Week 211: Chandranath Temple Attacks, 2024 Hindu Planner, CoHNA Year-Roundup
12/31/2023 - Modern Hindu Content
Welcome to Eternal Path! This week we feature: Chandranath Temple Attacks, 2024 Hindu Planner, CoHNA Year-Roundup, and an aesthetic to close out the Western Year!
Hinduphobia Highlight: Chandranath Temple Attacks
Chandranath Temple is a famous shakti peetha (pilgrimage spots for Shakta Hindus) located near Chittagong in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, as is on trend for Bangladesh, the temple has come under attack recently. We’ve highlighted more of the rampant Hinduphobia in Bangladesh in previous issues, such as: Week 1, Week 69, Week 166, and Week 194.
We’ve sourced much of the following content from @_agnijwala_ on Twitter so give them a follow for their writings on Bengali Hindu culture, history, and life! The link to the full thread is here. A single-page version of the thread available here.
It appears that Bengali Muslims, who are settlers to the Chittagong region having ethnically cleansed the local Buddhist Chakma and Jumma people are now encroaching on this hill by blaring the adhan (Islamic call to prayer) on illegally built mosques in the area. They have also been trying to bury the google results for Chandranath Hill, attempting to change the name to “Azaan Hill” (Bengali/Urdu pronunciation of adhan), and creating a bunch of fake google maps results for mosques around Chandranath Hill.
However, the attacks are not just limited to land and online results; they have been physically attacking and manhandling devotees and pilgrims. HinduPost chronicles that one such attack occurred on December 29th, with at least 10 devotees needing treatment for injuries. At the time of publishing, there are reports that Islamists are organizing beef-eating parties in the Chandranath Hills scheduled for January 1st.
So what actions can outraged readers take? Most of our readers are in the United States, where the easiest action is to write to your Congressperson to take a look at treatment of minorities in Bangladesh. Additionally, whenever you see Bangladeshis accusing Hindus of being fascist, or really in general, whether in a panel, whether on an online platform, or whether even in person, immediately bring up attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, the declining Hindu demographics in Bangladesh (25% at independence, 7% now), and Islam’s record toward minorities.
Resource Highlight: Artham Calendar and Hindu Planner
Recently, Artham Shop unveiled a 2024 Goal Planner that features evidence-based techniques for achieving goals, a lot of great Hinduism related art and content, and a calendar for 2024, all bundled into one book! Check out their Instagram at @artham.shop , their Twitter @arthamshop or their Website at http://artham.shop/
Their book is available for order in India at: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0CQWC8M4H with Worldwide shipping coming soon and a product preview and checkout form available at: https://www.artham.shop/product/2024-hindu-planner/
Organization Highlight: CoHNA - A Voice for Hindus in North America
Great video highlighting CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) and their work!