Madhya Pradesh: Govt clears ordinance to stop forced religious conversions

 

इंडोनेशिया के बाली में एक हज़ार साल से भी ज़्यादा पुराना है हिंदू धर्म | Hinduism in Bali, Indonesia is More than a Thousand Years Old

बाली का हिंदू धर्म एक हज़ार साल से भी ज़्यादा पुराना है। समुद्री यात्रा करने वाले व्यापारी, बौद्ध धर्मावलंबी और कई तांत्रिक व वैदिक हिंदू परंपराओं के अनुयायी हिंदू धर्म को भारत से बाली ले गए। वे भारत के पूर्वी तट से वहां गए थे। वैसे देखा जाए तो 1500 साल पूर्व के गुप्त काल में भारत का दक्षिण पूर्वी एशिया के साथ संपन्न समुद्री व्यापार था। अगस्त्य और कौण्डिन्य जैसे ऋषि मलेशिया और कंबोडिया जैसे दूर-दराज़ के राज्यों की यात्रा कर चुके थे। चोल राजाओं ने भी अपने साम्राज्य का विस्तार करने और व्यापार के ज़रिए राज्य की संपत्ति बढ़ाने के लिए श्रीलंका और मलेशिया तक समुद्री यात्राएं की थी। बाली में दीवारों पर आपको ‘ॐ शांति शांति शांति ॐ’ और ‘ॐ-सु-अस्ति-असतो’ जैसे शब्द लिखे हुए दिखाई देंगे। वहां के पुजारी अग्निहोत्र जैसे रिवाज़ों का ज़िक्र करते हैं और गायत्री मंत्र भी बोलते हैं। वहां ब्राह्मण, क्षत्रिय, वैश्य और शूद्र भी मिलते हैं। 

एक हज़ार साल पहले बाली में विभिन्न स्थानीय और बाहर से आए विश्वास व रीति-रिवाज़ हुआ करते थे। इसलिए साल 1011 में उबुद शहर के नज़दीक उदयन राजा के निरीक्षण में एक विशाल सभा बुलाई गई। इस सभा में विद्वानों ने मिलकर इन विभिन्नों विश्वासों और रिवाज़ों को एकजुट किया। सभा में तय किया गया कि हर घर, गांव और प्रांत में ब्रह्माण्डीय, पहाड़ी, समुद्री, वन संबंधी और स्थानीय देवताओं को समर्पित मंदिर होंगे।

देवताओं के प्रति भक्ति भारतीय हिंदू धर्म की विशेषता है। उधर बाली का हिंदू धर्म भी कर्मकांड को महत्व देता है। वह रिवाज़ों के ज़रिए देश, काल और पात्र को जोड़ने को भी अहमियत देता है। इस तरह भारत के साथ पुराने संबंधों को याद किया जाता है। जब पुजारी कुशा से पानी छिड़कते हुए एक मंदिर से दूसरे मंदिर जाते हैं, तब वे धरती और आकाश की ऊर्जा को लोगों के भले के लिए एकत्रित करते हैं।

तो हिंदू धर्म असल में क्या है? क्या रिवाज़ करना हिंदू धर्म है? क्या हिंदू धर्म कथाओं में पाया जाता है? क्या हिंदू धर्म में भक्ति अहम है या क्या पुराणों के देवता अहम हैं या फिर क्या वेद और तंत्र के विचारों का पालन करना हिंदू धर्म है? इन सवालों का जवाब ढूंढना मुश्किल है। शायद सिद्धांतों को लेकर पूर्वाग्रह और रूढ़िवाद के न होने की वजह से ही बाली अपनी सहिष्णुता, आतिथ्य और कोमलता के लिए दुनियाभर में मशहूर है।

इंडोनेशिया के बाली में हर एक गली, घर और दुकान में मंदिर होते हैं। वहां के रास्तों पर हज़ारों की तादाद में ताड़ पत्र से बनी छोटी टोकरियां बिखरी हुई दिखाई देंगी। हर टोकरी में फूल, थोड़ा खाना और अगरबत्ती होती हैं। वहां के लोग ये टोकरियां अदृश्य देवताओं को अर्पित करते हैं। भारतीय हिंदू धर्म और बाली के हिंदू धर्म में यही सबसे मूल फ़र्क है - बाली के देवता अदृश्य होते हैं। बाली में हर मंदिर के भीतर कई छोटे मंदिर होते हैं। उनके भीतर ऊंचे स्तंभों पर आसन होते हैं। रोचक बात यह है कि इन आसनों पर कोई देवी या देवता विराजमान नहीं होते, ऐसा इसलिए कि वे आकाश, पर्वत या समुंदर में रहते हैं। वे लोगों के समक्ष तब प्रकट होते हैं, जब उन्हें कुछ अर्पित कर उनका आवाहन किया जाता है।

