Hindu American Foundation

The symbolism of Ravana's 10 heads Good and evil, like everything in the material world, are relative, and have no real meaning in connection to divine figures like Rama and Sita. Therefore, a true characterization of Ravana is not that he was a demon, but that he was a person who failed to control his senses, going down a path that led to forgetfulness of his real spiritual identity.

Happy #Vijaydashami! 
Dussehra celebrates Durga’s victory over Mahishasura & Rama’s triumph over Ravana. Ravana’s 10 heads symbolize wisdom, ego & flaws—reminding us the greatest battle is within. Read more 👉

9 things to know about Navarātri The feminine aspect is known as Devi (goddess, in Sanskrit), which is a manifestation of Shakti, the creative and energetic force of the Divine. Navarātri is not only about honoring the role these various female manifestations (e.g. Lakshmi, Parvati, Saraswati) play in Hinduism, but also the role the loving, compassionate, and gentle, yet sometimes powerful and fierce feminine energy plays in our lives.

Happy #Navaratri!
From garba nights to Durga Puja, temples & communities across the U.S. celebrate with music, prayer & joy. Rooted in Shakti, this 9-night festival blends spirituality, culture & togetherness. Here are 9 things

HAF Advocacy Center Take action on issues crucial to Hindu Americans

🚨 Californians! We’re so close — AB 268, the Diwali Day bill, has passed the Assembly & Senate. Now it’s up to 
@CAgovernor
 to sign it into law. Let’s make Diwali a CA state holiday so families can celebrate together. Take action now 👇

HAF Advocacy Center Take action on issues crucial to Hindu Americans

🚨 SB 509 has passed the CA Assembly & Senate and is now on Gavin Newsom's desk. This bill would wrongly train law enforcement to view Hindus with suspicion solely due to faith/national origin. Urge him to VETO SB 509!

HAF files amicus brief with Supreme Court in support of religious accommodations for prisoners Religious minorities often lack the protection promised by federal law, and their rights cannot be left to the mercy of prison officials

HAF has filed an amicus brief in Landor v. Louisiana Dept. of Corrections. The case asks: can officials be held accountable when they violate the religious rights of people in prison? Protecting faith means protecting it for all. 👉 www.hinduamerican.org/amicus-brief...

5 things to know about Onam A medley of competitions, colorful flower arrangements, artistic performances, and even elaborately decorated elephant processions, Onam is a spectacle of beauty for any pair of eyes to behold. Ultimately, however, the real beauty of Onam is in its spiritual significance, one that emphasizes surrender, devotion, justice, and compassion for all.

Happy Onam!
Kerala’s grand festival honors King Mahabali & celebrates generosity, unity, and joy. From sadya feasts to pookalams & boat races, Onam is about living timeless values together.
👉 5 things to know:

Devala Rees joins us to unpack how ancient Indian society organized itself (hint: it wasn’t caste), how the British redefined it, & why that distortion still impacts Hindus today. A must-listen. 🎧 https://f.mtr.cool/ltazmfequk

Happy Paryushana! Known as the "Festival of Forgiveness," Paryushana encourages us to let go of past grievances and seek forgiveness from those we may have wronged. It's a beautiful reminder of the power of compassion and the importance of introspection in our spiritual journey.

We’re back with a new episode of That’s So Hindu featuring HAF’s Devala Rees! 🎙️ Why do we use “Hindu Dharma Traditions” instead of Hinduism? Explore the diversity, unity, and connections among dharmic traditions. 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/gfzvtgiycp

5 things to know about Krishna Said to possess all of life’s opulences to a limitless degree, he is the embodiment of sweetness, charm, and more importantly, unconditional love. Maintaining the appearance of an ever-fresh youth, his earthly pastimes, in addition to protecting virtue, are meant to attract all into his association, in whatever capacity best suits the individual.

Happy Krishna Janmashtami! 
Krishna, the “all-attractive one” is playful, mischievous and meditative. His life and the wisdom of the Gita continue to guide us with love, courage & clarity. Here are 5 things to know about Krishna:

An attack on my mandir is an attack on America What if extremists attack a church or a mosque here in America? Would there even be a second attack, let alone eight in a row?

On Aug 15, as we honor India’s Independence Day & celebrate Shri Krishna Janmashtami, HAF’s CA Regional Director Sangeetha Shankar reminds us: defending our mandirs is defending who we are. Are you with us?
👉

🇮🇳 Celebrating India’s 79th Independence Day! HAF’s Samir Kalra writes in New India Abroad about Indian Americans thriving across generations, preserving culture & Hindu traditions.

In April, Islamist terrorists massacred Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir. HAF and HinduPACT HAHRI urged the UN, USCIRF, FBI, and DHS to condemn the ideologies fueling such attacks. Religious violence must be called out—silence costs lives.

5 things to know about Raksha Bandhan Observed on the full-moon day during Shravana (July-August), the 5th month in the Hindu lunar calendar, Raksha Bandhan is a popular Hindu holiday celebrating the love between a brother and sister.

Happy #Rakhi! What began as sisters tying rakhis on brothers now celebrates mutual respect, love & standing up for each other—across genders, roles & relations. Rooted in tradition, evolving for equality & inclusivity.

Can Bitcoin be dharmic? In this episode of That’s So Hindu, HAF’s Easan Katir explores crypto, AI, and how Hindu ethics apply to modern tech. From environment to investing, it’s a timely, thoughtful convo. 🎧 Tune in👉 https://f.mtr.cool/uxmxkatwds

5 things to know about tilak Tilak (“mark” in Sanskrit) is a paste made of ash, sandalwood, vermillion, clay, or turmeric, typically worn on the forehead, and sometimes other parts of the body — like the torso, arms, or neck — signifying which spiritual lineage a devotee adheres to within Hinduism.

