HSS Surya Namaskara Yajna (Yogathon) recognized with Proclamation from Village President of Buffalo Grove, IL

Gurupooja utsava 2016-17

Gururbrahmaa gururvishnuh gururdevo Maheswarah |  
Guruh-saakshaat parabrahma tasmai shrigurave namah || 

The Guru in the Hindu tradition is looked upon as an embodiment of God himself. For, it is through his grace and guidance that one reaches the highest state of wisdom and bliss. "My salutations to the Guru who is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. The Guru is Parabrahma incarnate".

Various have been the great sages and saints who have been the spiritual and religious preceptors to countless individuals down the centuries. But is there any one who can be looked upon as the preceptor for the entire Hindu people - for all their past, present and future generations? Obviously, no individual can play that role. A human being is after all mortal and, however great, has his/her own limitations. (S)he cannot be a permanent guide for the entire nation for all time to come. The preceptor for a whole society should be able to act as a perennial source of inspiration to the people, embodying the highest and the noblest national values and ethos. To the Hindu people, such a Guru can be no other than the sacred Bhagava Dhwaja. 

Svayamsevaks & Sevikas offer tanu (physical) and mana (mind) by enthusiastically conducting & participating in weekly shAkhas. Gurupooja utsava which happens once a year gives an opportunity for us to offer dhana (wealth/earnings) as well. Thus offering tanu, mana and dhana for Sangha work.

 More Details...

Gurupooja Utsava was celebrated with austerity and reverence on 8-Jan-17, 3 - 4:30 PM @ Prospect Heights Park District Gym Hall

19 Swayamsevaks & Sevikas did GurudakshiNa arpaNa (salutation & offering) to Bhagava dhwaja (Guru)

Balas decorated the arpaNa collecting kalasha with colorful Om and swastika designs

Adhiktam divas & Surya Namaskara Yajna - Jan 29th 3 - 4:30 PM

The Surya Namaskara Yadnya took place on 29-Jan; 3 PM - 4:30 PM

29 Swayam sevaks participated.

Lecture demonstration was conducted briefing on purpose of Yadnya, details of AsanAs, physical and spiritual benefits. High level overview of country wide updates were shared.

Three sets of surya namaskaras were performed (Each set has 13 surya namaskaras)

Total 800+ surya namaskaras
Surya namskara based games were conducted

Jan 29th, 3:00 - 4:30 PM

Prospect Heights Park District

110 W Camp McDonald Rd,

Prospect Heights, IL 60070

Surya Namaskara Yajna Event - Hanumaan Mandir, Glenview, IL

The Suryanamaskar Yadnya is organized by HSS across the country for two weeks, starting from Makara Sankranti, January 14 to January 29 2017.

The 16-day event aims to create awareness about yoga and its advantages in achieving a healthy body, mind & spirit. Suryanamaskar integrates simple Yoga postures in 10-steps that, along with simple breathing technique, can provide immense health benefits to both the body and the mind.

Bhaskara Shakha organized the SNY event at the Hanuman Mandir, Glenview, IL

During the event, Shakha Swayamsevaks presented 10-steps of Suryanamaskar, explaining each step, move and analyzing the health & spiritual benefits. The devotees at the Mandir actively participated & enjoyed the Suryanamaskar Yadnya. They Mandir Sunday School showed great interest in engaging with Shakha for continued support for Yoga and Surya Namaskar activities at Mandir.

Sunday, Jan 15th, 11-11:30 AM

Hanumaan Mandir

3624 W Lake Ave,

Glenview, IL 60026

Krishna Fall Leaves Picture Frame

Shakha 13-Nov-2016

The balas of shakha did an art activity : " Krishna Fall Leaves Picture Frame "
Balas were given a picture of Shree Krishna and asked to go outside in the nature and collect fall leaves. Using these fall leaves, the Balas beautifully pasted the leaves and made a picture frame for Shee Krishna. Below are the pictures of the same

shubham

Vijayadashami Utsav 2016, Chicago

We wish you and your family a very happy Vijaya Dashami!

Vijayadashami marks the victory of good and righteousness over evil.  As you know, we Hindus enthusiastically and joyfully celebrate this special occasion, in myriad different forms, on the 10th day of Shukla Paksha(Waxing moon fortnight) in the month of Ashwin (September-October). Stories of Goddess Durga as a combined power of all Gods to kill Mahishahur, ShriRam's army of tribal citizens and monkeys to win over crime committed against women, and many other are popular.

This day also happens to be our foundation day when Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar took the significant step to organize the Hindu society 91 years ago.

Vijayadashami is one of the important occasions when all HSS Chicago families get to come together.

Afternoon of 16-October 2016, HSS families from Chicago area gathered as an extended family.
Smile and chatter was naturally filled in the premises to start with which was followed by Shastra Poojan, a meaningful ritual of Vijayadashami festival. More than hundred of us in HSS ganavesh (uniform) later demonstrated our learning from Shakha.

