Graduation Ceremony of Counselor of Hindu Traditions – Batch 1

Congratulations to the first batch for completing the Graduate Certificate Course in Counselor of Hindu Traditions (CHT) successfully Hindu Council of Australia (HCA) in collaboration and partnership with Hindu Community Institute (HCI) has commenced a pilot to bring in this unique spiritual care program called Counsellor of Hindu Traditions. We called this first batch of […]

Hindu Marriage Ritual – Vivah, a right of passage

By : Surinder Jain. A rite of passage with yajna ceremony often marks a Hindu wedding. Vivaha (Vivāha, Sanskrit: विवाह) is the rite of passage and rituals associated with marriage. While there are many rituals in Hinduism, vivaha (wedding) is the most extensive personal ritual an adult Hindu undertakes in his or her life.  The wedding rites […]

Religious Freedom Survey

We are conducting a study of religious people’s experience of religious freedom and discrimination, and of their attitudes toward lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and other genders and sexualities such as queer (LGBT+). We are asking for your assistance in distributing this survey. We are distributing the survey through local religious congregations and groups. If you […]

Pakistani Hindus lose daughters to forced Muslim marriages

LAHORE, Pakistan — Anila Dhawan, 17 , was kidnapped last spring from her home in Hyderabad, forced to convert to Islam and marry her abductor. The police refused to intervene. Her kidnapper told them she ran away from home, and converted to Islam and married him voluntarily. But after her family pressured a court to […]

Pakistani Hindus demand a law against forced conversion and child marriages

By: Ramesh Vankwani, Islamabad. Resolution against forced conversions & child marriages*   ISLAMABAD (26-03-2019): Prominent Hindu Lawmaker Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani has tabled two bills and one resolution against forced conversions, child marriages and for protection of minorities throughout the country. Condemning the recent abduction of two Hindu sisters named Reena and Raveena, he also […]

The Unconventional Groom

Author: Jiten Damudre. The sight of Shiva riding a bull, his mount Nandi, smeared in ashes, bedecked with a garland of skulls, smoking a pot, and a mere tiger skin as a loin cloth for his wedding, left Parvati’s parents Himavat and Mena in a state of shock and embarrassment. Mena – Parvati’s mother, was […]

Hindu Combined Marriages

By : Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani Patron-in-chief, Pakistan Hindu Council Member of National Assembly WhatsApp: 0333-2277370 Twitter: @RVankwani In the context of recently held Hindu Combined Marriages, my article published in The News (English), Jang (Urdu) and Ibrat (Sindhi) to highlight the socio-economic importance of mass weddings. Related Images:

Pakistani Hindus discuss their issues in Pakistan Hindu Council AGM

By : pakistanhinducouncil.org.pk. The First General Body Meeting of Pakistan Hindu Council Cabinet 18-20 was held on 9th December 2018, Sunday at Global Marquees, Karachi. The meeting was started with Gayatri/Mool Mantar and then a welcome speech was done by Mr. Raja Bhawan (Vice-President) in which he welcomed all the members and applauds all the […]

Sri Sitarama Kalyanam takes place in Sydney

Long awaited Sri Sitarama Kalyanam, i.e. celestial wedding of Lord Rama and Devi Sita was celebrated in Sydney today. The tradition of the marriage it is aid was established by Shiva Ji when he visited Bhadrachalam temple during his life which was spent defending Hindus from forced conversion. Marriage Procession through the streets of Parramatta […]

Lord from Bhadrachalam arrived in Sydney for Kalyanam and Coronation

By : Sai Pravastu. A historic moment for Australia –  Bhagwan Sri Rama along with Sita  Devi, Lakshmana and Anjaneya Swamy from Bhadrachalam Temple, have left from Bharat and are arriving today evening in Sydney. There will be a warm welcome by our local priests and Andal group with Purna Kumbam at the host’s residence.  […]

Dowry abuse submission by Hindu Council of Australia

On 26 June 2018, the Senate of Australia (Upper house of Parliament) referred the practice of dowry and the incidence of dowry abuse in Australia to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 6 December 2018. The committee’s focus is on the broad issues raised in the terms of reference […]

The Indian-Australian millennials

ABC’s religion and ethics unit have published a story on why Indian-Australian millennials are choosing to have arranged marriages. Read about it here. Related Images:

Take a Poll on Dowry – Have your say

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Dowry abuse in Australia – Senate orders an inquiry

By:Surinder Jain. SBS and some independent film producers have recently produced films on the deplorable dowry system prevalent in some parts of India and resulting violence against women. Armed with that evidence, on 26th June the Australian Senate referred the provisions of the practice of dowry and the incidence of dowry abuse in Australia to the Legal and […]

Take a Quiz on Hindu Symbols and Icons

Check your knowledge of Hinduism Please enter your email: 1. Hindus apply a Tilak on their foreheads to express their devotion? Yes/No  Yes  No 2. A Hindu can not apply a Tilak to a non-Hindu? Yes/No  Yes  No 3. While a Tilak can be applied at various parts of the body, Bindi must be applied […]

Take a quiz on Hindu Rituals

Please go to Take a quiz on Hindu Rituals to view the test Related Images:

Ram Sita Kalyanam Vivah in Parramatta 3rd November 2018

Hindu Council of Australia is celebrating Deepavali festival on 3rd and 4th of November 2018 in Parramatta Park this year also. A special attraction of this year is likely to be an elaborate performance of Rama Sita Kalyanam or Ram Sita Vivah (marriage of Ram and Sita) being planned for 3rd November in Parramatta park […]

A new film on Love Jihad by Sudipto Sen

Renonwned film artist Sudipto Sen has made a new film titled ‘In the Name of Love-Melancholy of God’s Own Country’. A screening of the film was organised by Global Indian Foundation and Vivekanand Vichar Manch of Jawahar Lal Nehru University in Delhi. The film focuses on the issue of ‘love jihad’ and religious conversion of girls in […]

Changes to Marriage Celebrants law and rules 2018

The Marriage Regulations 1963 were repealed on 1 April 2018 and have been replaced with the Marriage Regulations 2017, which commenced on 1 April 2018. A copy of the new regulations can be found here: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2017L01359. We would appreciate your assistance with advising your authorised celebrants of this change.  The Marriage Regulations 2017 have simplified […]