Abhimanyu Shakha - Schaumburg

Abhimanyu Shakha participated in the annual HSS Surya Namaskar Yagna. A conference call was organized to kick off the Yagna on Jan 14th (Makar Sankranti) with nation wide lehar. 16 people from our Shakha joined in this call and performed 546 (42 sets) Surya Namaskars. It was a great way to come together and perform Surya Namaskar.

SNY 2012

Conclusion of Yagna was done on Jan 29th in the Shakha. 30 Swayamsevak and Sevikas performed 2 sets of Surya Namaskars in the Shakha. A delicious lunch was also organized by the sevikas. All in all around 4000 Surya namaskars were performed by Abhimanyu Shakha.

Just like last year, Abhimanyu Shakha conducted Diwali Food Drive this year. Not only Food items but we collected cash donations from our Shakha as well as Ramayan Shakha. Which helped us buy exactly those Food items which Food Pantry was running short on.

Elk Grove Food Pantry

We visited Elk Grove Food Pantry on Nov 19th and donated 2 Cart full of Food items like Soda Crackers, Jello, Pudding, Cake Mix etc. 13 swayamsevak from our Shakha showed up at the Elk Grove Food Pantry. Nancy Clarbour, the “Lady”, from this Food Pantry was elated to see us again this year. She thanked a lot for remembering the Food Pantry and bringing essential food items on the occasion of Diwali. She talked about her visit to Hindu Temple in Hawaii and about volunteers who help her run the Food Pantry. She emphasized that if parents do volunteer work then their children will also be interested in volunteer work. Kids and parents from our Shakha were so excited to see a Food Pantry and how it works.

Chicago Vibhag celebrated Vijaydashami Utsav on 9th Oct Sunday. All 3 shakhas and Hindu sangam from University of Chicago joined for the Utsav. Shri Harish ji Bhatt was mukhya atithi who is a business man in Chicago area. We were fortunate to have Sreevidya-ji Radhakrishna from CA who delivered a great Boudhik. Adhikarees along with mukhya vakta and mukhya atithi did sashtra pujan in the beginning of the Utsav.

Chicago vibhag of HSS organized a family camp for greater Chicago area Hindu families. The camp was held in a very scenic forest preserve camp site called Hoover forest preserve by the Fox river. The camp site had been renovated recently and provided very clean and comfortable facilities in the midst of thick woods and close by fox river. A total of 140 people attended the camp with kids from 6 months old to 70+ year old adults providing a full spectrum of age groups.

The camp was an excellent example of everyone pitching in selflessly to make things happen like clockwork.
Very positive feedback was received from all the attendees and this will become a much anticipated event every year.

Some pictures from the camp can be viewed at the following links:

Chicago Chapter of Hindu Education Foundation (HEF) and Schaumburg Chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) organized Guru Vandana program on May 14, 2011 at Hoffman Estate Park District’s Willow Center to honor school teachers in Schaumburg and surrounding area.

As teachers arrived, kids from Abhimanyu Shakha lined up in front of Poster Exhibition on Hinduism and Indian culture. Each kid briefly talked about posters in front of the teachers.

Program Coordinator Mr. Manish Joshi started off by welcoming everyone to the program. Group of Teenage kids, Mithul Garg, Ravi Patel, Abby Mohan and Ishan Jog, compeered the program with a theme on the importance of Guru.

Special guest, Mr. Vasant Pandav (HSS), and Mr. Prakash Saunshi (HEF) inaugurated the program by lighting a lamp in front of Saraswati, the Goddess of education.  Young Kids from Abhimanyu Shakha recited Shlokas (Verses in Sanskrit) in praise of Guru.

All the teachers were invited on the stage and their respective students presented a special Memento to them. Around 25 teachers from Schaumburg and surrounding area schools were present at this program.

Cultural program started with beautiful Indian Classical Dance called Kathak by Pragya Kansal (Grade 4). It was followed by group dance on Hindi song “All Izz Well” by 3 boys, Sauruv Garg (Grade 2), Roshan Bhagwakar (Grade 2) and Nikhil Nair (Grade 3). Group of students from Gauri Jog Indian School of Dance presented a beautifully choreographed Indian Classical Dancing. It was followed by a group dance on Hindi song “Barso Re Megha” by 3 girls, Samrudhi Ayachit (Grade 6), Neeti Joshi (Grade 6) and Venya Joshi (Grade 3).

Shweta Desai sang a Hindi song “Uthe Sabke Kadam” which put everyone in singing and dancing mood. And then group of kids lead by Sanjay Patel put up a demonstration of Indian folk dance called “Dandiya”. Kids invited their teachers to join in the folk dance and all of them obliged happily.

A vote of thanks from Mr. Vinay Kansal concluded the program. It was followed with light snacks. Many teachers came forward and appreciated the program and effort by their students. More than 125 people attended the program and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Link to Pictures:

http://www.hssus.org/gallery/v/MWEST/agv2011/

SNY was kicked off in a new style at Abhimanyu Shakha this year with nationwide Leher. 22 participants joined over a Conference call on Saturday Jan 15th morning for an hour and performed 750 Surya Namaskaras.

New karyakarta Milind ji Ayachit coordinated SNY activities with some help from Sanjay ji Patel. A Surya Namaskar Presentation and Samuhik session was organized at Abhimanyu Shakha on Sunday Jan 16th. Flyers for this event were posted at local Grocery stores and Temples. 36 kids and adults participated in this session and performed 1400 Surya Namaskaras.

Surya namaskars were performed again over the conference call on the following Saturday. Counts were collected every week and updated into HSS Sampark system. Conclusion of SNY was done at Abhimanyu Shakha on Sunday Jan 30th. In total 8500 Surya namaskaras were performed by 50 participants from Abhimanyu Shakha.

Surya Namaskar Quiz and demonstration competition was organized at the Shakha after the conclusion of SNY 2011. Kids with top Surya Namaskar counts were awarded Balgokulam magazine subscription and Gift card.

As planned, we visited Itasca Food Pantry on Saturday Nov 27th and donated a cart full of Food items like Cereal, Pop Tarts, Macaroni Cheese, Canned Tomatoes and lots of Ramen Noodle Soup. Ellen and Megan at the Food Pantry were busy distributing foods to needy families. They appreciated that we conducted Diwali Food Drive and contributed to their Food Pantry. Many people were present in the Food Pantry at that time and they appreciated our efforts.

Diwali Food Drive - Itasca Food Pantry

Thanks to all who brought food items or contributed money for Diwali Food Drive. It makes Diwali celebration more meaningful.

Just like last year, Abhimanyu Shakha conducted Diwali Food Drive with a renewed interest. Not only Food items but we collected cash donations from our Shakha as well as Ramayan Shakha . Which helped us buy exactly those Food items which Food Pantry was running short on.

Diwali Food Drive 2010

We visited Elk Grove Food Pantry on Nov 20th and donated 2 Cart full of Food items like Cereal, Pasta, Pop Tart, Fruit Juice, Tomato Cans etc. 20 swayamsevak from our Shakha showed up at the Elk Grove Food Pantry. Nancy Clarbour, the “Lady”, from this Food Pantry was elated to see us again this year. She thanked a lot for remembering the Food Pantry and bringing essential food items on the occasion of Diwali. She talked about her visit to Hindu Temple in Hawaii and about volunteers who help her run the Food Pantry. She emphasized that if parents do volunteer work then their children will also be interested in volunteer work. Kids and parents from our shakha were so excited to see a Food Pantry and how it works.