A well coordinated demonstration took place

• Kids from Naperville shakha chanted Ramayan shlokas.
• Schaumburg Shakha recited Shlokas.
• Our own new shakha performed combination of Sharada, Lakhmi & Durga prarthana and later a combination of Yogasans.
• Physical activities in terms of Games, Yog-Vyayam, exercise using Dand were performed by various age-groups.
• Schaumburg shakha presented a symphony and Naperville Sevikas had rhythmic performance of yogchap(lezim).

Our Atithi (Chief guest) of the program, Shree Chirayu Parikh, Chairman of Jalaram temple, addressed us and talked about various initiatives taken up by HSS to organize Hindu society in USA. He emphasized introduction of Hindu studies in University curriculum. Mukhya Vakta (Main speaker) of the program Smt Shreevidya Radhakrishna, National Bal Pramukh, HSS, highlighted the key achievements of HSS. Representation of correct Indian history in Californian text books and the constant need of coming together, was described in great detail covering many such recent incidents in American context.

The festivity was supplemented by Prasad - delicious snacks and socialization.

*******************shubham*******************

Hindu Heritage Camp Report

Namaste,

We successfully conducted a day long Hindu Heritage Family Camp in Wheeling, IL targeting some of the Northwest suburbs in Chicago area. In the below email, forwarding report & pictures of the HHC. Also adding a summary of our preparations towards this camp. 

Highlights of the camp preparations -

• Started preparations 8 weeks back (late June) with 5 karyakartas - Vineet ji, Guruprasad ji, Indira ji, Sreevidya and myself - in a baithak
• Targeted suburbs: Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove
• Identified strong Hindu pockets within these suburbs - Apartments, Sub Divisions, public places
• Sampark stats: 
• Personally reached out to: 160+ families (handed over Fliers)
• Got contact details of 80 families 
• 36 families attended the camp
• Out of the total participation, 80% are completely new to HSS
• Almost all the sampark was done 1-on-1: distributed fliers by walking around in apartment complexes, sub divisions... 
• 3 Sample Shakhas were conducted in 2 apartment communities to give a glimpse of the HHC and Shakha
• In each Sample Balagokulam, we had separate activities for children and adults. We had warmups, yoga, khel and discussion for adults while children did warmups, suryanamakar, khel, shlokas and story. 
• 1st sample shakha had 30 attendees, 2nd sample shakha had 40 attendees, and 3rd sample shakha had 18 attendees
• lot of participation in the HHC came from this.
• Chiraag Hebbar was Vistarak in this area in July and helped in Sampark and sample Balagaokulams. 

Take Aways/Next Steps -

• Sample Balagokulams really helped new people understand what Shakha/HHC would be like and helped encourage more people to join in
• Announced starting of a new Shakha at the end of HHC with the venue, date, time. Starting on this Thursdays @ 6:30 PM.
• Developed huge contact base for the new Shakha - these contacts are our pat list for the new Shakha to start with
• In the feedback forms several of the new participants signed up to volunteer in the weekly Shakha

Link to the HHC pictures -

https://goo.gl/photos/ vt9sqMsaVgQUpENt6

HHC Detailed Report  -

"Hindu Heritage Family Camp, NW Suburbs" took place on August 20, 2016 (Saturday) in Wheeling Park District. This camp was conducted for introducing Sangh to new families of NW Suburbs and potentially start a new Shakha. 

• It was a day long camp from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
• Total 134 participants (12 as Shikshak+Prabandhak) from 36 families participated. 
• Participants were divided into 4 Ganas (Ati Shishu (Below 5), Shishu/Bala, Tarun Purush, Mahila) for most of the activities. 
• Camp began by lighting Diya and Welcome note.
• Everyone enjoyed a sumptuous lunch; Most of the lunch items came from Karyakartas' houses.
• Special highlight of the camp was when families came together to make their very own murti of Ganesha out of clay
• We ended the day with concluding ceremony and distribution of certificates for children.
• Tarun Gana had following activities:

• Ice-Breakers
• Warm-up & Surya Namaskar
• Pranayam
• Workshop on Shlokas (Gana was divided in 8 teams)
• Discussion on Hindu Identity (Separately for Swayamsevak & Sevika Gana)
• Khel (Separately for Swayamsevak & Sevika Gana)
• Ganesh Murti making (Family-wise)
• HSS Presentation (all participants together)
• Prarthana (all participants together)

• Children had following activities:
• Ice-Breakers
• Warm-up & Surya Namaskar
• Shloka
• Niyuddha
• Video time
• Khel
• Ganesh Murti making (Family-wise)
• HSS Presentation (all participants together)
• Prarthana (all participants together) 

• Celebrated Raksha Bandhan before Samarop
• Apart from the key karyakartas who have been involved from the beginning, shikshaks included Sudharshan Dwarakanath from Urbana Champagne, Girish ji Pambhar, and Ma. Shridhar Damle ji from Chicago area.