On Saturday May 21, 2016, as the New England winter was finally becoming of a thing of the past, the timing of the 20th Annual Hindu Heritage Day Mela (HHD) could not be more perfect as over 2,000 Hindu Americans filled the halls and fields of Marlborough Middle School (MA). Every year, this vibrant heritage festival is organized by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) of America (VHPA).   This is the 20th consecutive year that a team of volunteers from VHPA (World Hindu Council of America) organized HHD for the residents of greater Boston area, which is an inclusive event connecting almost all Boston area organizations and institutions, large and small 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, proclaimed Saturday, the 21st of May 2016, as "Hindu Heritage Day." 

Each year of HHD aims to unfurl another eternal quality of humankind, gently reminding us that no matter how disabled we are by avidya (ignorance) and enraptured we become by maya (the illusionary perception of the material world), we must continuously acknowledge our common, divine heritage and remove the veil of apparent differences –bringing us to realize that all are One. 

The theme of this year’s HHD was Bhakti or Devotion. Bhakti has many interpretations. Bhakti, in Hinduism, refers attachment, participation, devotion, fondness, homage, faith or love, worship, piety to a personal god or a representational god by a devotee. In ancient texts the term simply means participation in, devotion, and love for any endeavor, or it refers to one of the possible paths of spirituality and moksha as in Bhakti Marg mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita. Also, Bhakti means selfless devotion or love in its purest form. It may be towards guru, one’s parents, or a personal God. It may be “Sagun” or “Nirgun”, both leading to the same end goal of achieving true Ananada or bliss, where one forgets I or Me. Bhakti is devoid of grandeur. Bhakti may be expressed in various forms. Jaap, bhajan, keertan, singing, dancing when performed with devotion and selflessness frees one from “self” and simplifies the path to Moksha.

As mirrored in the awe of first-time attendees, bringing such a theme to life in the form of a mela (fair) was a remarkable feat. Indeed it was a wonder how three simultaneously running components of the program-a cultural program, a bazaar of 32 booths, and food court with catered Indian favorites-interweaved flawlessly to both give a mela vibe and highlight the major theme. In the Mela part thirty-two stalls participated. For profit businesses included: Bollywood Delights; Cheera; Desi Fashions; Firdaus Fashions; Jainy; Jewels N More By Shibani; Mangalasri Designs; Noureen Design; NY LIC; Raji katragadda; Sai Aarabhi Collections; Sreedevi Kotamarti; Srimai; Syna Collections; Vibha. Non-profit institutions that participated in of the event included: Art of Living; Brahma Kumaris; Chinmaya Mission Boston; Heartland Institute of Financial Education; JET USA; Samskrita Bharati USA; Sewa International; Vedics Foundation; VHPA - SAC / OMHCC; VHPA ( Family Camp); VHPA Books; Yoga for Happiness Academy. Additionally to cater to the needs of young children, Rekha Singh volunteered with her face painting services and Brij Garg provided outdoors kite flying.

The cultural program, which featured more than 265 performing participants and numerous organizations, showcased the talents of renowned musicians as well as children of all ages. Almost all the music and dance schools and master teachers of the greater Boston area were represented by their best students, replete with creatively designed colorful costumes. In a dynamic four hour program, the work of some of the most distinguished music and dance teachers of the Boston metropolitan area and parents and teachers of several regional Bal Vihars (Hindu Sunday schools) shined. The participants came from five Bal Vihars, namely: Southborough, Newton and Lexington of VHPA, BVM of Lakshmi Temple and Westfield Bal Vihar of Hindu Sanatan Sewa Samag. The other participants came from greater Boston area Music & Dance Schools including: Aangikam Dance Academy (Jasmine Shah); Chhandika School of Kathak Dance (Gretchen Hayden); Debarati & Group (Debarati Mukherjee Ganguly); Desi Rhythms Boston School of Dance (Archana Gorur / Jyothi Setty); Nikita's Bollywood Dance Academy (Nikita Rao); Nritya Anjali School Of Dance (Hema Iyengar); Performing Arts of New England (Darshana Jani); RASA School of Music (Shuchita Rao); Sargam Academy of Indian Classical Music (Neelima Chaturvedi); Sri Kuchipudi Natyalaya (Sailaja Chaudhary, Choreography by Sri Paumarthy Rama Linga Sastry); Sur Samvaad School of Music (Vandana Rao); Synergy Band (Sanjeeb Swain); Triveni School of Dance(Neena Gulati); Vishwa Sangeet School of Music and Culture (Mohan Samlal / Karuna Bhatia / Vineeta Prasad). From each theatrical play to energetic and expertly choreographed dance, the attention to detail, performance quality, costumes, and pride with which each teacher presented his or her students, added a professional touch as well as set a standard for the level of young talent in this program. Additionally, local artists of international repute also performed. Smt. Anuradha Palakurthi added star power to the cultural program. There were dances, songs, bhajans, and plays that enthrall the audience. The program was a feast for the mind and the senses, keeping the audience virtually glued to their seats, taking in all the production. Three MC’s lead by dynamic Gauri Chandna; Kunjavihari Kashlikar, Ravi Shreedhar kept the cultural program flow going. Javed Waheed provided audio coverage.

