026, shattering windows while priests and devotees were inside, according to Hindu advocacy organizations. The in

US temples sponsoring Hindu priests under R-1 rules should verify their own nonprofit eligibility, the priest's denominational membership and qualifications, religious duties, work hours, compensation and work location before filing Form I-129. US temples planning to sponsor a Hindu priest should review both the temple's eligibility and the priest's qualifications before filing an R-1 petition. The process requires documentation about the relig

US temples can provide priests with housing, room and board, stipends and other support. For R-1 workers, USCIS requires the compensation arrangement to be documented, while IRS rules determine whether housing and other benefits are excluded from income or taxable. Hindu temples in the United States may provide priests with accommodation, food, stipends and other living support instead of—or in addition to—a conventional salary. For priests

Are dakshina and Hindu priest payments taxable in the US? IRS rules generally treat compensation for religious services as taxable income. Temple salary, direct ceremony payments, self-employment tax and qualifying housing allowances can follow different rules. Payments made to Hindu priests in the United States can be taxable even when described as dakshina, honorarium or offerings. For federal tax purpo

A temple volunteer is not automatically an employee under U.S. law. Genuine unpaid religious service is generally permitted at nonprofits, but regular duties, expected compensation or replacing paid workers can change the analysis. Visa holders also face separate immigration rules. Indian temples across the United States often depend on volunteers for festivals, kitchens, religious programs, administration and community events. But when does un

An R-1 Hindu priest can potentially work for two temples in the United States, but approval from one temple does not automatically authorize employment with another. Federal rules require each additional qualifying religious employer to obtain authorization for the worker. A Hindu priest in R-1 religious worker status can potentially work for two temples in the United States. However, approval to work for

Can an R-1 Hindu priest perform private pujas for money in the USA? A home ceremony is not automatically prohibited, but R-1 workers cannot freely take independent paid work. The sponsoring employer, approved duties, work locations and payment arrangement can determine whether the work is authorized. Hindu priests in the United States are often invited to homes for weddings, housewarmings, Satyanarayana p

The R-1 visa allows qualifying Hindu priests and other religious workers to work temporarily for eligible U.S. religious organizations. Key requirements include two years of denominational membership, an approved employer petition and at least 20 hours of religious work weekly. The R-1 visa for Hindu priests allows qualifying religious workers to serve temporarily at eligible religious or

Can a Hindu priest work a second job in the USA? Citizens and green card holders generally have broad employment rights, but priests in R-1 religious worker status face specific restrictions on employers, job duties and outside secular work. A Hindu priest working in the United States may or may not be able to take a second job. The key factor is not the person's religious role itself, but their U.S. immigration and employment status

Eiffel Tower staff protest over BAPS group visit triggered a temporary Eiffel Tower closure in Paris, with the BAPS Paris visit sparking a gender equality row, staff walkout and wider debate over religious accommodation.  

Female employees at the Eiffel Tower launched strike action on Monday after women were allegedly removed from their work positions and replaced by male employees during the weekend visit of an Indian religious delegation. The Eiffel Tower staff strike has since raised concerns over workplace equality, while the BAPS visit, SETE response and Paris probe have placed the incident under greater scrutiny. BAPS Visit Raises Concerns at Eiffe

Krishna Janmashtami celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, regarded in Hindu tradition as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu. According to tradition, Krishna was born at midnight on Ashtami during Krishna Paksha of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada. The festival symbolizes the victory of dharma over adharma and hope over oppression. Devotees across India and around the world observe the occasion with fasting, prayers, bhajans, temple celebrations and midnight worship. Mathura and Vrindavan

Krishna Janmashtami commemorates the birth of Lord Krishna, one of the most revered deities in Hindu tradition and regarded as the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The festival is observed according to the Hindu lunar calendar during Krishna Paksha Ashtami of the Shravana month. Across the United States, Hindu families, temples and spiritual organizations celebrate Janmashtami with fasting, bhajans, kirtans, abhishekam, Bhagavad Gita readings, cultural programs and midnight worshi

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat has called for harmony among different religious communities, saying that Hindutva cannot be associated with the exclusion of Muslims from India. Speaking at a multi-faith dialogue in New York on Saturday, August 29, Bhagwat addressed questions about Hindu-Muslim relations, the RSS and the idea of a Hindu Rashtra. He said his understanding of Hindu philosophy recognises the dignity of every individual and accepts that different spiritu

Zohran Mamdani celebrated Raksha Bandhan with South Asian seniors at India Home in New York City on Friday, August 28, 2026. The mayor received a rakhi, spoke about mutual support and community, and linked the festival’s message to a safer, more affordable city. Mamdani joins Raksha Bandhan celebration New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani celebrated Raksha Bandhan with South Asian seniors at India

Raksha Bandhan 2026 will not fall on the same civil date worldwide. Local Hindu Panchang calculations place the festival on August 27 in much of North America and Europe, while India and much of Asia-Pacific observe it on August 28, with city-specific Rakhi timings. Raksha Bandhan 2026 falls on two local dates Raksha Bandhan is observed on Shravana Purnima, but its Gregorian date can change dependin

Bhai Dooj vs Raksha Bandhan Differences: Rituals and Meaning Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters, but they are not the same festival. Bhai Dooj vs Raksha Bandhan differences can be seen in their rites, dates, myths, meaning and customs. One centers on tying a rakhi, while the other is marked by a sacred tilak and prayers for a brother’s well-being. Rites

Varalakshmi Vratam is a Hindu observance dedicated to Goddess Varalakshmi, a form of Lakshmi associated with prosperity, auspiciousness and family well-being. Observed especially in South India, the vratam brings together Lakshmi worship, Kalasha puja, traditional offerings and prayers for the welfare of the household. Varalakshmi Vratam meaning and significa

Nepal's southern plains have experienced one of the country's most serious outbreaks of communal unrest in recent years. The Nepal Hindu Muslim violence explained through official statements shows how a local religious dispute in Sunsari district escalated into wider Nepal communal unrest, leading to multiple deaths, curfews and an urgent Nepal government response aimed at restoring peace. Nepal Communal Unrest Began in Sunsari