The Hindu Council of Australia would like to thank Australian Federal Parliament and the Governor General for celebrating Hindu Festival of Deepavali. Hindus feel very proud that Hindu festivals have been accepted as important festivals in Australia and Hindus are being treated as important citizens.
Hindu Council of Australia
NSW: Public Display of Nazi Symbols Banned
A new law has passed in Parliament making it a criminal offence to knowingly display a Nazi symbol in public without reasonable excuse. The new offence, Crimes Amendment (Prohibition on Display of Nazi Symbols) Bill 2022, falls under the Crimes Act 1900.
The NSW government’s decision to criminalise the use of Nazi symbols echoes the Victorian government’s decision made at the end of June.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 12 months imprisonment or an $11,000 fine, or both, for an individual. It carries a fine of $55,000 for a corporation.
NSW: International Day of Yoga Celebrations 2022
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. The United Nations proclaimed International Day of Yoga in 2014. This year Art of Living Sydney in collaboration with Consulate General of India celebrates the 8th International Day of Yoga on 25th June, 2022
Push to liberate religious swasti in NSW from its ‘indoor prison’
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.
Swaminarayan Mandir at the Sydney Opera House
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.
MCG opens a new Multi-Faith Prayer Room
The 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.
Hindu Religion in Australia – Its roots and growth
The Hindu Council of Australia will conduct a one-day conference Hindu Religion in Australia — Its Roots and Growth – online – on 5 September 2021 from 9:30am. The event is held online due the constraints of Covid-19 and lockdown in many states.
Hindu Youth Conference Online
The 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.
NSW: Conference on Hindu Religion Cancelled
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.
International Day of Yoga, Sydney
The Hindu Council of Australia would like to invite you to the International Day of Yoga at Hunters Hill Sailing Club on Sunday 20th June 2021 at 10 am.
Conference on Hindu Religion in Australia
The Hindu Council of Australia will conduct a one-day conference on July 3rd, to consider Hindu Religion in Australia — Its Roots and Growth. The Conference will be held from 9 am – 5pm at Sydney Olympic Park on 3rd of July, 2021
Hindu Dharma Ambassador Course
The Hindu Council of Australia in collaboration with the Hindu American Foundation is offering an online course for Hindus to become Dharma Ambassadors and represent Hinduism cogently to family, friends and the community. The course – online – is free and commences on 28th November 2020, 10am to noon.
NSW: International Yoga Day
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.
The Domestic Experience of Freedom of Religion or Belief
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.
