28 Woodbridge Public School Teachers Thanked In Hindu Ceremony

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — On May 11, the Woodbridge chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh held a teacher celebration event (Guru Vandana Utsav) to honor teachers in the Woodbridge public school district.

The Utsav was held at Kiddie Keep Well Camp in Edison.

Children and teens invited Woodbridge teachers to attend, and a total of 28 teachers did, largely from the Woodbridge and Edison school districts and a few from sports and other areas. The event was attended by Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac, Woodbridge Human Rights Commission Chairman Glenn Morgan, Woodbridge school superintendent Joseph Massimino, Woodbridge school district's diversity, equity and inclusion director Kendall Ali and 25 teachers, some with their families.

The Guru Vandana started with the pledge of allegiance to the American flag, followed by a Hindu traditional lamp light ceremony and prayer to lord Ganesha and Guru shlokas by students. The students performed Indian classical music and each student performed the “Guru Puja” or teacher’s worship, by applying Tilak (red dot applied on the forehead), performing thanks and worship to the teachers and sought their blessings by touching their feet.

Students presented gifts to the teachers as a token of appreciation. The event concluded with an Indian vegetarian dinner.

"When I heard that 23 teachers from my school district are being felicitated by HSS, I could not have missed this opportunity to attend. Thank you HSS for organizing this … there is no such event where teachers are felicitated," said McCormac.