The Tampa branch of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh organized the first ever day long camps for kids in the age group 5-13 on Friday, June 24, 2005 at Sanatana Dharma Mandir and Saturday, June 25, 2005, at the Vishnu Mandir in Tampa. The objective of the camps was to enable Hindu children in the area to appreciate their cultural roots and learn Hindu values through various physical, intellectual and spiritual activities. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh successfully conducts Hindu Heritage Camps in Tampa, Fl
Rahul Agarwal / July 6, 2005

TAMPA, FL: The Tampa branch of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh organized the first ever day long camps for kids in the age group 5-13 on Friday, June 24, 2005 at Sanatana Dharma Mandir and Saturday, June 25, 2005, at the Vishnu Mandir in Tampa. The objective of the camps was to enable Hindu children in the area to appreciate their cultural roots and learn Hindu values through various physical, intellectual and spiritual activities. 

                                                            "Campers and swayamsevaks from Friday Camp"

The camp was organized and conducted completely by a team of 8 youth swayamsevaks from high school and college under the mentorship of senior swayamsevaks of the organization. The idea of the camp was conceived and implemented by the group in a few weeks who worked hard to promote the event. Flyers were put up in every Indian store/restaurant in Tampa. Swayamsevaks attended all the Hindu events in the area to get as many kids registered as possible. Each registration of $15 included a 1-year subscription to the Balagokulam magazine. The final attendance for the Friday and Saturday camps were 11 and 31 respectively. 

The camps started at 9 am and continued till 5:30 pm and included sessions on yoga/surya-namaskar, cultural games, shlokas, Indian map, arts and crafts, amongst others. The content and the subject matter of the two camps were formulated judiciously with equal emphasis on work and play. Participants learned valuable lessons about the basic Hindu tenets, precepts, and practices. The day started out with a prayer followed by Surya-Namaskar and a few simple yogasanas led by Dinesh Chanchalani, a swayamsevak who came from Atlanta, GA especially for the camps. It was followed by an hour long cultural games session. The children really enjoyed learning new games like rama-ravana, kho, murti, etc. Next, there was a short cookies/juice break as the participants relaxed after the stimulating outdoor game session. 

The “shloka session” was led by Ruti Dwivedi, who did an excellent job of breaking down the shloka and explaining the meaning of each word. All the kids could recite the “pratah smaranam” with proper hand gestures at the end of the half-hour session. The effectivness of the session was later evident by the comments of another sevika, Ankita Mishra, who pointed out that a group of children recited the shloka on their drive back home and after waking up next morning. 

The shlokas were followed by a very interesting “map session” where Samvid Dwivedi and Vishwanath Urala familiarized the participants with the land and the legends of India, that is Bharat, the home of their parents and forefathers. The kids were invited to identify the places where their parents/ancestors came from. Samvid also pointed out the sacred rivers, mountains and the neighboring countries of India which gave everyone a sense of belonging to Mother India. As many of the participants of the camps were South American Hindus, the Saturday camp also included a section on maps of Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago to show the significant population of Hindus in those areas.  

The post-lunch session included a 45 min movie session where the children saw selected clips from the animated Ramayana movie and a scene about the life of the great martyr Bhagat Singh. Through the clips, the kids got insights into the philosophy of one’s dharma which the Hindus have practiced for thousands of years. Next, the group listened to the life story of the great spiritual leader, Swami Vivekananda by the talented orator Mr. Yashwant Belsare, a senior swayamsevak of the organization. For the next two sessions the kids were divided into 2 groups. The younger group participated in a role-playing session led by Ankita where they acted out scenes from Ramayana. The swayamsevaks provided some interesting props for the skit making the activity really entertaining for the kids. Next, the kids spent 45 minutes coloring their favorite god figures. 