मायथोलॉजी / देवदत्त पटनायक / दैनिक भास्कर, पटना 

फिल्मों से लेकर टीवी धारावाहिकों तक, मनोरंजन की दुनिया में तुलसी की उपस्थिति सर्वव्यापी है | Depiction of Tulsi Ma in Movies and Entertainment Industry

 

Somanathapura temple included for World Heritage Site nomination

The Belur, Halebid, and Somanathapura temples will be nominated for seeking the UNESCO World Heritage Site status and the final dossier is set for submission ahead of the September 30 deadline.

Both Belur and Halebid have been under the UNESCO’s tentative list for the last six years, and it was decided at the stakeholders’ meeting held recently to include the 12th century Keshava temple at Somanathapura as part of the serial nomination process under the Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas.

The State Archaeology Department has tied up with Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Bengaluru, for the preparation of the dossier, and the work commenced in September last year.

B.R. Poornima, Commissioner of the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, told The Hindu that the final dossier has been submitted to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which represents the country at the UNESCO world heritage meetings. She said the stakeholders’ meeting with local community members has also been conducted and there would be follow-up regarding site management.

Complete news: DB

These ancient Hindu temples still exist in Pakistan

The borderline between India and Pakistan was drawn in the post-independence bifurcation, but there are still many temples that exist in Pakistan. Today, we are going to tell you about some of the famous and ancient temples that exist in Pakistan.

1- The very ancient temple of Hinglaj Devi, present in Balochistan, Pakistan, is one of the 51 maha shaktipeeths. People come from different places to visit this temple .

2 - The Katasraj temple in Pakistan's Chakwal is the largest Shiva temples in Pakistan , with a cave and a pond near the temple. People say that bathing in this pond can relieve all the suffering and diseases of the people .

3- The Tharparkar Gauri Temple in Pakistan is considered to be very revered. It is the third largest temple in Pakistan.

4- Shiva Temple Built in POK  was once very important for devotees but after partition, the temple has become a shambles.

Source: NT

Singapore: Innovative 1-in-3 Hindu Temple

The Arulmigu Velmurugan Gnanamuneeswarar Temple (AVGMT) is the first Hindu temple in Singapore to have brought three religious abodes under one roof. They are the Arulmigu Velmurugan Temple that was once in Silat Road, the Shri Krishna Bhagawan-Durga Parameswari Temple and Sri Mariamman Muneeswarar Temple which were both formerly in Jalan Kayu.

The temple is also unusual in that it is the country’s first Hindu temple built with modern amenities, such as a subsidised preschool, within its premises.

Sengkang GRC MPs He Ting Ru, Jamus Lim, Raeesah Khan and Louis Chua were accompanied by WP leaders Pritam Singh and Sylvia Lim during the visit to the temple on Sunday (Aug 30) morning.

News reference 1

Kerala: Guardian Crocodile of the Ananthapura Lake Temple

Babiya is the guardian of the Ananthapura Lake Temple that stands in the namesake village in the Kasaragod District of Kerala. According to the local legend, Babiya feeds only on the temple prasad which is offered every day after the noon worship of the deity. The vegetarian prasad comprises of cooked rice and jaggery, and is fed to the friendly croc by the devotees fearlessly, by their hands.

A wonderful story associated with Lord Krishna and one of his ardent devotees throws light on the purpose of Babiya’s existence. As per it, when Sri Vilvamangalathu Swami was engaged in deep meditation to win the favour of his tutelary deity, Sri Vishnu, Lord Krishna appeared as a young boy and started playing pranks to test his devotee. Ruffled by the mischief of the little one, Vilvamangalathu Swami brushed him aside. By the time that sage realised his error, the boy-Krishna had vanished into the cave close-by. The crevice into which Krishna had disappeared is located somewhere inside the temple. And, the crocodile Babiya is the guardian appointed to safeguard the mysterious entrance.

