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The strength of the Dharmic culture is the multitude ways in which the Puranas, (ancient traditional stories and epics) are brought to life through festivals. These festivals play an important role in expressing the spiritual significance in a celebratory, joyous ways while bringing people together. In these times of need, we need to serve and share our resources and collectively develop our diverse communities. Hindu American Seva Charities has developed a unique program, UtsavSeva which invokes the spiritual values of the festivals with Community Service throughout the year! HASC has identified many ways in which to serve. UtsavSeva Support - Letters from Spiritual Leaders
" This lamp symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance...Diwali is a time for celebration, but it is also a time for reflection – a time when we must remember that there are always others less fortunate then ourselves. This holiday reminds us all that we should commit ourselves to helping those in need. For many, this is also a time to gather with family and to pray. To those celebrating Diwali in India, I look forward to visiting you over the next few days. And to all those who will celebrate this joyous occasion on Friday, I wish you, your families and loved ones Happy Diwali and Saal Mubarak". President Obama on Diwali, November 04, 2010.
UTSAV SEVA at work
2011
January: ShantiSeva Withdrawing from unethical and disturbing behavior and making a commitment to uphold universal values that promote harmony and mutual respect February: KalaSeva Commitment to the welfare of all beings to integrate spiritual knowledge within (Saraswati), cultivate values, understand religious discipline. Act March: KalyanSeva Celebrating the equality of all human beings, regardless of religion, race, color, gender, socio-economic status, etc. Holi colors show equalizing with all. Worship of Shiva, the one in whom all resolve April: BhaktiSeva Living a life that contributes to the well-being of others. Victory of dharma (goodness) over adharma (unrighteous). Victory of good over evil. May: VidyaSeva Promote Spiritual Knowledge/ Enlightenment and Ahimsa. Honor Hindu men and women and of all faiths who serve in line of duty. Participate in remembrance activities. June: AnnaDaanam Seva Food Security and Giving July: BhumiSeva Serve the nation and mother earth August: MitraSeva Rakhi represents a bond of Protection, Service, Refuge September YogaSeva October ShaktiSeva Invoke the feminine strength November DhanSeva Removal of ignorance with the light of knowledge and triumph of goodness over evil. Triumph of dharma over adharma. Emphasis on the importance of giving. Sharing of resources—wealth, knowledge, skills. December SarvaDharmaSeva Interfaith service – in which the Dharmic people (Hindus, Buddhist, Jains and Sikhs and other eastern faiths) continue to foster respect and understanding. ======================================== 2010 YogaSeva - In September, Krishna Jayanti Festival, honors the great Yogi. Many Hindu places of worship already teach and some are expanding. They are also providing in-culture perspective on Yoga. ShaktiSeva - In October, Navaratri is a celebrated. It honors the many aspects of Devi; symbolically of women’s strength and of value enrichment within one self. HASC is initiating ShaktiSeva to highlight and bring this to the forefront during the celebrations, through dialogues, telling and sharing stories, helping women’s organizations. “Listen, Learn and Inspire” each other. DhanSeva - In Diwali, removal of ignorance with the light of knowledge and triumph of goodness over evil is celebrated. DhanSeva – resources empowerment (serve as resources of wealth of knowledge, goodness and economic empowerment) to do seva projects to promote education, economic help, awareness of the festival, job fairs, canned/boxed food to replenish local food banks for Thanksgiving, etc. within and outside our community. SarvaDharmaSeva - During December HASC suggests SarvaDharmaSeva – Interfaith service – in which people of all faiths, believers and non-believers continue to foster respect and understanding. And, in the spirit of inter-faith cooperation: work on the holy days, (Christmas, Chanukah, Muharram, Kwanza) of other faiths. Click on the link for additional Seva efforts with our partners. Resources PRESS RELEASE |
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