As Raksha Bandhan approaches, it’s essential to learn that the tilak placed on a brother’s forehead is more than just a ritual. It’s a message of love, protection and dharma. A sacred reminder of the bond siblings share.

5 things to know about Naga Panchami Ancient spirituality revered all life, valuing even serpents for their sacred role in nature, highlighting humanity's deep connection with the environment.

Happy #NagaPanchami! 🐍
From Krishna’s battle with Kaliya to Vasuki in the churning of the ocean, serpents in Hindu Dharmas symbolize balance, power & transformation.
5 things to know 👉

Journey to the Hindu Himalaya: More on Uttarkashi, and a farewell for now The animism is just constant here. You can simply look around and see acts of animistic reverence of the river and trees almost literally every minute, just as ordinary local people pass by.

8 Days. 8 Destinations. One Sacred Journey.
The final stop: Uttarkashi. A living sanctuary where Ganga, trees & temples breathe Sanatana Dharma. From aarti to Diwali, forest hikes to rooftop bhajans, Devala Rees reflects on a journey of devotion.

Journey to the Hindu Himalaya: Nachiketa Tal The lake… well to be honest, it felt haunted.

8 Days. 8 Destinations. One Sacred Journey.
In Uttarkashi’s hills lies Nachiketa Tal, haunted, sacred, and full of legend. Devala Rees follows the footsteps of a boy who faced death to learn the self. An eerie stillness awaits.

Journey to the Hindu Himalaya: Gangotri & Gaukumh Ganga’s valley is deep and dramatic. Endless stands of sacred deodar cedars cover the slopes leading up to snow-capped mountains.

8 Days. 8 Destinations. One Sacred Journey.
From Gangnani to Gaumukh, Devala Rees treks barefoot through deodar forests & glaciers, meets mountain sadhus, and reaches Gangotri—where every stream echoes timeless devotion.

Journey to the Hindu Himalaya: Gangnani Village & More Nagas Gangnani has hot springs in which we bathed, which felt wonderful in the cold mountain air.

8 Days. 8 Destinations. One Sacred Journey. 
In Gangnani, Devala Rees finds sacred hot springs, wandering sadhus & ancient Naga pujas deep in Garhwal’s wilds. A village where nature, devotion & serpent lore still thrive.

Journey to the Hindu Himalaya: Uttarkashi Uttarkashi’s ghats are hidden treasures. Tourists rarely find their way to this back side of town.

8 Days. 8 Destinations. One Sacred Journey. 
After exploring the world of the Nagas, Devala Rees arrives in Uttarkashi, where sacred rivers, Shiva devotion & Himalayan serenity converge. 
Read more 👉

Journey to the Hindu Himalaya: In search of Nagas One of my friends was very interested in Nagas, and wanted to seek out sacred Naga sites in the Himalayas and venerate them.

8 Days. 8 Destinations. One Sacred Journey. 

HAF's Devala Rees treks into remote Himalayan villages in search of the Nagas, serpent beings of Hindu lore. Puja, pilgrimage & the power of nature await.

Read more 👉

New episode of That So Hindu! Indu Viswanathan talks with Naren K. Schreiner of Kali Mandir on his journey into Hinduism, Dharmic & Indigenous links, rethinking "tolerance," the Ram Mandir’s global meaning, the role of the Guru & more. 🎧👇
https://f.mtr.cool/mjfweypiiy

Journey to the Hindu Himalaya: Rishikesh Rishikesh’s spirituality is in the Ganga Herself

8 days. 8 sacred sites. One Sacred Journey.
After visiting Haridwar, HAF’s Devala Rees continues the pilgrimage to Rishikesh, where the Ganga runs clear, forests hum with mantras, and devotion flows. 

Journey to the Hindu Himalaya: Haridwar Haridwar is a very pretty town, with the Ganga flowing right through it, nestled between green, forested hills.

8 Days. 8 Destinations. One Sacred Journey.

In 2022, HAF's Devala Rees walked the Himalayas not as a tourist, but a seeker, starting in Haridwar, where river, forest & shrine converge.
This is dharma on the ground. A must read. 

All about Kabir His name is Arabic for “great,” and so he was for what he gave to the world : a collection of poetic works that are recited and sung more than 500 years after his time, touching and inspiring the lives of millions, and not just in India, but throughout the world.

Happy Kabir Jayanti! 
15th c. mystic poet Kabir was a weaver, rebel, and spiritual visionary whose verses defied caste, dogma & division. His Bijak still guides millions today.
Which Kabir doha do you live by? 👇
Dive in 👉

Terrorist Designation of The Resistance Front - United States Department of State Today, the Department of State is adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).  TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the […]

🚨 Breaking News|  U.S. designates The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba proxy, as a Foreign Terrorist Org & SDGT.

Sangeetha Shankar, HAF’s CA Regional Director, testified for AB 268 before the Senate Ed Committee. Asm. Kalra & Asm. Patel attended as the bill moves to introduce Diwali lessons in schools. HAF leads a 56-org coalition backing it. senate.ca.gov/media/senate...

Happy Asalha Puja! Today marks the Buddha’s first sermon, setting the Wheel of Dharma in motion. A sacred day for reflection, generosity, and honoring the timeless teachings of wisdom and liberation.
👉 Explore more: https://f.mtr.cool/cspfzhstmi