Another legend has it that about 70 years ago, a British soldier killed the crocodile on guard at the Ananthapura Lake Temple. Surprisingly, the soldier died of snakebite sometime later, which, the locals believe, was due to the ire of the serpent deity Anantha for his heinous crime. Soon after, another crocodile appeared in the lake to replace the former guardian, and each time one dies, another one appears in its place!

Such is the legend of the temple at Lake Ananthapura and its wonderful patrolling reptilian attendants. Be sure about good luck coming your way if you chance upon Babiya swimming in the lake waters. So, the next time you plan a trip to Kerala, there is one mystery that might just give you an Agatha Christie like feel.

Detailed news and source

Ireland: First-ever Hindu temple inaugurated in Dublin

A historical moment was witnessed by the Indians living in the Republic of Ireland, as the first-ever Hindu temple was inaugurated in Dublin on August 22, 2020. It is the first center of its kind for Ireland’s growing community of Hindus to encourage and promote Hindu traditions and culture.

Before the temple was inaugurated, there was no dedicated or a permanent place where Hindus could gather and meet for worship, events, or religious festivals in Ireland. In that scenario, locations like community centers or town halls were rented out depending on availability to the Hindus to offer prayers in a group.

Complete news and source: TN

Kerala: Hindu Temple Feeds 2000 People Everyday; Maintains Age Old Practice of Anna-daana

 

London: Prince Charles Leads Silver Jubilee Tributes To UK's Largest Hindu Temple

To mark the 25th anniversary of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in north London numerous world leaders, including Britain's Prince Charles and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, posted congratulatory messages as celebrations started remotely amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Popularly called the Neasden Temple was built as per the specifications in ancient Indian scriptures but also satisfies modern British building regulations. It prides itself as a "made in India, built in London" grand monument and is among the largest Hindu temples outside the country.

In his special video message, heir to the British throne Prince Charles, who has made four visits to the temple on Holi and Diwali over the years, reflected on its role not only as a place of worship, but also as one of cultural and religious learning, celebration, peace and community service.

Complete news and reference: NDTV

Construction of Replica of the Lord Venkateswara Temple at Varanasi, Jammu, Mumbai and Chennai to Start After Covic19 is in Control

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams on Friday decided to start work on a multi-crore replica of the Lord Venkateswara temple at Varanasi, the Lok Sabha constituency represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, immediately after the situation brought about by Covid-19 returns to normal.

YV Subba Reddy, chairman of TTD, which governs the famous hill shrine at nearby Tirumala, said that the TTD, along with Varanasi, would also begin construction of such temples in Jammu and Kashmir, Mumbai and Chennai.

Source: India Today

महाराष्ट्र में गणेश पूजा के दौरान परिवार गौरी के रूप में देवी पूजा

 

अयोध्या राम मंदिर का भूमि पूजन आज | Ayodhya Ram Mandir Bhoomi Pujan Today

Jabalpur: 81 Year Old Woman Has Been Doing Penance for 28 Years for Ram Temple in Ayodhya

In a very touching story from Jabalpur, Dainik Bhaskar has reported about Urmila Chaturvedi, an old woman of 81 who has been doing penance in the form of not eating any grain for last 28 years. She has been eating only fruits and chants Raam Naam for all these years.

 

राम मंदिर के लिए उपवास:जबलपुर की 81 साल की उर्मिला चतुर्वेदी ने 28 साल से अन्न नहीं खाया, 5 अगस्त को अयोध्या में मंदिर की नींव रखते ही संकल्प पूरा होगा 

अयोध्या में राम मंदिर का निर्माण शुरू होते ही मध्य प्रदेश के जबलपुर में रहने वाली 81 साल की महिला की तपस्या पूरी हो जाएगी। 6 दिसंबर 1992 को अयोध्या में विवादित ढांचा ढहाए जाने के बाद दंगे हुए तो उन्होंने संकल्प लिया था कि राम मंदिर की नींव रखे जाने तक वे अन्न ग्रहण नहीं करेंगी। तब से ही वे फलाहार के साथ राम नाम जपते हुए उपवास पर हैं।

