Why We’re Taking An Extra Week To Bring You November’s Swarajya Issue

Let me explain why

Dear reader,

It’s been a week since November began, and if you’ve noticed, our magazine’s cover on the homepage and app still hasn’t changed. Let me explain why.

We’re putting together a special edition for November, focusing on temple management and the question of temple freedom. This topic felt important to us now, especially after the recent controversy surrounding the Tirupati laddu.

A representative from a political party made a shocking claim that animal fat was used in the temple’s laddu offering. Naturally, the public reacted strongly, only for the Supreme Court to clarify a few days later that there was no evidence of such contamination. But where’s the follow-up? Why was the accusation made, and why is there no accountability when these claims are proven false?

TV channels and social media alike—they all seized the moment for engagement, and then the story disappeared. In an environment like this, it’s hard to explore the real issues surrounding our temples. So we decided to do something different.

This special issue isn’t an outcry. We’re taking a step back to look at what’s really happening on the ground and the implications for the future of Hindu temples. We want a thoughtful, researched perspective—not a reactive one.

That’s why our team is traveling across the country. They’re visiting places like Chidambaram in the South and temples in Uttarakhand, talking to people, observing, and gathering perspectives. This research is going to bring you a full view of where temple management stands today and what challenges lie ahead.

If you’re not a print subscriber yet, now’s the time to join. This is an issue you will want to read it, keep, discuss, and share with friends and family. For those who care deeply about our heritage and culture, this one’s for you. You can subscribe and order it here.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we prepare this special issue. We believe it will be worth the wait.

Amar