First- and second-generation Hindu Americans stress the importance of intergenerational communication of Hindu values as necessary to maintaining temples and Hindu culture. In light of this, many temples offer educational programs such as “children’s pujas,” where parents and children come to the temple and learn how to make offerings, summer camps, youth conferences, dance and language classes.... Read more about The Future of Temples?

The unique context of the United States has often challenged American Hindu's affirmation of the oneness of its many visions of the Divine. Whereas different traditions in India may not have to share resources or festivals, Hindus of different backgrounds in the United States often need to share resources, and as such must address questions such as which prominent Deity will occupy a central space in the shared Hindu temple.... Read more about Many Traditions, Many Peoples

“What is Hinduism” remains one of the most persistent and challenging questions Hindu Americans face. This is a difficult question to answer, given the wide array of practices and different national, generational, and geographical identities and beliefs in Hinduism. 
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Hindu communities organize summer camps, which are part of the wider youth culture of the United States. Summer camps allow youth to learn about their Hindu backgrounds in engaging ways: performing pujas, practicing yoga, dance and music, doing sports, plays, and performances. Led by swamis, question and answer sessions are one of the central camp events.  The Q&As provide opportunities for campers to ask questions and discuss stereotypes about their faith that they encounter among their non-Hindu peers.... Read more about Hindu Summer Camps

Yoga (literally “to yoke” or “to join”) is both a spiritual and physical discipline of uniting body and mind through different meditations. Yoga begins with a practice of morality, restraining from violence, dishonesty, and strong desires for material possessions, among others. Yoga focuses on the breath, thus cultivating stability and one-pointedness of mind along with flexibility of the body.... Read more about Yoga, Health, the New Age

The city of Kashi or Varanasi/Banaras in India that sits on the banks of the Ganges is known for its cremation grounds. This name is preserved by the Kashi Ashram in Florida, known for its service to the dying. Kashi Ashram is a legacy of Ma Jaya, a Brooklyn-born American woman of Jewish descent who founded the ashram. Ma is remembered for her loving service to those who are dying, visiting hospitals and AIDS hospices in the city, offering cookies and fruits, and visiting, hugging, and encouraging the hospitals’ patients, especially those with AIDS.... Read more about Serving the Dying

The non-profit Hindu Students Council (HSC) is the most extensive Hindu student organization in the United States. The organization, present on college campuses across the United States, allows members to learn about the spiritual and cultural elements of Hinduism and provides opportunities for educational and service events. The HSC is notable for providing a welcoming environment to cultivate the Hindu tradition, though its members also raise questions about its affiliation with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) of America, which promotes Hindu nationalist agendas.... Read more about Hindu Revival on Campus