जबलपुर के विजय नगर में रहने वाली उर्मिला चतुर्वेदी ने उपवास शुरू किया था, तब उनकी उम्र 53 साल थी। पहले लोगों ने उन्हें बहुत समझाया कि उपवास तोड़ दें, लेकिन वे अडिग रहीं। मंदिर के पक्ष में फैसला आने पर वे बेहद खुश हुईं थीं। उन्होंने फैसला सुनाने वाले सुप्रीम कोर्ट के जजों और प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी को पत्र भेजकर बधाई दी थी।

अयोध्या में 5 अगस्त को प्रधानमंत्री नरेंद्र मोदी राम मंदिर की नींव रखेंगे। उर्मिला चतुर्वेदी उस दिन दिनभर घर में राम नाम का जाप करेंगी। वे चाहती हैं कि अयोध्या जाकर राम लला के दर्शन करने के बाद ही अन्न ग्रहण करें। उनके परिवार वाले समझा रहे हैं कि कोरोना की वजह से अयोध्या के कार्यक्रम में सिर्फ आमंत्रित लोग ही जा सकते हैं। ऐसे में उन्हें घर पर ही उपवास तोड़ लेना चाहिए, लेकिन वे इसके लिए अभी राजी नहीं हुई हैं।

उर्मिला का कहना है कि अयोध्या में राम मंदिर का बनना उनके लिए पुनर्जन्म जैसा है। वे कहती हैं कि संकल्प तो पूरा हो ही गया अब उनकी बस इतनी इच्छा है कि अयोध्या में थोड़ी सी जगह मिल जाए, ताकि बाकी जीवन वे वहां बिता सकें।

Patna: Sawan Festival Celebrated With Social Message

Patna: New Trend: Rakhi Made of Khadi

Ayodhya Ram Temple: Morari Bapu Bhakts Collect Rs 16.81 Crores for Ram Mandir

Ayodhya Ram Temple: History of Ayodhya | अयोध्या का इतिहास

Mahakali Temple, Pavagarh, Panchmahal, Gujarat

कंदरिया महादेव (शिव) मंदिर, खजुराहो | Kandariya Mahadev (Shiv) Temple, Khajuraho

इस भव्य और विशिष्ट मंदिर का निर्माण 1025 से 1050 ईस्वी के दौरान हुआ था। जिस परिसर में यह मंदिर स्थित है उसे अपने अलंकृत और अद्‌भुत वास्तुशिल्प के लिए जाना जाता है। इस परिसर का यह सबसे बड़ा मंदिर है। इसकी कलात्मक विशेषता और महत्व का अंदाज़ा इस बात से लगाया जा सकता है कि यहां दो और तीन फ़ुट ऊंची मूर्तियांें की संख्या 872 है और छोटी मूर्तियों की तो कोई गिनती नहीं है। इस मंदिर की ऊंचाई क़रीब 31 मीटर है जिसकी संरचना कैलास पर्वत की चोटी के समान दिखाई देती है। इस मंदिर में शिवलिंग के अलावा देवी-देवताओं की कलात्मक मूर्तियां भी देखने को मिलती हैं। मध्यभारत में वास्तुकला का ऐसा बेजोड़ नमूना कहीं और देखने को नहीं मिलता है।

Solapur: Siddheshwar Temple All Set for Holy Shrawan Month

Kerala: Hindu Royal Family of Travancore to Get Ownership of Padmanabhaswamy Temple

The Supreme Court on Monday restored the right of “Managership or the Shebaitship to the royal family of Travancore but the administration of the temple will be managed by a committee headed by a district judge. 

A bench of Justices ruled in favour of the royal family over right to manage and administer the affairs of one of the richest temples of the world. The family had challenged the order of the Kerala High Court which had held that the royal family could not claim to be in control or management of the temple as successor to the last ruler. The family, however, would not have absolute say in the administration as it agreed before the court to delegate its power to the administrative committee.

Source: TOI

Ayodhya: Shivalinga, idols found while levelling temple site

A shivalinga, broken idols and other artefacts were unearthed recently during levelling of the site for a Ram temple, the trust charged with its construction said.

The levelling work using heavy earth moving machinery began on May 11. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust reported that a five-foot shivalinga, seven black touchstone pillars, six red sandstone pillars, a 'flower pinnacle' and four broken idols of gods and goddesses were found.