At the same time, the older group attended a session on Vedic math led by a college swayamsevak Joel Brown. The session made the Hindu contribution to world of math loud and clear. The kids were invited to the board to work out same problems in both conventional and vedic ways. The participants were amazed at how they could solve the same problems in a fraction of the time using the vedic methods. The next session led by Rahul Agarwal encouraged the participants to find answers to some of the most common questions that a Hindu gets asked. The kids chose their own topics and researched a book called “10 Questions people ask About Hinduism” to find the answers. To further internalize the answers and share their knowledge, each group made a poster and presented it at the end of the day in front of all the participants and the parents. Most kids managed the challenging exercise reasonably well explaining with confidence and conviction topics like: why Hindu women wear a dot on the forehead, the true nature of the caste system, etc. 

The day was concluded with another session of indoor games. During the Saturday camp the swayamsevaks experimented with a dance session led by Pooja Pandya who taught everyone a few simple steps of garba, the folk dance of Gujarat. The parents joined in for the conclusion ceremony and prayer as the chief guest, Mrs. Indira Shastry handed out certificates of completion to each participant. 

                                                            "Participants from the Saturday camp"

By the end of the day the campers had understood the meanings behind such Hindu symbols as the swastika, om, the ringing of the bell when you enter the Hindu temple, and the gesture of prostrating before one’s chosen deity. Prof. Shrinivas Tilak, who was present throughout the camps, commented, “Whether on the ground outside or in the hall it was joy listening to a variety of calls or slogans given by the monitors like (1) jay jay gita; bhagavada gita; (2) hara hara mahadev”. The camps were success as was evident by the comments of the parents at the end of the day. They were impressed by this one-of-a-kind effort in the community and requested to continue organizing similar events in the future.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) announces the seventeenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY). This program runs from January 18th to February 2nd, 2025. Participants across all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths are invited to participate in the Yogathon to kickstart the New Year with health awareness and practice.

Surya Namaskar is a yogic practice done in reverence to the sun. Research shows several physiological and psychological benefits from Surya Namaskar when practiced regularly. They are performed as a series of 10 physical postures, flowing in a graceful, continuous sequence. The Surya Namaskar Yajna seeks to promote the practice and its benefits among all Americans aspiring for a fit body and balanced mind.

Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively participated in the Yogathon through Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges, and also as individuals. Regardless of their faith and belief, these participants have performed over four million Surya Namaskars over the past several years. This is a testament to the success of the Yogathon in achieving diversity and inclusion in communities nationwide while promoting public health and well-being equitably.

 

Acknowledging this, community leaders and elected officials across the nation also appreciate this initiative and encourage their residents to participate in the Health for Humanity Yogathon and benefit from a healthy lifestyle. The Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It also found recognition in the Congressional records in 2017. The “Let’s Move” initiative of then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012 in cognizance of the Yogathon.

About Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS):
HSS is a 501(c)(3) voluntary non-profit cultural organization with over 230 chapters across the United States. HSS organizes service activities and community outreach projects to promote discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, and the spirit of selflessness. HSS also fosters a dynamic and flourishing Hindu-American community through civic duty, responsibility, and volunteerism, instilling lasting pride in Hindu heritage among its members. Learn more at www.HSSUS.org.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) announces the seventeenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY). This program runs from January 18th to February 2nd, 2025. Participants across all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths are invited to participate in the Yogathon to kickstart the New Year with health awareness and practice.

Surya Namaskar is a yogic practice done in reverence to the sun. Research shows several physiological and psychological benefits from Surya Namaskar when practiced regularly. They are performed as a series of 10 physical postures, flowing in a graceful, continuous sequence. The Surya Namaskar Yajna seeks to promote the practice and its benefits among all Americans aspiring for a fit body and balanced mind.

Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively participated in the Yogathon through Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges, and also as individuals. Regardless of their faith and belief, these participants have performed over four million Surya Namaskars over the past several years. This is a testament to the success of the Yogathon in achieving diversity and inclusion in communities nationwide while promoting public health and well-being equitably.

Acknowledging this, community leaders and elected officials across the nation also appreciate this initiative and encourage their residents to participate in the Health for Humanity Yogathon and benefit from a healthy lifestyle. The Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It also found recognition in the Congressional records in 2017. The “Let’s Move” initiative of then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012 in cognizance of the Yogathon.

About Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS):
HSS is a 501(c)(3) voluntary non-profit cultural organization with over 230 chapters across the United States. HSS organizes service activities and community outreach projects to promote discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, and the spirit of selflessness. HSS also fosters a dynamic and flourishing Hindu-American community through civic duty, responsibility, and volunteerism, instilling lasting pride in Hindu heritage among its members. Learn more at www.HSSUS.org

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) has conveyed our following content in a formal email sent to the President and Vice President/Chief of Staff of Georgetown University.  Unfortunately, they didn’t acknowledge it or responded to a subsequent follow up, despite concerns expressed about misinformation published about a reputed organization that represents American Hindus on Georgetown University website, 

We are writing to bring to your attention the falsified material presented, and inferences drawn in the Factsheet about the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) available on Bridge Initiative’s webpage hosted by Georgetown University's website. 

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA (HSS) operates as a legally constituted, independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States, adhering strictly to the nation's laws and confining its activities solely within the country. It has achieved a rating of 92% by CharityNavigator.org for financial health, which encompasses efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness, along with a strong commitment to governance practices and policies.

We are appalled that the factsheet about HSS lacks basic research and fosters animosity towards the minority Hindu community in the United States. It deviates from established standards of academic research and professionalism, despite using the university’s academic resources. Below is a list of deviations, misrepresentations, and inaccuracies that we wish to especially highlight -

1. The factsheet’s ‘Impact’ section does not state HSS’ connection to Islamophobia in the US or anywhere around the world. It also fails to link HSS’ social activities, programs, and teachings with Islamophobia anywhere.
2. The factsheet claims to be authored by the "Bridge Initiative Team," yet the hyperlink doesn’t publish any name of the author and leads to an error page stating, "Oops! That page can’t be found."
3. Also, an individual named Raqib Naik, mentioned as the collaborator, claims to be the author of this “report” on his X account. This same person’s X account shows Hinduphobic tweets over the years. From his previous articles and tweets, he appears to be an extremist, nurturing venomous hate towards Hindus.
4. The reference to the Hindu Education Foundation (HEF) in the factsheet as suggesting that Islam is inherently violent is a misleading representation. In reality, the HEF proposed a change about Mughal rulers, as stated in the article. Unfortunately, the authors of the factsheet chose to interpret historical injustices solely through a religious lens, thereby stigmatizing all Muslims.
5. The factsheet states, In an April 2023 piece for The Nation, a former participant from Boston, who attended Balagokulam in 2004 and 2005 when she was 11 years old, stated they left the program due to its Hindu nationalist curriculum. The article cited here does not mention that the “Hindu nationalist curriculum” drove away the family from the Balagokulam. Hence, this statement in the factsheet is a blatant lie. This referenced article also goes to the extent of ridiculing Yoga and other Hindu practices, and is, therefore, incredibly Hinduphobic.

Hence, we see this factsheet as a smear campaign against HSS’ law-abiding, rightful activities and consequently, an injustice to the minority Hindu community’s freedoms. It is disheartening that the Georgetown University administration allows the use of its official website and labels “the Bridge” as its initiative, but remains largely unaware of such activities, which poses a serious concern in the current climate characterized by the proliferation of hate-driven agendas with political motives. This situation imperils the safety and well-being of the targeted community, notably Hindu students at Georgetown University and the broader minority Hindu community.

We are proud of our continuous contribution to the American Society. As an American non-profit, HSS actively embodies a philosophy rooted in respect for all individuals, irrespective of their race, gender, faith, age, nationality, or ethnicity. Our partnership with Interfaith organizations is much appreciated. Our initiatives supported charity organizations in over 200 cities to reduce food insecurities. For the past 17 years, we reached out all across the US to bring health awareness through our Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Program.  Our contributions, extensively covered in the media, have been lauded by numerous stakeholders, including first responders, law enforcement officers, charitable organizations such as food banks, school administrators, professionals, entrepreneurs, and lawmakers across the nation. Our commitment lies in advancing societal well-being rather than embracing a victimhood narrative driven by self-interest.

