Santa Clara, September 27, 2013: A gathering of nearly 5,000 people converged Sept. 14 on the Alameda Fairgrounds here to attend the Dharma and Yoga Fest organized by the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, which was also held the same day at Mission College in Santa Clara. The event was one of several such celebrations being held across 25 venues in the United States through the fall to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. The event here was jointly supported by the Sri Datta Sai Mandir in San Ramon, Calif., Shea Homes, Geeta Society and by Art of Living; while the Santa Clara event was jointly hosted by the Sunnyvale and Fremont Hindu temples.

“This event has brought together members of diverse communities under the HSS banner,” Mani Keertan, an HSS volunteer, told India-West. “We are thrilled to have nearly 500 people of non-Indian origin interested in ‘dharma’ and ‘yoga’ with us today.” 

The event was meticulously and thoughtfully organized, right down to the well-posted signs that guided you to a dedicated parking lot.

The crowd spanned across generations, ranging from the toddlers to mature grandparents, and several small businesses and local non-profits had set up booths in the reception area. The courtyard of sorts was the center of all the action, with all the activities developed around the core teachings of Swami Vivekananda, the 19th century saint from India who played a pivotal role in introducing the concepts of ‘dharma’ and ‘yoga’ to the Western world and emphasized the importance of interfaith awareness.

“We wanted the event to be more inclusive. We did not want to limit it to Indian Americans,” said Chander Malik, president of the Contra Costa chapter of HSS. “Swami Vivekananda promoted universal peace through ‘dharma’ and ‘yoga.’ He did not preach Hinduism as a religion; he emphasized that it was a way of life.”

The activities were divided into four different types of ‘yoga’ as advocated by Swami Vivekananda, including ‘Bhakti’, or devotion; ‘Raj’, the practice of yoga including meditation; ‘Karma’, the path of devotion and service to others; and ‘Jnana’, the path of knowledge, wisdom, introspection and contemplation.

Each path had its own symbolic relevance at the event. ‘Kirtanas’, or devotional songs, were performed in the space assigned to ‘Bhakti’, including a performance by the Kirtaniyas, a Los Angeles-based group of performers who have trained in classical Indian music. They lent a contemporary twist to traditional devotional music and brought the audience to its feet.

The path of ‘Raj,’ broadly referred to as ‘Yoga’ in the modern world, was represented by several Indian American and non-Indian groups who made presentations on topics such as “Yoga for Wellness and Ailments,” “Art of Living Meditation,” and “Kundalini yoga,” among others.

‘Jnana’ yoga had discourses by several eminent Hindu groups in the San Francisco Bay area, including one by the Brahmakumaris and a talk by Prabha Duneja, founder and president of the Geeta Society.

While ‘Karma’ was evident in every aspect of the event, the space dedicated to this path had educational and recreational booths set up for youth attendees. Games like “Worship Shiva,” “Feed Krishna’s Cow” and “Help Hanuman Find Sita,” organized by youth members, were very popular among the attendees. Children and their parents also made a bee-line for the henna-painting and jewelry-making booths to get in on the fun.

“This is our ‘Karma.’ Organizing an event that includes members of different communities is the path that we have chosen to be closer to God,” said Malik.

Students from several local Bay area dance schools also displayed diverse classical Indian dance forms and musical talent in the main performance area. Sudha Krishnan, who teaches Bharatnatyam at her Nritya Laya Darpan school of dance in San Ramon, Calif., said these events provide her students with a platform to display their talent outside the scope of her dance studio.

The main entertainment highlight and biggest crowd-pullers of the day’s celebration were performances by Hip Hop Bhajan artist Jai Uttal and Bhajan Sandhiya by renowned Indian devotional singer Anuradha Paudwal. These performances were equally matched in entertainment and audience appeal by a ‘Krishna Leela’ performed by more than 250 children representing HSS Bal Gokulam.

Prof. Ved Nanda, John Evans professor at the University of Denver, was the keynote speaker at the event, during which he offered examples of ongoing sectarian conflicts in different parts of the world and strongly advocated that Swami Vivekananda’s message of ‘dharma’ and ‘yoga’ should be followed if various communities are to coexist by accepting and respecting their differences and maintaining social harmony.

The parallel event held at the Mission College in Santa Clara was attended by Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, Consul General of India N. Parthasarthi, and Saumitra Gokhale, international coordinator of HSS, who made the keynote speech.

Malik encouraged youth and their parents in the East Bay to participate in events and associate with the HSS to engage with other community members with a focus on character building. “It’s important to learn how our Indian culture, which emphasizes on a non-violent approach has lasted through generations. Being a part of HSS also gives you an opportunity for personality development where you can express yourself and learn from listening to others,” he told India-West.

Source: India West