For over 25 years, Hindu organisations including temples across the United States have been offering free medical clinics several times a year, serving thousands of vegetarian meals once or twice a year and conducting a number of services helping all Americans. But in the last year or so, many have realised that such efforts have to be increased and made more visible so that other Indian organizations will come forward to do service, muses Princeton, New Jersey-based community leader Ved Chaudhary.
He is one of the key leaders of the Hindu American Seva Charities, which is publicising the charity work of Hindu groups across the country as well as encouraging temples, ashrams and related organizations to embrace the larger community in a big way.
Last week it called for Dhana Seva in addition to Utsav Seva--festival and prayer activities and also some service--throughout the festival month. Dhana Seva is specifically about resources empowerment, the HASC asserted, pointing out that November is not only the month of Diwali but also of Thanksgiving, which sees the largest family reunion across the country.
'Seva during Diwali means bringing in light, especially in the life of those less fortunate than us,' said Anju Bhargava, co-founder, HASC. 'There are many ways in which we can serve our community and the community at large. We can we offer financial help, share knowledge, identify ways to promote economic empowerment, replenish local food banks for Thanksgiving, donate books, or computers or equipment to local school/library.'
In Wichita, Kansas, as part of Dhana Seva, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin announced a health camp. The Shree Ram Kabir Bhakta Community is organizing a financial education workshop and joining an interfaith dinner event where Hindus will offer explanations behind Diwali rituals.
A week before Diwali, the Hindu Temple of Minnesota served meals for the homeless. Earlier last month, temple volunteers Vallabha Tantry and Naina Varanasi sent out a mass mail: 'Recognizing that hunger is not limited to any city, country or continent,' it said, 'the Hindu Temple of Minnesota is playing an active role in cooking and serving food at the shelter for the homeless, Sharing and Caring Hands, located in downtown Minneapolis.'
The HASC offers free yoga classes to the residents of City of Passaic, New Jersey.
In Chicago, the HASC is working with local groups to organize free Indian cooking classes to help children from poor families battle obesity and other health problems. On November 16, volunteers from the organisation will explain the significance of Diwali at an interfaith dinner for students at the John Jay College of The City University of New York.
The Asian American Hotel Owners Association is joining the Salute to Soldiers program by providing troops who have served overseas with free nights of accommodations at participating hotels.
The HASC led many organizations and temples to hold free yogathons which got the attention of several Christian interfaith initiatives. The Reverend Mark Farr, who leads faith outreach for the Points of Light Institute, the nation's largest civic service agency, wrote to the HASC: 'This day not only promotes citizen service led by a wonderful faith community but brings together cultures in our society that have long been separated. How could we not support it?'
'"Our community is just beginning to understand the leading role that faith-based organizations play in this country, As the broad and inclusive Hindu community, this is our time, and we are working to bring the very best of our culture to American civic life," Bhargava told rediff.com.
Image: A yoga class in progress in New Jersey
