Universal Oneness Day 2019 Calgary

/in /by

Universal Oneness Day – 2019 in Calgary

Our Prayers and Respect for those Who Protect Us

Universal Oneness Day in Calgary was observed at the Country Hills Fire Station on 17th August 2019. The HSS Calgary Team has performed the traditional ‘Raksha Bandhan’ by tying the ‘Rakhi'(the sacred thread) on the wrist of the Officers Fire Fighters and the EMS team. We explained to them the significance and meaning of this wonderful Hindu Tradition. The HSS Team handed over a “Thank You” note as a symbol of our indebtedness to them.

Pictures from Country Hills Fire Station – August 2019

The Context & Significance of Raksha Bandhan


Raksha Bandhan is a festival of connectivity, of giving assurance and confidence to each other that I am there with you and I am committed to help you, and stand by you. To say these things, we celebrate Raksha Bandhan, which means the bond of protection. With this assurance, what happens? Fear vanishes. The purpose of Raksha Bandhan is to remove fear from our lives.

The Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated world wide by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh as Universal Oneness Day. The purpose of this is to reach out to the communities and government agencies in which HIndus live and appreciate their the services rendered by them to keep the society safe and secure.  The first responders like Fire Department and RCMP/ City Police are in the top of the list of those kinds of agencies. In the previous years the observation of Universal Oneness Day was limited to Edmonton. From 2019 HSS Calgary also started observing this.

Read more

Samskrita Bharati Seminar – 2018

/in /by

Samskrita Bharati Seminar 2018

HSS Edmonton – Samskrita Bharati Canada Seminar 2018

Samskrita Bharati Seminar was held in June 2018 in Edmonton. It was an one day event where the participants got an introduction to the spoken and simple (saral) aspects of the ancient language of Hindus, Samskritam ( Sanskrit). The main outcome of the even was that at the end of the day, twelve out of forty five participants signed up for regular weekly two hour classes.

Pictures from Samskrita Bharati Seminar

Context & Background Information

Samskrita Bharati, a non-profit organization, is primarily dedicated to the mission of popularizing Sanskrit as a spoken language. Moving beyond veneration of Sanskrit as a classical or exotic language, Samskrita Bharati seeks to make this a contemporary language whose everyday usage becomes customary and widespread.

Mission

Promote Samskritam as an everyday language and provide access to its rich and diverse repository of knowledge.

Vision

Samskritam will be a preferred medium for personal enrichment and harmony in the society.

Objective

Teach Samskritam to one and all.

Our Goals

  • Promote Samskritam in spoken and written forms among people of all ages in an interactive, fun, immersive and engaging environment.
  • Improve Samskritam teaching techniques and create instructional aids in multitude of media to make learning an easy and rewarding experience.
  • Organize lectures, camps, competitions and other programs to complement and enhance learning.
  • Bring to light existing Samskritam literature and publish books and create audiovisual and other media content to enhance the modern literary world of Samskritam.
  • Facilitate study and research in various knowledge systems available in Samskritam.
  • Inspire and build a committed base of volunteers and instructors to serve the society by working to propagate Samskritam.

More information about Samskrita Bharati is available in the Canada and US Chapters of their website

Swami Vivekananda Jayanthi – 2019

/in /by

Swami Vivekananda Jayanti – 2019

Edmonton Balagokulam Observed The 156th Birth Day

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh organized an event mainly focussed on the Balagokulam Kids to observe the 155th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda in Edmonton. We felt that slowly but surely the participants are getting attracted to the wisdom and knowledge of Swami ji which in the long run is going to influence the Canadian Hindu children in a very positive way

Pictures from Krishna Sakha in Edmonton

Swami Vivekananda – Background Information


Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk and one of the most celebrated spiritual leaders of India. He was more than just a spiritual mind; he was a prolific thinker, great orator and passionate patriot. He carried on the free-thinking philosophy of his guru, Ramakrishna Paramhansa forward into a new paradigm. He worked tirelessly towards betterment of the society, in servitude of the poor and needy, dedicating his all for his country. He was responsible for the revival of Hindu spiritualism and established Hinduism as a revered religion on world stage. His message of universal brotherhood and self-awakening remains relevant especially in the current backdrop of widespread political turmoil around the world. The young monk and his teachings have been an inspiration to many, and his words have become goals of self-improvement especially for the youth

Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902) was the foremost disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and a world spokesperson for Vedanta. His lectures, writings, letters, and poems are published as The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda. He felt it was best to teach universal principles rather than personalities, so we find little mention of Ramakrishna in the Complete Works

Read more

Vijaya Dasami – 2018

/in /by

Vijaya Dasami / Dussera

Celebration of Dharma over Adharma


After nine days of Navratri, the tenth day, which is celebrated as Dusserah or Vijayadashami signifies the victory of good over evil. On this day, we celebrate the victory of magnanimity over pettiness, of the big mind over the small mind. According to the Ramayana, Vijaydashami marks the day that Lord Rama defeated the demon king Ravana. The tenth day after Navratri also signifies the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.

Normally, when the mind is taken over by negative tendencies, we keep fighting with it. This is when we surrender it to the Divinity by saying, “I can’t fight with my own mind, so You take care of it and you show me the path”. When we celebrate the dussehra festival then remind ourselves to follow the path of dharma, truth and righteousness.

Read more

Universal Oneness Day 2017

/in /by

Universal Oneness Day 2017

Paying Respect to Those Who Protect Us Everyday

Pictures from Edmonton Police Station 2017

Universal Oneness Day 2018

/in /by

Universal Oneness Day – 2018

Our Prayers and Respect for those Who Protect Us

Pictures from Edmonton Fire Station – 2018