USA
The 4th Hindu Unity Day was successfully organized by the HSS Greater Charlotte & South Carolina Chapter at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Mathews, NC on August 5th, 2023. The event marked a significant achievement, drawing numerous representatives from Hindu and Indian organizations who gathered in substantial numbers.
Their shared commitment to collaboration and solidarity within the Hindu community was palpable. Vikas Deshpande (HSS National Media Team Lead), who delivered the keynote address, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the participating organizations for their wholehearted engagement.
He emphasized the crucial importance of collective efforts in fortifying Hindu Unity. He urged everyone present to work in tandem, not only to confront challenges that the Hindu community faces but also to actively contribute to the betterment of the local community.
Deshpande highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the Hindu community, citing instances like the caste bill sb403 introduced in California state. He stressed the need for vigilance against such actions that could potentially divide the community. Deshpande asserted that unity facilitates the accomplishment of many objectives, encouraging organizations to explore avenues for joint initiatives.
He specifically mentioned the Sewa Diwali platform and proposed a Diwali food drive in Charlotte as opportunities for collaboration and community service. A gathering of 34 organizations, comprising temples, spiritual and yoga groups, regional and language-based organizations, wellness associations, and business entities, participated in the event.
They shared their respective visions and missions, pledging to work in harmony to bolster Hindu Unity. An additional 18 organizations, unable to attend due to conflicts, expressed their support through video messages or commitments to join future events, reinforcing the shared goal of fortifying Hindu Unity for generations to come.
Aravind Modini (Media Coordinator, HSS NC/SC) opened the event by welcoming the representatives. He affirmed that unity can catalyze transformative changes and acknowledged the Hindu community’s peaceful nature and significant contributions to various fields in the USA, such as technology, medicine, and business.
Modini issued a call for concerted efforts within the Hindu community to establish an ecosystem conducive to the prosperity of future generations, enabling them to embrace their culture fearlessly and without intimidation. He stressed that Hindu Unity should extend beyond symbolic gestures and translate into tangible actions.
The participants conveyed their gratitude to HSS for hosting the event, which effectively united like-minded organizations under a single banner.
Eminent community leaders such as Shri Baldev Thakor from Art of Living, Shri Mumukshu Brahmbhatt from BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Shri Hemant Amin from the Hindu Center, Shri Vimal Patel from Gujarati Samaj, NC, and Shri Mahesh Dongre from HSS were among the prominent attendees. Other notable participants included Shri Shiva Das (Coordinator, HSS Intellectual Activities, SE Region), Harikrishna Nagabandi (Senior Volunteer, HSS NC/SC), Tushar Karodi (Senior Volunteer, HSS NC/SC), and Shantanu Wadodkar (Aum School, NC).
The presentations offered by the organizations were well-received, and after the event, all attendees were treated to a delectable vegetarian dinner courtesy of the BAPS Mandir.
– Press Release – Media & Outreach Team HSS, Greater Charlotte & South Carolina Chapter