We urge you to review the contents and institute safeguards to prevent abuse of the Bridge Initiative platforms in harassing, defaming, and intimidating the minority Hindu community in the US and their institutions.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) announces the seventeenth annual “Yoga for Health, Health for Humanity Yogathon” or “Surya Namaskar Yajna” (SNY). This program runs from January 13th to January 28th, 2024. Participants across all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, nationalities, and faiths are invited to participate in the Yogathon to kickstart the New Year with health awareness and practice.

Surya Namaskar is a yogic practice done in reverence to the sun. Research shows several physiological and psychological benefits from Surya Namaskar when practiced regularly. They are performed as a series of 10 physical postures, flowing in a graceful, continuous sequence. The Surya Namaskar Yajna seeks to promote the practice and its benefits among all Americans aspiring for a fit body and balanced mind.

Since its inception in 2007, participants from 43 states have actively participated in the Yogathon through Yoga centers, community organizations, schools, and colleges, and also as individuals. Regardless of their faith and belief, these participants have performed over four million Surya Namaskars over the past several years. This is a testament to the success of the Yogathon in achieving diversity and inclusion in communities nationwide while promoting public health and well-being equitably.

Acknowledging this, community leaders and elected officials across the nation also appreciate this initiative and encourage their residents to participate in the Health for Humanity Yogathon and benefit from a healthy lifestyle. The Yogathon has received numerous proclamations from American mayors, governors, US Congressmen, and US Senators. It also found recognition in the Congressional records in 2017. The “Let’s Move” initiative of then First Lady Michelle Obama declared HSS as a partner in 2012 in cognizance of the Yogathon.

About Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS):
HSS is a 501(c)(3) voluntary non-profit cultural organization with over 230 chapters across the United States. HSS organizes service activities and community outreach projects to promote discipline, self-confidence, teamwork, and the spirit of selflessness. HSS also fosters a dynamic and flourishing Hindu-American community through civic duty, responsibility, and volunteerism, instilling lasting pride in Hindu heritage among its members. Learn more at www.HSSUS.org.

HSS mourns the passing of its America Sanghachalak (President) Prof. Ved Prakash Nanda on Monday, January 1st, 2024 in his hometown Denver, CO. He was surrounded by his close family and HSS volunteers.

Born in 1934 in Gujranwala of the undivided India, Prof. Nanda underwent an arduous immigration to the Punjab state in India along with his family during the partition of Pakistan from India. He went on to build an exemplary career starting from M.A. Economics from Punjab University, Law degree from Delhi University in India, and LLM from Northwestern University and subsequent postgraduate work from Yale University in the US. He was a champion of Human Rights and a successful International Law professor at the University of Denver Denver’s Sturm College of Law since 1972. He was also Honorary President of the World Jurist Association, former honorary Vice President of the American Society of International Law, and a member of the advisory council of the United States Institute of Human Rights. He was widely published, having authored or co-authored 24 books in various fields of international law. He was a regular columnist for the Denver Post and wrote on a wide range of topics including human rights and international relations. In 2006, the University of Denver Denver’s Sturm College of Law alumni founded the Ved Nanda Center for International and Comparative Law in his honor. He has also received a number of awards including the Gandhi-King-Ikeda Award for Community Peace Building in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2018 by the Government of India.

The cause of preserving Hindu Dharma and integrating Hindus in America was dear to Prof. Nanda and he advocated it lifelong with his infectious smile, humor, and compassion. He started the first shakha in the US in 1961 at the University of Chicago. Since 2001, after becoming president of HSS, Prof. Nanda constantly traveled across the country to meet, guide, and inspire HSS volunteers. He took initiative to reach out to the opinion makers of the society for various Hindu-American causes.

He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Hindu University of America. He was the chairman of the board of trustees at Hindu Temple of Colorado and also remained active in interfaith activities in Colorado.

He leaves behind his daughter, Anjali, son-in-law, granddaughters and extended family. On the demise of our beloved Nanda ji, we express our heartfelt condolences to his family and acquaintances and pray to the Almighty that the departed Atma be absorbed in the Divine light.