HSS USA Annual Report 2020-2021

HINDU SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH USA

ANNUAL

REPORT

2020 to

2021 34 STATES 171 CITIES 251 SHAKHAS

Annual Report 2020-2021

www.hssus.org

|

/hssus |

/hss_us

|

@hssusa

1

Annual Message Namaste, I hope you and your family are healthy and doing well. I am happy to share the HSS Annual Report from October 2020 to October 2021.

As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” The challenges of the Pandemic tested the mettle of humanity as a whole.

Just when the world saw a ray of hope with the availability of vaccines, there became an urgent need to create community awareness for vaccination in the United States. Meanwhile, India was hit by a severe “second wave,” facing acute shortages in Oxygen concentrators, essential life-saving equipment, and rising casualties.

It was heartening to see our volunteers rise up to both of these challenges. They worked for their local communities in the United

States and, at the same time, helped the people of India in their fight against the second wave of COVID. Our growing shakha work, growing membership, and timely sewa activities reflect our volunteers’ inspiration and positive energy even during these challenging times. The organization is a philosophical platform, but its volunteers do the actual work.

This Annual Report records how HSS volunteers acted as role models by fulfilling their social commitments, helping their communities, and meeting the challenges.

ॐ सर्वेश ां स्र्वस्स्ि र्भर्विु सर्वेश ां श स्ति र्भर्विु सर्वेश ां पर्ण ं र्विु ू र्

सर्वेश ां मङ्गलांर्र्विु

लो क : समस्ि : सखु ि नो र्र्वतिु

ॐ श स्ति​िः श स्ति​िः श स्ति​िः

- Dr. Vinod Ambastha Sanghchalak (President), HSS USA

Annual Report 2020-2021

www.hssus.org

|

/hssus |

/hss_us

|

@hssusa

2

Launch of Balagokulam Website

HSS Balagokulam team developed a new website for Balagokulam resources and activities. It was formally launched on the birth anniversary of Shri.

Guruji. Prof. Ved Nanda, HSS President, America

Zone, and Sri Sriram Raghavan, an acclaimed author and designer of Gurukula, were the keynote speakers.

Vijaya Dashami 2020 37 Events | 7500 Participants

Vijaya Dashami is the founding day of HSS. Pandemic concerns and restrictions were still at their peak during the Vijaya Dashami of 2020. Still, all shakhas and vibhags celebrated the anniversary and Vijaya Dashami festival remotely but innovatively. A total of 7500 people participated in 37 Vijaya Dashami events held across the nation.

Annual Report 2020-2021

www.hssus.org

|

During the Vijaya Dashami celebration, typically, HSS volunteers present what they learn yearround in Shakhas. These exhibits include Yoga, exercise, games, and band activities. For Vijaya Dashami 2020, volunteers recorded these activities creatively in remote settings and presented them during online celebrations.

/hssus |

/hss_us

|

@hssusa

3

Surya Namaskar Yajna

43 States | 91 Schools | 1.03M Surya Namaskars 173 Proclamations HSS held its 14th annual Health for Humanity Yogathon, also known as Surya Namaskar Yajna (SNY), on January 31. Around 5000 residents from 43 states participated in the SNY event this year and performed a total of 1.03M Surya Namaskars. Additionally, teachers and students from 91 schools participated, learned, and performed Surya Namaskars.

A total of 173 elected officials, including Mayors, Governors, Senators, and US Representatives, proclaimed appreciation of these efforts, encouraging their constituents to participate in this important health awareness event.

Guru Vandana - Teachers Appreciation 24 States | 73 Cities | 113 Districts | 99 Events 5,304 Participants

Guru Vandana events are typically held from May to June during weekends to coincide with Teachers Appreciation week. This year, to follow CDC and local health department guidelines, most Annual Report 2020-2021

www.hssus.org

|

chapters organized events in a virtual setting; children mailed gift boxes for teachers containing sweets, masks, and personalized handmade greeting cards to add a personal touch.

Teachers received these boxes in advance of the event. During the event, teachers were introduced to the Hindu cultural significance of Guru and Guru Vandana, followed by cultural events and speeches. Later, teachers had an opportunity to comment about the event.

/hssus |

/hss_us

|

@hssusa

4

Raksha Bandhan

Universal Oneness Day

Last year, HSS volunteers celebrated the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan, or “Universal Oneness Day,” in August and September 2021 in 22 states.

They reached out to first responders, community leaders, and local/state/federal elected officials.

The volunteers tied the traditional rakhi (a string bracelet) around the wrists of their honorees. All officials appreciated this way of greeting that highlights the importance of civic responsibility and universal acceptance.

