[GHHF] Round up of our Activities on the Ground Level from September 24 thru October 2 – Ghar Waapasi, Bala Samskar Kendras and Petition to scrap Waqf Act
Ram Swarup (1920--1998)
"Hinduism was organized for peaceful and harmonious co-existence, not for continued confrontation with external enemies in the shape of unbelievers. It is no accident of history that though Hinduism knew internal feuds like any social polity, it never crossed its borders to wage wars against people simply because they worshipped different Gods. Organized on such non-military principles, there is no wonder that Hinduism did not even have a name for itself. "
1. Ghar Waapasi in Telangana – Help rendered to Hanuman Temple Committee about the illegal Church Construction and land grabbing in Gudimalkapet in Hyderabad. (Oct 2)
Met with TEN Sri Hanuman Temple Committee Members
Lakshmi Nivas and his team went to Sri Hanuman Temple in Gudimalkapet near Mehdipatnam in Vijayawada. It is a complex of Saibaba Temple, Devi Temple and Shiva Temple. The have been receiving complains about the illegal ,construction of Churches and also distribution of Christian literature. Some of the committee members contacted our Pracharaks and talked about mutual interests in protecting Santana Dharma.
Our Pracharaks talked about the mission of Global Hindu Heritage Foundation an its activities. Our Pracharaks mentioned that GHHF started three programs to ensure that our Hindus are not exploited by the missionaries. Ghar Waapasi was started about two years ago and explained to the committee members our efforts to welcome back those that were converted to Christianity. Our people said that it is our responsibility as a Temple Committee member to take personal interest in the welfare and management of the Temple, but it is even more important to monitor in their own neighborhoods and challenge the missionaries and start asking the nasty statements written in the Bible.
2. Ghar Waapasi in Anantapur – Conducted Devi Bhajans and talked about the importance of Satsang to create Hindu Unity. (Oct 1)
Sri Gopi Chary organized Devi Bhajan sessions in a village called Chelimepalli near Anantapur. Majority of the people living in the village are Dalits and about half Christians. Through the GHHF, few Christian families returned to Hinduism. It was decided that we organize these Bhajansi in the village to reinforce the faith among Hindu Dalits and at the same invite Christian families as well as ex-Christians.
Before the Bhajan session started, He asked ever body to do Sankalp by saying their names, Gotras and nakshatras; and the reason the puja is being conducted. He explained the importance of Navaratrulu.
Hindu scriptures states that in Kaliyuga, people have disturbed mind, experience restlessness and lack peace of mind. They live in an environment where their mind gets agitated . By chanting the names of Bhagawan, one gets peace of mind as they concentrate on the image of Goddess. Devotional singing, known as bhajans or kirtan, can help to quiet the mind so that the heart can open to the divine, allowing us to taste the blissful reality that is our true nature. Everyone is encouraged to sing and express their inner joy. Devotion is the most important aspect of kirtan. To gain concentration in this age of materialism, bhajan is easier than meditation. By loud singing, other distracting sounds will be overcome and concentration will be achieved. Bhajan, concentration and meditation, this is the progression. Bhajan is important for the devotee because it is intimate and free in expression. Bhajan preserves India’s rich legacy of devotion, wisdom and mysticism from saints like Meerabai, Tulsidas, Kabir, Surdas, Thyagaraja, Purandaradasa, Tukaram, Namdev, and many, many others.
3. Celebrating Navaratri festival by Sponsoring Dhoopa, Deepa Naivedyam in 26 Temples by organizing Geetha Parayanam and Lakshmi Ganapathi Homam (Sept 30)
As part of revitalization foundation volunteer Ashok has taken up an activity of organizing Lakshmi Ganapathi Homam, and Bhagavad Gita Parayanam in these temples during Navratri, now the numbers are growing with great applause. While churches are taking 10% of the income as fees, we are executing this program with no cost and just for their welfare, prosperity and health of society, we are explaining the importance at the same time. Ashok will be executing these two programs in East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh.
4. Bala Samskar Kendras in Tamil Nadu Celebrating Devi Navaratrulu, arranged Bommala Koluvu/Gollu and sang Devi Stotras.(Sept 29)
Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is very happy to inform you that the Bala Samskar Kendras in Tamil Nadu are celebrating Devi Navaratrulu with gusto, enthusiasm, and excitement. The teachers talked about the festival, why it is celebrated nine days, encouraged all the students to participate in the Pujas, encouraged them to Aarthi to the day of the Goddess and chanted a number devi stotras.
What is Dussehra?
Dussehra, which is also called Dasara or Vijayadashami is celebrated as a mark of triumph of Rama, an avatar of Vishnu, over the 10-headed demon king Ravana, who abducted Rama’s wife, Sita. The festival’s name is derived from the Sanskrit words dasha (“ten”) and hara (“defeat”). Symbolizing the victory of good over evil, Dussehra is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Ashwini (September–October), the seventh month of the Hindu calendar, with the appearance of the full moon, an event called the “bright fortnight” (shukla paksha). Dussehra coincides with the culmination of the nine-day Navratri festival and with the tenth day of the Durga Puja festival. For many, it marks the beginning of preparation for Diwali, which occurs 20 days after Dussehra.
5. Bala Samskar Kendras in Janagam Mandalam, Telangana have celebrated Bonal Festival. The learned the Story Behind and participated in Dance (Sept 28)
Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is extremely happy to inform that our Bala Samskar Kendras in Janagam Mandalam are organizing Bathukamma Festival to our young students. They help organize and facilitate the Bonalu festival. In Telangana, it is a huge festival conducted August/September of every year. Our Bala Samskar Kendras performed the festival as a way of thanking Goddess for the fulfilment of their desires and providing safety and security to the families and the villages.
