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Inside BJP’s Power Shift: Hardline Hindutva, Regional Titans, and 2026 Governance
BJP’s leadership strategy now privileges regionally rooted figures aligned with a more assertive Hindutva program. This analysis explains the organizational logic behind that shift, the policy agenda it advances—UCC, anti-conversion statutes, law-and-order emphasis, and cultural heritage stewardship—and how delivery-oriented governance underpins the model. It assesses state-level prototypes in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, and Maharashtra while…
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Hudum Puja of Assam’s Koch Rajbongshi: Ancient Rain Rite, Sacred Ecology, Living Heritage
Hudum Puja is a rain-invoking folk ritual of the Koch Rajbongshi community in Assam, performed during acute drought to seek Hudum Deo’s blessing for timely monsoon showers. Anchored in agrarian time, the rite centers women’s ritual leadership, Hudum geet (satirical and supplicatory songs), and field-edge offerings that align social energy with ecological thresholds. Far from…
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Hanuman’s Humility in Ashoka Vatika: Assamese Ramayana’s Powerful Lesson on Dharma and Consent
The Assamese Ramayana preserves a compelling motif of Hanuman pausing in Ashoka Vatika to seek permission before tasting its fruit, transforming a moment of reconnaissance into a study in dharma. Framed within Sundara Kanda, the episode fuses courage with humility, presenting consent as a devotional discipline rather than a legal formality. The emphasis aligns with…
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Dev Damodar Tithi 2026: Date, Vaishakh Shukla Pratipada Timing, Assam Vaishnava Legacy
Dev Damodar Tithi 2026 will be observed on 18 April, corresponding to Vaishakh Shukla Pratipada, the day after Vaishakh Amavasya. The tithi commemorates Damodaradev of Ratnapitha, Hajo, a pivotal Vaishnava saint of Assam associated with the Brahma Sanghati within Ekasarana Dharma. This article explains tithi calculation, the sunrise-based observance rule, and why dates can vary…
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Edmonton’s Hindu Heritage Month 2025: Powerful Performances, Living Traditions, and Community Unity
Edmonton marked Hindu Heritage Month 2025 with an academically grounded yet warmly engaging celebration at the Stanley A. Milner Library. CoHNA Canada brought families, artists, and civic leaders together for a program spanning philosophy, folk arts, classical dance, and hands-on traditions. Highlights included reflections on Swami Vivekananda, a Nepal spotlight with Tamang Selo and Kumari-inspired…
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Magh Bihu 2026 in Assam: Date, Uruka Feasts and Meji Bonfires that Unite Communities
Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu or Maghar Domahi) in 2026 falls on January 14 and marks the close of Assam’s harvest season with Uruka feasts and Meji bonfires. Observed over several days, the festival blends agrarian rhythms with community fellowship. Key rituals include building bhelaghar, offering grains and sesame to the dawn bonfire, and sharing traditional…
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Assam grants 25 acres in Guwahati to TTD—landmark boost for Venkateshwara devotion and unity
The Government of Assam has allocated 25 acres in Guwahati for a Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Venkateshwara Swamy Temple, marking a pivotal expansion of pilgrimage infrastructure in Northeast India. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s communication to the Assam Chief Minister regarding enhancement of the allotment highlights constructive inter-state cooperation. A TTD Temple in Guwahati can…
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Brahmaputra Tragedy in Assam: 5 ISKCON Devotees Missing, 4 Rescued amid Strong Currents
A somber incident on the Brahmaputra in Guwahati, Assam, left five ISKCON devotees missing and four rescued after strong currents swept the group downstream. Among the missing is Udhav Prabhu of ISKCON Vrindavan, drawing widespread concern and prayer. The episode underscores the river’s volatile nature and the importance of exercising heightened caution during ritual bathing.…
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A Nationwide Anti-Polygamy Law? Assam’s Bold Model Fuels an Urgent Call for Equality
Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) has called for a nationwide anti-polygamy law, taking cues from the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill 2025. The proposal seeks to align personal law practices with constitutional guarantees of equality and dignity. Supporters argue that a harmonized framework can improve legal certainty, protect vulnerable spouses and children, and reduce litigation complexity.…
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Assam’s Bold Polygamy Ban: 10-Year Jail Term, CM Affirms Religion‑Neutral Reform
The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Assam Prohibition of Polygamy Bill, 2025, prescribing imprisonment of up to ten years while affirming religion-neutral application. The Chief Minister clarified that the reform is not anti-Islam, positioning it within India’s wider debate on equality and a Uniform Civil Code. Supporters see legal clarity and rights protection, while others…
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Assam Textbooks Drop ‘Great’ for Akbar and Tipu: NCERT’s Neutral Language Move Explained
NCERT has removed the honorific “Great” from references to Akbar and Tipu Sultan in Assam history textbooks, with CM Shri. Himanta Biswa Sarma supporting the change. The shift promotes neutral language, aligning with best practices in historiography and the Indian education system’s focus on evidence-based learning. Students benefit from clearer criteria for evaluating historical figures…
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Trinath Mela of Odisha, Bengal and Assam: A Living Tapestry of Devotion, Music, and Dharmic Unity
Trinath Mela, or Trinatha Festival, is a folk-religious fair centered in Odisha and observed in parts of Bengal and Assam. It venerates “Trinath,” the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, and expresses a core dharmic idea that many forms can reflect one truth. The celebration features kirtan, folk music, communal kitchens, and public gatherings that…
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Discover Assam’s Essential Legal Reforms: A Balanced, Complete Look at Marriage and Land Bills
Assam is preparing to table bills addressing alleged coercive conversion via marriage, uniform regulation of polygamy, and protection of religious endowment lands. Framed in constitutional and rights-based terms, the proposals aim to strengthen consent, equality, and heritage preservation. The approach emphasizes due process, proportionality, and safeguards against misuse, while maintaining space for legitimate interfaith marriages.…