The trust posted pictures and videos of the artefacts it said were recovered during the levelling process.

News: Rediff

Char Dhams of Hinduism

The Char-Dham were defined by Adi Shankaracharya. 

These are: 

• Badrinath
• Dwarka
• Jagannath Puri
• Rameshwaram

Just notice how these 4 are in North, West, East and South parts of India. We know that Hinduism is the true unifier of India. And Adi Shankaracharya was the true visionary who did great service to our dharma by his work. He had identified the need to unite all Hindus and whole India in those times! 

Badrinath shrine’s portals opened for summers

The portals of Badrinath Temple were opened early on Friday in the presence of only 28 people, including the chief priest, due to the lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), news agency ANI reported.

The doors of the famous shrine in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, which was decorated with strings of marigold flowers, was opened at 4:30am after a long winter break.

“Devotees will not be allowed entry into the temple during that time. The decision has been taken in view of the guidelines issued by the Centre amid Covid-19 pandemic,” Anil Chanyal, Joshimath’s sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), had said in a statement earlier.

Religious ceremonies were also held on Wednesday at the Narsingh temple in Joshimath ahead of the scheduled date for the opening of the portals of the Badrinath temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

Around 10,000 pilgrims had visited the shrine last year on the first day of its opening as per an estimated figure.

One of the most visited pilgrimage centres of India, Badrinath is one of the Char Dhams or the four main pilgrimage centres of the Hindus located in Garhwal hills.

Source: HT 

Hisar, Haryana: 30 families convert to Hinduism

Source: Dainik Jagran, New Delhi

30 families of the Muslim community today announced to convert to Hinduism in Bithmara village of Uklana block of the district.

They took the decision to embrace Hinduism after the demise of an elderly woman Phulli Devi today. Satbir Ahlawat, son of the deceased, informed that his mother died today and his family cremated the body as per Hindu rituals.

Source: Tribune

USA: Hindu priest chants 'Shanti Mantra' at White House

Vedic chants reverberated across the lawns of White House on Thursday as a Hindu priest joined the National Day of Prayer Service in Rose Garden. 

Pandit Harish Brahmbhatt chanted 'Shanti Mantra' at the invitation of President Donald Trump. 

Brahmbhatt was among those invited by Trump to join the National Day of Prayer Service amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

Hindu Priest Invited By US President Trump Recites Vedic Prayer derived from the Yajurveda At White House on the occasion of National Day of Prayer Service. Says in "troubled times of COVID-19, social distancing, and the lockdown, it’s not unusual for people to feel anxious or not at peace" Brahmbhatt. 

He informed that the beautiful Hindu prayer is derived from the Yajurveda before reciting the prayer.

Complete news and source: DNA

Jind, Haryana: 35 People Convert to Hinduism

Thirty-five members of six Muslim families, belonging to Danoda Kalan village in Haryana's Jind district, have embraced Hinduism.

Danoda Kalan sarpanch Purshotam Sharma told TOI, “Muslim community members came to meet me a few days ago and said they wished to adopt Hinduism. We didn’t oppose them. These families told me some Muslims, such as Tablighi Jamaat men had created bad image of their religion. They also said their ancestors were Hindus at the time of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb but had embraced Islam. Now they wanted to return their original religion.” There was no pressure on these villagers to convert, the sarpanch maintained.

Naresh Kumar (38), whose father died on April 18, said, “We were not completely Muslims as we were following rituals which were similar to Hinduism except performing the last rites after death. Now, we have decided to convert to Hinduism and have no pressure on us.”

Source: TOI

Kedarnath Dham is Now Opened

The doors of Kedarnath Dham has been opened for this year after winter closure of 6 months, as per the tradition. This time the celebration is muted because of the Corona virus crisis. Below is the first picture of this event as published in Dainik Bhaskar:

Kedarnath is one of the famous Jyotirlingas and was established by Adi Shankaracharya himself. The temple is about 1000 years old. 

Jai Kedarnath! Jai Shiv Shankar! Om Namah Shivay!

Tamil Nadu: Center plans to bring 7,000 Hindu Temples under ASI Control from Current State Govt's Control

Recently Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel has announced a plan to bring around 7,000 temples in the state of Tamil Nadu under the control of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

Currently these temples in Tamil Nadu are managed by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department of Tamil Nadu state government.