Bonalu an annual festival that is celebrated in the state of Telangana, especially in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It is celebrated in honor of the Goddess Mahakali, who is considered to be the goddess of death and time.
Bonalu is celebrated usually during Ashada Masam that falls in July/August. Special poojas are performed for goddess Yellamma during the first and last day of the festival. The festival is considered as a form of thanksgiving to the Goddess after the fulfillment of vows
The name “Bonalu” is derived from the Sanskrit term ‘Bhojanam’. Over the years it became Bonam and eventually it is termed as Bonalu.
6. Bala Samskar Kendras in Shanshabad, Hyderabad started Bonal festival. Students prepared Flower Bathukammas, sand Bhajans and Danced around them. (Sept 27)
Global Hindu Heritage Foundation is extremely happy to inform that our Bala Samskar Kendras are organizing Bathukamma Festival to our young students. They help organize and facilitate the Bonalu festival. In Telangana, it is a huge festival conducted August/September of every year
The name “Bonalu” is derived from the Sanskrit term ‘Bhojanam’. Over the years it became Bonam and eventually it is termed as Bonalu. It means food or a feast in the Telugu language. As per the festival, food is offered to the Mother Goddess Mahankali. Bonam denotes the food that is cooked in pots and then it is offered to the Goddess. In various parts of Andhra Pradesh, Bonalu includes the worship of the Goddess in a number of forms and names like Pochamma, Yellamma, Ankalamma, Peddhamma, Maremma, Dokkalamma, Poleramma, and Nookalamma.
7. Bala Samskar Kendra Students in Assam Celebrate the first Day of Navaratri and Vijayadashami. They dressed up like DURGA MATA (Sept 26)
Bala Samskar Kendra Students in Assam dressed up like DURGA MATA
GHHF Assam - With the participation of thousands of Hindus, GHHF Assam organized a rally and Hindu Jagran Sabha on early hours of Mahalaya to mark the home comings of Goddess Durga. Bala Samskar students dressed like Durga, Shiba, Kali and performed dances, sang Durga song ,recited and chanted Maa Durga Sthuti.
Maa Durga Puja is the biggest festival of Hindus in Assam and Mahalaya is celebrated by the devotees of Maa Durga a week before the Durga Puja celebrations begin across the globe. It marks the beginning of Debi Paksha (the era of the goddess) and is observed on the last day of Piru Paksha (the 16-day lunar day period when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors/Pitrus). Mahalaya, therefore, means the arrival of Goddess Durga, and the festival centered around her worship - Durga Puja.
What is Mahalaya? The last day of offering tribute to our departed forefathers, i.e. Pitrupaksha and the beginning of the devipaksha is called Mahalaya. At the time of the cataclysm, when the earth became a great cause-sea, Lord Vishnu laid Anantanag on that sea and fell into a deep sleep.
8. Bala Samskar Kendras in all Five States – Learn the Values of Hindu Dharma; listened to the Speech of Swami Vivekananda given in Chicago on September 11, 1893 (Sep 25)
GHHF is very happy to inform you that we started 150 Sala Samskar Kendras many villages that are in remote places where people have to walk to reach these places. We started these Schools in these areas to ensure our children are protected from aggressive Christian missionary activities. We found teachers to be dedicated and passionate about teaching our culture, stotras, slokas, Desha Bhakti Geethas, national heroes who contributed to enriching Hindu culture and also performed Surya Namaskaras along with meditation. Sri Swamiji is taking the responsibility of coordinating these Centers and he sends all the required information.
As we know that each month the material to be taught changes to some extent due to the monthly festivals, date births of spiritual and National leaders and other events. Our teachers incorporate these changes to make sure that our children are taught the relevant timely information.
9. Urgent Petition: We demand Indian Govt to act Urgently & immediately to repeal the illegal, draconian & unconstitutional Waqf Act 1995. (Sep 24)
The Entire Indian nation was rudely awoken to a shocking news that an entire Hindu village in Tiruchendurai, Tamil Nadu, which includes an over 1500-year-old Hindu temple, has been declared as Waqf property. This left the Hindus perplexed as to how a religion that came to this land in the 10th century can lay claim to land and a temple that predates even that religion! The Waqf Act is responsible for this travesty.
We demand equality. We demand justice. 1. The Waqf Act be repealed immediately. 2. All the properties held by the Waqf Boards across the country be taken over by the Government. Followed by, 3. A High level committees be set up at the National and State levels to probe every such property so that it can be returned to their rightful heirs. And, We would like to draw your attention to the draconian aspects of The Waqf Act -
WE NEED YOUR HELP
We appreciate it if you can help in hiring more people who can go to these villages to do Ghar Waapasi. We have employed twenty people so far. With more people we hire, more villages can be covered to welcome them back and also create Chaitanya (Awareness) among the students and villagers.
1) Sponsor one Bala Samskar Kendra for $1000.00
2) Sponsor one Pracharak: In order to expand our base and hire one Pracharak, it would cost approximately $3000.00 per year. We have five anonymous donors who sponsored Assistants.
DONATIONS
PayPal Method: To donate visit our website: savetemples.org. Click on the Donate button, then press the Purpose category, and select the General Donation category.
By Check: Or you can send a check payable to: GHHF, . It is tax-deductible.
By Zelle: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com
RUPEES, if you would like to contribute in rupees, please either call or send an email. We will call you back to give you the required information
For more information, call Prakasarao V Velagapudi ; Email: ghhfusaorg@gmail.com.
