http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=1375
Press Trust of India

New York, August 17: Despite yoga and meditation fast gaining ground
in the United States, 95 per cent of Americans have little or no
knowledge of Hinduism, its practices and beliefs, a new survey has
found. The Hindu population in the US has grown 10 times in the past
decade to 1.4 million, but the survey found that 71 per cent
Americans have no contact with their Hindu neighbours.

"There appears to be a significant gap between the growth and
presence of Hindu population in the US and Americans' knowledge of
Hinduism," said B K Modi, director of the Hindu leaders forum which
had commissioned the study.

The study was released on Thursday, ahead of a "World Yatra" by
Hindu spiritual leaders that will visit five cities in the US.

The leaders, including Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Swami Divyanand
Teerth Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Bhanpura, are on a world tour to
spread the message that peace, mutual respect and cultural pluralism
are necessary in the era of globalisation.

There are more than 100 Hindu temples in the US but 98 per cent of
Americans have never been to one, the survey said. Americans
recognise the growing religious diversity but there is need for
greater interaction between Hindus and non-Hindus to foster
familiarity and understanding, it added.

"The goal of the Hindu leaders forum is to foster greater awareness
of Hinduism's rich heritage and promote genuine understanding among
people of different faiths," Modi said.