Hindu Council of Australia

Push to liberate religious swasti in NSW from its ‘indoor prison’

by
Unlike the symbol on the Nazi flag, the Hindu swasti commonly features four dots.
Unlike the symbol on the Nazi flag, the Hindu swasti commonly features four dots.

Surinder Jain has a dream: to normalise the swasti in Australia.

Not the hate symbol that featured on the Nazi flag and is still waved by far-right racists today. Jain is referring to the ancient icon that plays a central role in the religious practice of hundreds of millions of people around the world.

Surinder Jain, national vice president of the Hindu Council of Australia, has joined forces with NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Darren Bark to promote awareness of the sacred swasti.

Read more

Swaminarayan Mandir at the Sydney Opera House

by

His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj

In a city-first, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir has hosted a cultural parade and assembly in front of Sydney’s two most iconic monuments.

The socio-spiritual Hindu organisation marked the beginning of the centenary celebration of its fifth spiritual leader, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, on Saturday 23 April 2022. This event took place on the steps of the iconic Sydney Opera House with breathtaking views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in backdrop.

Read more

MCG opens a new Multi-Faith Prayer Room

by

MCG opens a new Multi-Faith Prayer RoomThe Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), managers of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) are delighted to today unveil the brand-new MCG Multi-Faith Prayer Room, open to the public ahead of all four matches of Round 1 of the 2022 AFL Premiership Season.

Read more

Hindu Youth Conference Online

by

Hindu Youth Conference OnlineThe Hindu Council of Australia will conduct an online conference for Hindu youth (18-30) on 5 September 2021. The online event is called VICHAAR MANTHAN – A 21st Century Solution. The conference will examine the application of Sanathana Dharma (the perennial philosophy) to the constant churning of the mind with thoughts, and the relevance of Sanathana Dharma to life today.

Read more

NSW: Conference on Hindu Religion Cancelled

by

Hindu Council of Australia

Due to the recent COVID situation in Sydney, the Hindu Council of Australia has decided to postpone the conference to late August or the beginning of September 2021. The Hindu Council of Australia will invite all the registered participants to an hour meeting on Sat 3 July 2021 at 11 am using Zoom.

Read more

NSW: International Yoga Day

by

International Day of Yoga

International Yoga Day is celebrated worldwide on 21 June of each year. Yoga is an ancient tradition which has many applications. Individuals practice yoga all over the world, and gain benefit the asana poses and excercises bestow. Other forms of yoga still the mind within, and grant inner peace and stillness. The United Nations proclaimed International Day of Yoga in 2014. The day is growing in popularity each year. This year, due Coronavirus and lockdown in various nations, there may be some restrictions on mass public yoga events.

Read more

The Domestic Experience of Freedom of Religion or Belief

by

On Tuesday, 29 November 2016 the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, asked the House of Representatives Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade to inquire into and report on The status of the human right to freedom of religion or belief. That Committee has a Human Rights Sub-Committee which conducted the inquiry.

An interim report of the committee was issued in November, 2017. On Wednesday, 3 April 2019, the Sub-Committee tabled its second interim report for the Inquiry into the status of the human right to freedom of religion or belief. In this article, we select excerpts of the domestic experience of freedom of religion or belief as expressed by various religious communities in the report.

Read more