On June 18, 2005, the Houston Chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh U.S.A., Inc. (“HSS”), held its annual Hindu Sanghathan Divas program at Keshav Smruti. This year’s program featured a unique networking lunch, attended by representatives from over 25 Houston-area Hindu organizations.
On June 18, 2005, the Houston Chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh U.S.A., Inc. (“HSS”), held its annual Hindu Sanghathan Divas program at Keshav Smruti. This year’s program featured a unique networking lunch, attended by representatives from over 25 Houston-area Hindu organizations, including Bochanswami Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sansthan, Hindu Students Council, Hindu Worship Society, Houston Durga Bari Society, International Society Krsna Consciousness, International Swaminarayan Satsang Organization, Meenakshi Temple Society, Prajna – JetUSA, Sant Nirankari Mission, Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir, Siddha Yoga Dham Association, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and Vallabh Preeti Seva Samaj. In addition to the lunch, each participating organization presented a brief summary of its activities. For example, while some organizations are planning construction of new facilities, others have developed programming for children, youth, and seniors. One organization highlighted a rather unique service project, teaching meditation techniques to convicts incarcerated in state prisons. The informal nature of the program provided the representatives of the participating organizations the opportunity to discuss the prospects for cooperating on future projects.
Each year, HSS celebrates Hindu Sanghatan Divas, or Hindu Unity Day, to commemorate the rajabhishekam, or coronation, of the Maratha king Shivaji as “Chhatrapati,” or emperor. This marked the first instance of a Hindu king taking the title of emperor after the advent of Mughal hegemony in Bharat. It also marked the rise of the leader of small kingdom to became an emperor. Hindu Sanghathan Divas, then, takes its inspiration from this example of Shivaji, to work with determination and resolve to organize Hindu society, against all odds.