Hindu Sangathan Diwas (Hindu Unity Day)

All across the United States, HSS organized 20 Hindu Sanghatan Din events. Leaders of several Hindu religious and cultural organizations attended these events in their respective regions. The idea was to network, introduce each organization to a larger group, and discuss ideas to collaboratively work locally for the greater good.

Annual Report 2020-2021

www.hssus.org

|

/hssus |

/hss_us

|

@hssusa

5

Hindu YUVA Hindu YUVA is celebrating its 15th anniversary this academic year. The 39 on-campus chapters have had an impactful presence at universities representing the Hindu voice and uniting students.

Last year, the youths of Hindu YUVA were at the forefront of helping students and surrounding communities for COVID relief. Hindu YUVA organized several activities involving students, faculty, and other on-campus communities such as Guru Vandana with professors and administrators, webinars by notable speakers on relevant topics for Hindu youth, and released the ‘Shri Ram, Jai Ram’ music video.

Dharma Ambassador Program Under the Dharma Ambassador Program, HSS trained 1,200 volunteers and built their capacity to present and address various aspects of Hindu Dharma at different forums. The training consists of multiple facets of Hindu Dharma, Hindu Civilization, Divinity and Dharma, Practices, Major Principles, Misconceptions, Hindutva, and Path to Great Speaking.

It offered a primer to various aspects, followed by questions and answers after each session. It also provided a vital segway for Swadhyay and Sadhana. It facilitated further interest in Hindu studies awareness, paving the way for self-study, contemplation, and practice. It helped build confidence to be able to present Hindu Dharma.

HSS Sevika Vibhag Activities HSS Women volunteers’ (Sevikas’) publication Prerana or inspiration has gained popularity beyond HSS membership. Readers appreciate a wealth of information, articles, and interviews on topics related to Health, Lifestyle, Philosophy, Art, Culture, History, and more. All issues are available free at https://www.hssus.org/prerana-e-zine.

In April 2021, HSS Sevikas organized an online narration of Shri Ram’s story in seven Indian languages. A total of 100 readers read the story during this 10day event. On the occasion of Diwali, HSS Sevikas took the initiative to send a personalized Diwali greeting to over 1,700 women who work in the healthcare field, appreciating them for their work during the Pandemic.

Annual Report 2020-2021

www.hssus.org

|

/hssus |

/hss_us

|

@hssusa

6

Dharma Internship Program

Dharma Internship Program is an initiative to connect Hindu-American teenage students to their Hindu Roots. In the process, it develops their skill sets in research, writing, interviewing, presentation, and more.

In this 8-week program, Dharma interns were engaged in Hindu History stories, documented stories of exemplary service. They investigated, interviewed, and wrote articles and reports about inspiring projects and created contentrich blogs, webinars, podcasts, presentations, and

Sewa Diwali

audiobooks. This year, 972 interns participated, and 198 HSS volunteers coordinated the program and mentored the interns.

service, this noble act of giving back is a collective initiative of organizations and individuals from Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain communities.

This initiative is nationally coordinated by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, a non-profit, voluntary service organization.”

During the season of giving and on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Diwali, nearly 179 organizations and numerous individuals came together to collect food for food pantries across the country. Over 2 months, 294,000 pounds of food was collected across 26 states and 225 townships in the USA and donated to 199 pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters under the “SewaDiwali” initiative.

SewaDiwali strives to make a difference in the lives of those suffering from food insecurity.

Driven by the values of Dharma and selfless Annual Report 2020-2021

www.hssus.org

|

This food drive was a collective effort of cultural and religious communities, yoga institutions, and numerous other organizations rooted in the Dharmic value of Sewa. During this drive, hundreds of people made their homes “collection centers” for their neighbors to contribute. People were encouraged to donate canned goods and non-perishable items to food pantries or homeless shelters.

/hssus |

/hss_us

|

@hssusa

7

Vaccination Sewa 8 States

|

198 Urban Centers

During the peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020, HSS volunteers provided help to families, first responders, and healthcare professionals in 27 states and 198 urban centers nationwide.

Continuing the same spirit of community service, HSS volunteers offered “Vaccination Sewa” in their communities. HSS volunteers reached out to communities, brought awareness on COVID-19 related vaccination, and helped the vaccination centers to make the regional vaccination program successful.

Annual Report 2020-2021

www.hssus.org

|

In one instance, HSS Philadelphia, in coordination with FEMA Region III, organized a campaign, “Sewa with FEMA.” HSS coordinated volunteers from 25 local Indian Associations and Hindu Temples who helped register, screen people, assist people with disabilities and conduct the post-vaccination observation.

Similarly, HSS worked closely with several Mayors, temples, and vaccination centers to make the vaccination program successful and help people gain much-needed immunity to the COVID virus. /hssus |

/hss_us

|

@hssusa

8