Indian American leaders and students convened in Washington, D.C., to address anti-Hindu hate and advocate for increased civic engagement during the fifth annual Hindu Day of Advocacy.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Indian American community leaders and students gathered in Washington, D.C., for the fifth annual Hindu Day of Advocacy, where they held numerous meetings with U.S. lawmakers to express concerns about anti-Hindu hate. The event emphasized the need for greater civic participation, stronger representation, and deeper engagement in the democratic process.
Organized by the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), the day-long program at the U.S. Capitol attracted approximately 160 participants from 14 states. Organizers reported that delegates conducted over 50 meetings with U.S. senators and members of the House of Representatives, visiting around 170 congressional offices to discuss issues affecting Hindu Americans and to promote increased political involvement.
During a reception, India’s Deputy Chief of Mission in Washington, Namgya C. Khampa, underscored the growing significance of the India-U.S. partnership and the vital role of the Indian diaspora in strengthening bilateral relations.
“The India-U.S. bilateral relationship is strong. It’s robust, it’s forward-looking, and the ambition on that is set by our leadership. Prime Minister Modi and President Trump recently met in France, and there’s a lot we have to accomplish together, and there’s a recognition of that,” Khampa stated.
Khampa further emphasized the importance of the attendees, saying, “I believe that all of you sitting in this room and beyond are critical partners in that process.”
CoHNA President Nikunj Trivedi noted that lawmakers from both the Democratic and Republican parties participated in the event, expressing their support for the community.
“We had experts, and we had congressmen from both sides of the party, Democrats and Republicans, who joined us to talk about how they stand in solidarity with us. They actually thanked us for being on Capitol Hill to represent our community because a lot of times our community is very shy. They don’t speak up,” Trivedi explained.
Trivedi highlighted discussions with lawmakers that focused on what organizers described as increasing anti-Hindu rhetoric, attacks on Hindu temples, and hostility towards Indian immigrants on social media.
“We also talked about anti-Indian hate, hate on social media against immigrants, hate against Hindus, how we are considered like agents of foreign governments like India. Simply for speaking up about our rights, about attacks on Hindu temples, about attacks on Hindu identity, we are considered agents of the Indian government,” he said.
“So, we wanted to educate our lawmakers that this is how we are being targeted.”
According to Trivedi, the advocacy effort also underscored the importance of youth participation in public life. The program included a youth summit attended by approximately 40 young Hindu Americans from across the country, as well as the launch of CoHNA’s leadership incubator aimed at preparing the next generation of community advocates. Interfaith leaders also joined lawmakers in expressing solidarity with the community and condemning attacks on Hindu temples.
A panel of students from Rutgers University shared their initiatives to organize campus events, engage university administrators, and encourage greater civic participation among Hindu students while ensuring their religious identity is accurately represented in academic and public spaces.
These efforts reflect a growing movement within the Indian American community to advocate for their rights and address the challenges they face, fostering a more inclusive and representative political landscape.
According to IANS, the event marks a significant step in raising awareness about anti-Hindu sentiments and promoting civic engagement among the community.