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| Hindu Heritage Day 2007 |
Mona Khaitan
05/16/2007
Bhakti Yoga
Governor Patrick Duval of Massachusetts declared May 12, 2007
Hindu Heritage Day. This annual event was held at Marlboro Middle
School where in the format of a mela, it drew approximately 1300
persons. The theme of Bhakti Yoga resonated throughout the mela from
the booths, discussion sessions to the cultural program. Bhakti Yoga is
a path of love for God. Regardless of the faith, all devotees can
identify with this path of love, for God may take the form of a
personal God or the Impersonal Absolute, or any rock, plant, or animal.
The path of devotion enables an aspirant to constantly remember God. In
the process, a devotee’s emotions are purified, elevating his mind to
the consciousness of Reality. Surrendering all thoughts, words, and
actions to God, a devotee adores Him with unflinching devotion. By such
constant meditation on God, the devotee imbibes into his own being the
Divine attributes.
There were a number of activities that were
well attended by all age groups that included kite flying, games, films
in the cafeteria, an educational exhibition of saints with
descriptions, an extremely busy mehndi booth, picture coloring,
rangoli, kathak dance demonstration, tabla, sitar, and vocal music
workshops; yoga sessions, meditation sessions, and an intergenerational
discussion session among generation 1 and 2 focused on the important
issues of marriage and education.
The broad hallways of
Marlboro Middle School thronged with people where there was a mixture
of vendors and non profit organizations. In total forty one
organizations were represented. There were well attended booths of
vendors that displayed items that included jewelry, Indian dresses,
bangles, novel food items, artifacts, pictures, and educational books.
Information was available on summer camps, work being done by non
profit organizations, yoga and meditation retreat sessions, dance and
music schools programs.
The cultural program was
enthusiastically supported by eager parents and friends that included
Shankha Naad followed by Deep Prajjwalan, Ekata Mantra, songs by Bal
Vihar children of Chandan Hai is Desh ki Mati, Narayan Hari Om,
Ganapati Vandan, Raganjali, Satyam -Shivam –Sundaram, Prabodhan by Dr.
Uma Mysorekar, Saptswar, Support-a-Child Program, play on the life of
Bhaktimurti Meera Bai, Des Rangila, Rangila, play called Andhera
Nagari, Chaupat Raja; Radha Krishna Raas, and Closing Prarthana.
Dr. Uma Mysorekar, the chief guest of the day, who is the president of
the Sri Ganesha Temple in New York, addressed the audience on Bhakti
Yoga. She said that the ultimate goal and aspiration is to attain
moksha or liberation from the cycle of rebirths. Bhakti Yoga is one of
the four main paths of achieving this objective. Swami Vivekanda has
declared that “Bhakti is the intense love of God.†When we sit for
puja, our minds become concentrated on God and do not wander. Then we
are able to know ourselves. True devotion softens the heart, removes
all vices including hatred, shame, jealousy, lust, and greed. There
springs an enormous love in the heart for oneself, for the family, for
the whole community, and for the nation. Mahatma Gandhi had enormous
faith and devotion. Bhakti is simple to practice, it does not require
any enormous ritual, but only sincerity and true love for the Lord.
There are so many simple ways to practice Bhakti. When we surrender
ourselves to the Lord, the Atma unites with Paramatma. This was
beautifully depicted earlier in the play of Meera Bai just before the
address. Meera Bai overcame all obstacles in her devotion to Sri
Krishna and eventually merged into the Divine Light.
One of the most revered bhaktas, Mira Bai was a princess of
extraordinary grace and integrity. She is well known for her
exceptional devotional songs full of Madhurya Ras. Mira longs to get a
glimpse of her beloved sweet lord Sri Shyam (Radha Krishna or atma
parmatma in loving union). Her exemplary life has the effect of
bringing people closer whether Hindu or Muslim, from high or low caste,
rich or poor, male or female. She does not compromise in her
devotional service. Despite being pressured by the rest of the royal
family to follow the customary life of a princess, she continues to
follow the path of supreme devotion to Sri Krishna in spite of threats
to her life. Mira Bai eventually has Sri Krishna’s grace showered on
her and attains the highest state of bliss, that of para bhakti.
The closing part of the cultural program included a humorous play
called Andhera Nagri Chaupat Raja that was most amusing. Through this
hilarious play, a profound message was delivered: to keep good company
and associate with intelligent and wise people. The program closed with
recitation of a prayer.
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/
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