HR&CE officials say the Centre also plans to convert temples in places like Mamallapuram into tourist destinations.

A senior ASI officer told The Federal the monuments will be maintained properly if they are taken over by the ASI.

“According to the ASI Act, 1958, if ASI takes control of a temple, it must maintain the status quo of the temple. If regular poojas are performed in the temple, then it must be followed. Likewise, if poojas are not performed in the temple, then it should not be entertained in the future as well,” he said.

While it is expected the ASI can maintain the monuments well, Ramakrishna also pointed out some drawbacks. “If ASI takes a monument under its control, then one cannot build any other structure within 100 metres of the site, and buildings can be built within its 200 metres only after they are granted necessary permission,” added Ramakrishna.

Currently, 413 monuments in Tamil Nadu are under the control of the ASI.

Source

Dubai: New Hindu Temple to be Built

A new 25,000 sq.ft. multi-faith Hindu temple will be built in Jebel Ali, starting mid-2020. The temple will be an extension of the Sindhi Guru Darbar Temple in Souq Baniyan, Bur Dubai, announced Raju Shroff, an Indian businessman and one of the trustees of the Sindhi Guru Darbar Temple.

The new temple will be constructed adjacent to the Guru Nanak Darbar in Jebel Ali, making the locality a multi-religious corridor in Dubai. "Once complete, there will be several churches, the Sikh Guru Nanak Darbar, and a Hindu temple in the same location," explained Shroff. Temple construction is expected to be completed in 2022.

The new temple will be built in addition to the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, which is also expected to be completed in 2022.

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Jammu and Kashmir: Replica of the Tirumala Temple to Come Up along the Jammu-Katra Highway

The Jammu & Kashmir administration has agreed in principle to allot 100-acre land along the Jammu-Katra highway to the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams for constructing a replica of the Tirumala temple there.

TTD hopes to complete the construction of the temple along with a Vedic School and Hospital in two years time, MP V. Vijaya Sai Reddy who led the delegation of TTD Board said on Monday. 

Mr. Reddy said that funds for constructing the temple, a Vedic school, a marriage hall and a hospital would be raised from devotees and the TTD would also contribute, to the extent possible. Asked about security concerns in the newly formed UT

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Tiruchirappalli: Gold Coin Hoard Found Hidden Beneath Famous Hindu Temple

A hoard of coins has been uncovered at Jambukeswarar Temple. Hundreds of gold coins were unearthed in a pot that could date back over a millennium, to when this area was part of the mighty Chola dynasty . The find is rather mysterious as no one knows how the pot of gold coins got there and its origin. 

The treasure was found near the city of Tiruchirappalli, which is in the state of Tamil Nadu in southeast India. It was made in the world-famous Jambukeswarar Temple. This temple is dedicated to Shiva, one of the principal deities in the Hindu pantheon. 

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Kerala: Muslim couple conducts wedding of adopted Hindu girl in Hindu Temple

A Kerala Muslim couple conducted the wedding of their Hindu foster daughter at a Bhagavathi temple in Kerala, scripting another tale of communal harmony at Kasaragod.

The woman Rajeshwari tied the knot with Vishnu Prasad in the presence of family and friends belonging to both Hindu and Muslim communities.

Abdulla and Khadeeja adopted Rajeshwari after her father who worked at Abdulla's farm died. Rajeshwari's mother also passed away when she was a child.

Source

Balochistan: 200-year-old Hindu Temple Handed Back to Hindus After Being Taken Over in 1947

Zhob is a historical town located 300 kilometers northwest of Quetta city, the capital of Balochistan province. Known as Fort Sandeman during the British Raj, Zhob was home to many Hindus. Many of them migrated to India during the turbulent partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, but some of the Hindus families chose to continue living in Zhob. However, the main temple of Hindus, which is 200 years old, was closed down and its building was taken over at the time of partition. This temple was converted into a school 35 years ago. Meanwhile, the Hindus of Zhob established a makeshift prayer place in a mud building, which could collapse anytime.

Last week, this town made a spectacle of inter-faith harmony, where the otherwise conservative Muslims clerics agreed to handover to the Hindu community the temple that had been taken away from them in 1947. Meanwhile, the school that was operating in the temple has been shifted to another location in the town.

Source: The Diplomat