Hindu Herritage Day May 16, 2015

Every year, this vibrant heritage festival is organized by the national organization, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) of America (VHPA) in an effort to unite Hindus around the world. The event aims to instill devotion to the Hindu way of life, cultivate self-respect and respect for all people, and establish a truly global Hindu network. Adding to its historical mark, Mr. Charlie Baker, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Mr. Arthur Vigeant, Mayor of the City of Marlborough, proclaimed Saturday, the 16th of May 2015, as "Hindu Heritage Day." Hindu Heritage Day 2015, part of a Prachar project of VHPA was an assembly of over 1400 persons that included grandparents, parents, adolescents, and children indoors in the Marlborough Middle School. In spite of the cloudy weather, the rain held off and some adults and children were out flying kites and playing football in the open air, enjoying a respite from the cold winter spent indoors. 

Setup for the mela began by noon when scores of volunteers started work on a preplanned arrangement of the auditorium and the various booth tables. Decoration of the stage, the setup of a small Mandir with the tall lamp on the stage , the audio visual system, the lighting system, the recording system, the unfolding and transportation of the long tables, the cafeteria set up, the registration tables, the poster exhibits, all had to be arranged before the doors opened at 3pm. The vendors started coming in at 1pm to begin displaying their individual items of sale in an attractive manner. The books, ornaments, clothes, pamphlets, brochures, CD’s, jewelry, and decorative items all were taken out of their individual cartons and arranged in a total of 29 booths neatly arranged against the walls with space in between for walking and looking. Some of these booths belonged to non-profit organizations interested in informing and attracting more people to join their group.

The entrance to the Marlborough Middle School was packed between 3pm and 6pm. There were a total of approximately 215 participants in the cultural program that streamed through, some in their stage costumes accompanying their parents and siblings. The attendees came alone, with families, with groups of friends, or with extended families. The registration tables were manned by a number of volunteers for the peak time arrivals. The guides did their best to usher newcomers to the right spots for registration, for going to the green room, to the essential bathrooms, to the poster exhibit, to the booths, and of course to the cafeteria. 

The cultural program eclipsed all else this year with a record audience participation enjoying a superlative program. Each year the dance schools and their outstanding teachers send in their best entries for performances. This year the audience was literally held captive and did not budge until the end of the program to proceed to the cafeteria for dinner. The normal buzz outside in the corridor was lesser as the focus of everyone’s attention was riveted on the cultural show. The dance teachers have frequently mentioned that the HHD is the place where they can showcase authentic traditional Indian dances of all genres in a pure art form to an appreciative audience without needing to provide Bollywood overtones. 

The shankha naad sounded at 4pm followed by Ekta mantra. The guest of honor, Shri Harish Dang and Smt. Binita Dang were invited to the stage along with the founder of VHPA, Dr. Mahesh Mehta, and the President of VHPA, Dr. Abhaya Asthana to light the lamp amid the recitation of the Deepa Stutihi to open the cultural program. The Dangs were later facilitated on behalf of the New England Hindu Community by Dr. ABhaya Asthana, President VHPA and Sanjay Kaul, Convener Hindu Heritage Day Mela and presented “Samskriti Saurabh Samman” for their exemplary vision, dedication, spirituality and devotion in service of the community. The Dangs started the popular radio program “Sounds of India,” over 40 years ago to serve the then Indian population of app. 1,000 families. Along the way, they have hosted hundreds of guests and have been instrumental in bringing mega events to the area. They continue to promote Indian culture and heritage by sharing music and providing complimentary advertising to the non-profit organizations. Dangs who live in Lexington, are blessed with three children and three grandchildren. 

Twenty eight Boston area schools of music and dance masters participated in the cultural program. The theme of this year’s cultural program was Parivartan or change which is inherent in triguna of Prakrti. Schools of music were the first to come on stage as the set up required for sound system with durries and instruments tends to be rather complex and time consuming. There were 13 dance programs, 3 skits, 5 vocal and instrumental musical programs, and 3 songs in the cultural program. The three emcees, Smt. Tanu Basu, Shri Sanjay Kaul, and Shri Kunjuvihari Kashilkar kept the audience engaged with informational tid-bits full of good humor during the close of the curtain in preparation for the subsequent programs. They informed the audience about a new seva project undertaken by VHPA.

One of the most ambitious seva (service) projects started by VHPA is the anticipated construction of a non-profit OM Hindu Community Center (OMHCC) in North Billerica, Massachusetts. Even though the Boston area is fortunate to have many mandirs and some centers organized around specific affiliations, there is felt a need for a common man’s center. This center will provide access, affordability, and ease of use for a family. The focus would be on helping to fulfill the daily needs of the different members within a family which includes a day care center, after school care for children, a spiritual, social, and meeting place for parents and grandparents. Affordability and access would allow families to hold events easily with support of others in the community. One of the objectives of VHPA is to increase sampark or connection among families, to make them feel supported. It takes a community of caring families to raise a child successfully. And this need of an extended family would be better fulfilled once there is a common facility to call home. Understanding this need, Smt. Prem and Tej Tanden have donated a 10 acre parcel of land along with substantial seed money to start the project. However, it will take additional funds to complete all the four phases of the four storied building. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for this project, please contact: Sanjay Kaul [sanjaykaul@hotmail.com]. Your donations are tax-deductible and would be most appreciated. Checks can be made payable to OMHCC and mailed to P.O. Box 6323, Holliston, MA 01746.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America is a non-profit national social, cultural, and educational organization with multiple objectives: 

1. PRACHAR is held to raise awareness among Hindu Americans of inheriting a rich heritage from ancient Rishis who were Vedic scientists.

This awareness is raised through Hindu Heritage Day, Hindu Vishwa, a very well written and respected quarterly magazine well worth reading, articles, conferences, books, website among others.

2. SAMSKAR is the cultivation and sustenance of Hindu Values among younger generation of Hindu Americans. 

This is accomplished by running Bal Vihars, Youth Camps, Youth conferences, Coalition of Hindu Youth (CHY) programs, Sanatana Dharma Scholarships.

3. SAMPARK provides forums for connecting all Hindus as a part of Universal Whole.

This is accomplished through the Hindu Women’s Network, Hindu Mandir Executive Conference (HMEC), GC Council, Coalition of Hindu Youth (CHY) conferences.

One of our basic value is that of Seva or Service to others. To this end, a number of long-term programs are organized that include support-a-child program, OM Hindu Community Center which is in the process of being built, the Hindu American Vanprasthi Network (HAVAN), Ashraya, a Bhutani Refugees Relief work, and some short-term programs that have included relief efforts for Katrina, Nepal Earthquake Relief fund, and Uttarakhand flood relief fund among others.

VHP of America is a national organization which has among its objectives to unite Hindus by instilling in them devotion to the Hindu way of life, to cultivate self-respect and respect for all people, and to establish contacts with Hindus all over the world. For more information please visit http://www.vhp-america.org/