Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh honors the teachers during Guru Vandana event

Written By:Shuban Baheti

"I don't think teachers, in general, get honored in this way." "It was lovely to be invited and exposed to such a beautiful event." These are the kind words said by the teachers in appreciation of the students and the Hindu Community. On May 18, 2024, the Edison chapter-Keshav Shakha of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh hosted a teachers appreciation event, otherwise known as Guru Vandana. Teachers from various schools and districts attended a fun-filled program filled with appreciation, games, food, etc. By displaying the various Hindu cultures and respect, this program included games/khel, a felicitation ceremony, and different skits presented by the elementary, middle, and high schoolers. In just 3 hours, it was clear that the teachers were both entertained and happy to attend the program and spend more time with their loving students.
The ceremony started with Deep Prajwalan, an auspicious Hindu ceremony that involved lighting a lamp to kick off this event. To continue, the chapter director, Yogesh Khandar, gave a presentation about Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. The teachers were enlightened and now had a basic idea of the HSS non-profit organization and its purpose.
All the kids presented 'Shakha's Got Talent,' a showcase of their incredible talents. Their dedication and hard work were evident in the unique and entertaining manner in which they depicted various components of the weekly chapter Shakha. Activities like lezim(dance with a musical instrument with jingling cymbals), niyuddha (self-defense), classical singing, surya namaskar ( Sun salutation), and ghosh (band) were all depicted in a unique form. Following this was a heartwarming story about the value of our teachers/gurus and their invaluable help in our everyday lives. As Mr. Joseph Sosa said, "I appreciated the whole Shakha's Got Talent. It was funny, enjoyable, and a true testament to the talents of our students and the dedication of our teachers".
One volunteer made a presentation about the significance of teacher leadership. She thoroughly discussed the ideas of providing resources, supporting the students, and offering a helping hand, which teachers do daily. Fun-filled team games followed. All the teachers and families loved playing these games.
All the children did the Guru Vandana ceremony, a deeply significant ritual in the Hindu tradition. All the teachers were seated and honored with Aarti, a Hindu ceremony of applying Tilak on the teacher's forehead. This location on the forehead holds great symbolic significance in the Hindu tradition as a center of concentration and discerning intelligence. This was followed by doing Aarti ( moving the lighted lamp in a clockwise direction in front of the face) as a symbol of auspiciousness. Finally, all children touched their Guru's feet as a symbol of ultimate surrender to the knowledge the teachers provided. This rich cultural and religious aspect of the event deepened the sense of connection and appreciation among all present.
Everyone enjoyed taking pictures at the colorful photo booths and relished the homemade Indian delicacies.
Through HSS's portrayal of teacher appreciation and the Guru Vandana Event, the students reminded teachers of their hard work and dedication and paid their gratitude. The event was a testament to the students' creativity, teamwork, and respect for their teachers, as they took on various roles in organizing and participating in the event.