The cultural program was started by K.G. Narayana, Shoilee Banerjee, and Haimanti Banerjee with a Shankh Naad. Anvi and Tanvi Chaturvedi sang national anthems of USA and India. Among the distinguished attendees were guests of honor Shri Pradeep and Smt. Sunita Shukla, Shri Subu Kota, Smt. Arati Ankalikar Tikekar, and Dr. Lynn Hunter. 

Dr. Abhaya Asthana and Shri Prashanta Palakurti recognized the Sammaan recipients Shri Pradeep & Smt. Sunita Shukla, Shri Giri Bharathan, and Shri Vijay Dalal in the award ceremony. They were recognized for their selfless service to the community. 

Meanwhile, the corridors of the middle school housed a bustling bazaar reminiscent of its Indian counterpart-the main difference being that this bazaar reflected the overarching theme of Hindu Heritage with many non-profit and educational stalls. Whereas the cultural program revved up the audience from within, taking a stroll through the halls was a hands-on experience. Pick up a pair of traditional-style, glittering kangan (bangles) at one stall and find a modern-cut Indian kurta (blouse) at another was the mindset of many patrons perusing the aisles. Those interested in a more spiritual experience could be found reading about a better way of life, yoga and meditation schools, Ayurveda and more or considering giving back to the community and pausing at a non-profit organization’s stall such as, Support-a-Child, educating the poorest children in India. The experience left attendees spoilt for choice and was balanced by its taste for both modern and traditional way of life. 

The selection truly targeted family and children needs. Navigating through the crowd, one came across mehndi (henna) and face painting, information on VHPA summer family camps, Math, Science, and SAT tutors, and even listings of local temples. In an exploration of the grand scene, adults and children alike paused in a distinct hallway to gain from exhibits on the theme Bhakti, which were both informative and easy-to-understand. Outdoors a kite-flying area, complete with kites of different colors and sizes and adult chaperones, engaged the young and young of heart, and added real mela flair. 

The climax of the day and epitome of seva (service) projects was information on the status of non-profit OM Hindu Community Center (OMHCC) in North Billerica-the latest VHPA initiative. With a focus on accessibility for the common family, the center brings the community-oriented mood of HHD to tangible and lasting heights. 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.

Behind the scenes, more than 100 volunteers worked ceaselessly to bring us the magic of a flawless and successful event. From directing backstage traffic to handling technical stage effects such as music and lights, these volunteers kept the flow going. It was their experience and selfless commitment to perfecting the art every year that made this Hindu Heritage Day what is was. For those who have attended previous HHD events, it was a pleasant surprise to see familiar young adults and teenagers joining the effort, as it clearly portrayed a contagious desire to learn about their heritage and engage in the effort of bringing that knowledge to others. But for HHD regulars, it’s something that comes as no surprise that HHD is an event faithfully put together by the adults and the youth of the New England community, validating the modern approach underlying its mission to celebrate with, bring together, and revive understanding in those who belong to our heritage. 

Media partners for the HHD included: Foundations TV; Gunjan Radio; India New England News; Lokvani; Radio Music India; and Sahali. 

VHPA is thankful to all participants and all the attendees without whom it would not be a success. Bob Leonard; Amit Singh; Niraj Chandna; Rasik Mehta; and many other volunteers provided photography & video coverage for the event.

Finally, it was a team effort without the support of every individual; it would not have been possible to put this event together.

________________________________________________________________________

VHP of America is a registered non-profit 501 © 3 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/