The small temple town of Dharmasthala in Karnataka, known for its religious significance, has found itself at the center of shocking allegations involving mass burials, sexual assault, and murder. The case came to light when a 48-year-old Dalit man, who had worked as a sanitation worker at the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Temple, emerged from hiding after 12 years. The man, burdened with guilt and fear, revealed disturbing details about the murders he wit

A recent rath yatra procession held in Toronto has sparked diplomatic concern after a video surfaced online allegedly showing eggs thrown at the religious gathering. The incident, which occurred during the annual chariot procession dedicated to Lord Jagannath, has prompted India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to issue a formal response, describing the act as “regrettable” and urging Canadian authorities to take appropriate action against those involved.

In a significant move, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the governing body of the famous Lord Venkateswara temple, has suspended Assistant Executive Officer (AEO) A. Rajasekhar Babu with immediate effect for allegedly participating in church prayers in his hometown of Puttur, located in the Tirupati district. The suspension stems from allegations that Babu attended church services regularly on Sundays, an act considered a violation of the strict code

In a deeply tragic incident, five teenage boys from Hyderabad drowned in the Godavari River near Basara on Sunday, June 15, while performing a ritual bath before visiting the Gnana Saraswathi temple. The group of around 20 devotees had traveled to Basara for religious purposes. As part of the temple tradition, five boys entered the river for a holy dip. Unfortunately, a sudden surge in the river’s water level created a powerful current, sweeping the tee

India’s spiritual landscape is filled with countless sacred places, and while South India is famous for its magnificent temple architecture, North India offers equally powerful spiritual experiences. With millions of devotees traveling to these divine sites each year, these temples are more than just religious spots they are journeys of inner peace, faith, and devotion. If you're planning a spiritual getaway or looking for your next pilgrimage destin

A recent event involving Miss World 2025 contestants has ignited a political and cultural firestorm in Telangana. The controversy erupted after a video surfaced showing women volunteers washing and wiping the feet of international beauty pageant participants before their entry into the historic Ramappa temple, located in Mulugu district. This act, which was meant as a ceremonial welcome, has been widely criticized by political parties and social groups who view it as a blow to the dignity and

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has formally raised objections with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the naming of the newly inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha as ‘Jagannath Dham’. In a letter addressed to Banerjee on May 6, CM Majhi expressed deep concern and urged the West Bengal government to refrain from using the term, citing cultural sensitivity and religious sentiments tied to the original and sacred Shree Jagannath Dham in Puri. In the

In anticipation of the heavy summer vacation rush, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has announced several key measures to better manage the flow of devotees visiting the sacred shrine of Sri Venkateswara Swamy. Effective from May 01, 2025, the TTD will restrict VIP Break Darshan privileges, allowing only protocol VIPs (self) to access the special darshan slots during the busy summer season. This decision is intended to prioritize the darshan experience for common devotees who travel in la

A suspect involved in the Amritsar temple blast was killed in a police encounter, while another suspect managed to escape, Punjab Police confirmed on Monday. The encounter took place after officers tracked down the accused in the Rajasansi area of Amritsar. The incident stems from the March 15 explosion outside the Thakur Dwara Temple in Amritsar, where an unidentified individual hurled an explosive device toward the temple premises. The blast caused damage to the temple’s wall and shat

In a significant update, the Moinabad police arrested five additional individuals, including two women, in connection with the attack on CS Rangarajan, the head priest of Chilkur Balaji Temple. Kovvuri Veer Raghava Reddy, the founder of the Rama Rajyam organization, had already been arrested and remanded in the case. The police investigation revealed that Raghava Reddy had been demanding financial support from Rangarajan and sought his involvement in recruiting people for the "Rama Rajya

 Tirumala Tirupati seers have initiated a hunger strike to protest the development of the Mumtaz Hotel near the holy Tirumala temple, claiming it would compromise the sanctity of the sacred seven hills. The protest is aimed at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrabu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, as the seers seek answers regarding the hotel project.   The Mumtaz Hotel is planned to be a 100-room, 5-star facility, with a total investment of Rs 250 crore. Located

Special Arrangements for Ratha Saptami: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is all set for the grand celebration of Ratha Saptami on February 4. TTD Chairman BR Naidu confirmed that the Trust Board has made extensive arrangements for the occasion. Notably, all arjita sevas (special services) will be performed in Ekantham (isolated worship), which will ensure the sanctity of

The newly appointed Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board, under the leadership of Chairman BR Naidu, held its first meeting on Monday at the Annamayya Bhavan in Tirumala. During this meeting, the board passed several resolutions, one of which was a strong request to the Andhra Pradesh government to cancel the allotment of 20 acres of land near Alipiri for the proposed Mumtaz Hotel. The decision comes after growing concerns that the hotel project could hurt the religious sentiments of de

The recent tragic stampede during the Vaikuntha Ekadashi celebrations in Tirupati has left the community in grief. In response to the crisis, the government has announced an ex-gratia of ₹25 lakh to the families of the deceased. This announcement was made following the incident at the token distribution centers for the Vaikuntha Dwara Darshan. Revenue Minister Anagani Satyaprasad, alongside other state ministers, including Home Minister Anita and Anam Ramanayana Reddy, visited the

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has reported an impressive Rs. 1,365 crore in Hundi donations for the year 2024. The temple saw a significant number of pilgrims, with 2.55 crore devotees visiting the holy site. A remarkable 99 lakh devotees participated in the tradition of tonsuring their heads as an offering to Lord Venkateswara. TTD also ensured the spiritual nourishment of the devotees, with 6.30 crore serving of Anna Prasadam, a free meal provided to pilgrims. In addition, 12.14 cror

A Budaun court will decide on January 18, 2025, whether to hear a plea that claims the existence of a Neelkanth temple at the site of the Jama Masjid Shamsi mosque. The case, which began in 2022, arose when Mukesh Patel, then convener of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha, claimed that a temple existed at the site and sought permission to worship there. Lawyers from both sides presented their arguments on December 17, but the court did not pass a decision and postponed it to January 18 due to the o

The Pakistan High Commission announced on Wednesday that it has issued 84 visas to Indian pilgrims for a visit to the Shree Katas Raj temples in Chakwal district, Punjab, Pakistan. The pilgrimage, scheduled from December 19 to 25, will allow Hindu pilgrims to visit this sacred complex of temples, also known as Qila Katas. The temples are a significant religious site for Hindus and are linked by walkways. These visits are part of the long-standing Pakistan-India bilateral protocol on

In a politically charged move, the West Bengal BJP's Murshidabad unit has announced plans to construct a Ram temple in Berhampore, following a proposal by TMC MLA Humayun Kabir to build a mosque in Beldanga, located in the same district. The BJP's proposed Ram temple, which will be modeled after the Ram temple in Ayodhya, is scheduled to begin construction on January 22, 2025, marking exactly one year after the inauguration of the Ayodhya temple. Shakharav Sarkar, the BJP&rs

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) board, under the leadership of BR Naidu, has brought in notable improvements to the operations and management of the Tirumala temple. From cleaner pathways and better quality of services to addressing long-standing concerns like non-Hindu workers in Tirumala, the board has been making strides in maintaining the temple's sanctity. However, one major issue remains unresolved: the rise of Instagram reels and dance videos filmed in front of t

The Sanwaliya Seth Temple in Rajasthan's Chittorgarh recently witnessed an extraordinary wave of donations, making headlines for its record-breaking collection. Among the remarkable gifts were ₹23 crore in cash, a 1kg gold biscuit, and several smaller gold biscuits. Devotees also contributed unique silver items, including a silver pistol, silver handcuffs, and even a pure silver lock and key. Thes