COHNA

08/15/2026

Teej refers to a number of Hindu festivals celebrated by women in India and Nepal (mainly in northern and central India). Hariyali Teej and Hartalika Teej welcome the monsoon season and are celebrated by girls and women, with songs, dances, and offering Puja.

The monsoon festivals of Teej are mainly dedicated to Devi Parvati's reunion with Bhagwan Shiva which symbolizes the divine union of energy and consciousness which results in the creation of entire cosmos.

08/14/2026

A name can claim representation. A track record has to prove it.

Our analysis of over 9,000 tweets from Hindus for Human Rights raises serious questions about that claim. Nearly half of the tweets focused on Indian politics, while American Hindu concerns received a fraction of that attention.

From politicizing Hindu festivals to reframing attacks on United States temples and giving limited attention to the persecution of Hindus in Pakistan and Bangladesh, the pattern deserves scrutiny.

American Hindus are not an extension of Indian politics. We are a diverse community with roots in India, the Caribbean, Fiji, Nepal and across the world. Our voices, our safety and our experiences deserve to be represented on their own terms.

Representation is not what you call yourself. It is what you consistently show up for.

For a deeper dive of the analysis and findings, check out bit.ly/hfhr-reality

08/14/2026

Join CoHNA’s Cleveland Community Gala to celebrate the resilience and contributions of our Hindu community.

Featuring our keynote speaker Jeffery Armstrong (a.k.a. Kavindra Rishi), best-selling author, linguist, philosopher, and poet, alongside performances, networking opportunities, and a sumptuous dinner.

🗓️ Saturday, August 22
🕔 5 - 8 pm
📍Shiva Vishnu Temple

Be a part of an evening that celebrates not only what our community has achieved, but what we can accomplish together.

Tickets are going fast! Reserve your seat at:
🔗 bit.ly/cleveland-2026

08/13/2026

Hinduphobia does not become less real because some refuse to acknowledge it.

When hatred targets Hindu temples, symbols, beliefs, or people, our community should not have to first prove that the hate is worthy of being taken seriously.

Calling it out is not fearmongering. Raising concerns with lawmakers and law enforcement is not an overreaction. Advocating for the safety and dignity of Hindu communities is a right.

And we intend to keep exercising it.

Silence allows hate to go unchallenged. Speak up. Stand with your community. Help us ensure Hinduphobia is recognized, confronted, and never normalized.

Get involved at 🔗 cohna.org/get-involved

08/11/2026

🗞️ ICYMI: July’s CoHNA Connects

Our youth got candid about Hinduphobia. 2 students helped change what nearly 50K+ students learn about the Sw****ka. CoHNA investigations pulled back the curtain on influential organizations. A major win in Canada put the crucial Sw****ka Hakenkreuz distinction into law. And from local communities to the White House, our volunteers showed up where conversations were happening.

But this is only a glimpse! Check out our advocacy wins, upcoming events, and more by visiting:
🔗 cohna.org/newsletters

08/11/2026

How American Hindu High School students are advocating for themselves, their traditions AND driving change. A new story in Religion News Service features the efforts of 3 brave members of CoHNA Youth Action Network (CYAN) working to correct the terminology around Sw****ka vs Hakenkreuz, in their respective high schools in Maryland and New Jersey.

https://religionnews.com/2026/08/10/hindu-students-ask-schools-to-discern-the-sw****ka-from-the-nazi-hakenkreuz-jewish-students-support-them/

The power of empowered CYAN Youth, knowledgeable and supportive parents backed by Hindu Parents Network all coming together on the CoHNA platform is driving education and changing minds.

This is the power of institutions and advocacy. And why YOU need to support organizations driving change. Read and share the story. Donate to CoHNA today to amplify change.
https://secure.cohna.org/forms/donate

(RNS) — ‘I think it’s very important that young people are told that the sw****ka has a very positive meaning, but it has been taken and used as a racist symbol,’ said Baijayanti Roy of Goethe University Frankfurt. ‘The sw****ka does not have any negative connotations, whereas the Hakenkre...

08/05/2026

Join CoHNA’s annual New Jersey Community Gala as we celebrate the resilience, contributions, and growing impact of our Hindu community across North America.

The evening will feature distinguished speakers, cultural performances, recognition of community leaders, and a chance to look at what lies ahead.

We are honored to have guest speaker, Praveen Chaturvedi, Founder and CEO of Prachyam Studios, joining us for the evening.

🗓️ Saturday, September 12
🕔 5 pm onwards
📍 Rasoi III

Seats are limited. Make sure to reserve your tickets now: 🔗 bit.ly/cohna-gala-2026

08/01/2026

Alberta is home to Hindus from all over the world, including but not limited to India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, UK, Fiji, Guyana, Kenya and other parts of Asia and Africa. Canadian Hindus have made many important contributions to the country’s cultural, economic and social progress, and have enriched its diversity.

07/30/2026

The pernicious impact of “caste” policies in the west has led to a situation where Hindus and Indian Americans can find any aspect of human interaction weaponized against them without the need for proof. Consider the lawsuit filed by California’s Civil Rights Department (CRD) in 2020 against CISCO technologist Sundar Iyer, alleging all manner of outrageous behavior. The only problem—none of it was found to be true!

What was the relationship between Sundar and his accuser -- an employee code named John Doe in court fillings? Why did Sundar recruit someone into his company and pay him millions if he planned to discriminate?
https://youtube.com/shorts/5u1YllQ65j4?si=K7J_mtvxpJ5Jp6Bz

In 2023, the state WITHDREW its lawsuit, but the damage to the individuals targeted and the broader community was never rectified, since the court of media trials and popular opinion had already convicted them and labels never went away.

The pernicious impact of “caste” policies in the west has led to a ...

07/29/2026

Guru Purnima is celebrated on the day of the full moon in the month of Ashadha (June-July) according to the Hindu lunar calendar. It is the day to pay homage to one's spiritual masters, teachers or gurus (Sanskrit: the one who frees us of ignorance) and refers to the spiritual leader who enlightens his or her disciples through knowledge and teachings. The day of Guru Purnima is also suitable for yogic sadhana and meditation.

Thanks to the Guru-Shishya system being followed in India since ancient times, the essential knowledge of the Vedas has been revealed and passed on over generations.Maharshi Ved Vyasa gave further structure to the knowledge in the Vedas and compiled it into 4 Vedas which were further divided into Shakhas(branches). This made it possible for a particular Guru-Shishya tradition to orally teach and preserve a specific branch of the Vedas. It is due to this incredible system that many years of onslaughts on the Hindu knowledge systems still couldn't completely wipe out the knowledge of the Vedas. While books in many libraries were burned it was not possible for the attackers to completely wipe out the knowledge preserved in the brains of many bright students from several Gurukuls across the country.