u/Wonderful_Honey_3602

I grew up in a very specific, highly organized sect of Hinduism where i only learned of one specific deity as the Supreme god and never learned about other gods or the culture much. Like, i don’t even know the reason behind many hindu holidays and traditions. my temple was like you must do service, go to xyz, do exams, do well, come to mandir every single sunday to earn the happiness of God.

I am now trying to learn about mainstream Hinduism. How is it for everyone else- how do you practice religion and culture. I see for some it’s like light a diva, pray in the morning, maybe read a story or podcast and then go to temple occasionally. But I don’t understand how you maintain religion and faith with something like that.

And then going off of that, how do kids learn and imbibe this? for context, i’m a grad student early 20s.

It just is rly confusing for me and there’s no one else for me to ask. Sorry if this is worded weirdly.

Hi I have a BAPS friend and she constantly is at mandir since she was little- they have weekly sabhas basically spend all day on Sunday at mandir. They also have lots of other sevas, programs like BST/KST, shibirs, retreats, sports tournaments, even seva on weekdays many times during the Summertime. Her whole social circle and life is there lwky. Everyone knows everyone’s business and gossip spreads a ton.

I’m confused on is this how all religions in Hinduism are like? Is this an extreme or normal case of Baps?

From my understanding, it seems they do all this to keep kids moral values and cultured. Does it accomplish all this actually?

also i forgot to add, they don’t celebrate garba/navratri like that they call it something else, it’s only females and they do the swaminarayan aarti during it, not the aarti during garba. Is that “weird”?

As a graduate student living in Shadyside, with a 8-5 schedule most days. I do prefer earlier, how would the Pitt gyms be? Is it worth it bc im moving from oos and not sure the parking situation and how that all would be like. If you also live off campus what gym do you go to?

Have you or anyone you know travelled on T visa before using advance parole? How was ur experience?

Hi, I am a T visa holder (trafficking visa). Under this visa i must obtain advance parole to travel and I do NOT need pending I-485.

The reason i need to travel is due to my father’s death and my mother is sick. They are both old and i haven’t been in almost 20 years. My home country isn’t where my case happened.

I had fraud/misrepresentation which was forgiven through a I-192 waiver and i do have a history of visa overstay for 12 years prior to getting my T visa. Idk if that automatically forgiven or not for my case. No criminal history or anything else

On here, I see that it’s extremely discouraged to travel on AP. in my case, what do you think, is there anything that would rly make CBP deny me? I just don’t think i will ever see my mom again tbh same with my aunts and uncles. They are all getting old, so this isn’t a leisure trip clearly. It would be max 3 week trip

Does anyone know if T visa is approved and granted, does that mean my visa overstay was forgiven? I did have to get a approved I-192 for fraud/misrepresentation for this visa, but it didn’t mention anything about overstay

Has anyone travelled in advance parole here? If so, how was yr experience?

I got an approval notice for my standalone advance parole on monday june 29th and right before that I got the notice “AP was produced”. On reddit I see most people got it in a couple days and at most a week after getting that notice. I received the I-797 courtesy copy in the mail on friday, but haven’t gotten the I-512 (actual AP document). I think it’ll be mailed t my lawyer but he hasn’t gotten anything yet either. I’m really scared it is lost and I don’t want to have to file this whole thing again it’s been over 2 years of waiting.

What do you guys think. Ik it’s only been a week but i’m getting really scared due to all these reddit stories how theirs also got lost and they had to refile and stuff

Hey if yall are a part of the professional schools at pitt- like medical, dental, etc does anyone work? If so what do you do?

I’m looking for an easy job for some quick money (even if it’s low). in undergrad i worked as a desk assistant for a dorm so i just did my hw mostly so something like that would be ideal

I will have classes near salk hall. and I see the OC lot is nearby. I also have noticed that everyone recommends using the bus system. I do have a car, and will be near squirrel hill, so idk if I should just get a permit for that lot or just use the bus system. How is the buses truly- esp at peak times of 8 and 5. What would the car be useful for - like groceries, gym, etc??

I get driving and parking in oakland sucks, but what about all those people that do it in those lots, why do they choose to instead of taking the bus? The parking systems very competitive, so what’s the rave?