“It is a very emotional day here for us and a wonderful experience. It is at the moments like these that we realize what impact we make on the student’s life after they leave the class. It has been the most humbling experience for all of us”
“I feel really honored to be here. It means a lot to us to meet students outside the classroom and being part of their life and their culture. It means a lot to me”
These comments summarize feelings of all the teachers attending Guru Vandana event organized by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS). While the young kids were bursting with enthusiasm for being with their teachers, teachers were finding it difficult to control their emotions and were overwhelmed by the love and respect showered on them.
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh has been celebrating Guru Vandana, an annual event to honor Guru (Teacher) since 2007 in United States of America. Every year during the spring term, Guru Vandana is organized at multiple places across America. The number of participants and locations is increasing every year with almost 10,000 participants from 100+ locations joining the celebrations this year.
The event helps to inculcate appreciation towards one’s Guru. Guru is believed to be at the highest place of respect in Hindu way of life – even higher than God. The gratitude, reverence and respect to Guru keeps one humble, thankful and committed to the lifelong goal of knowledge.
Guru Vandana event was organized at Irene Stern Community Center Fulshear on April 13th by Katy chapter of HSS. More than 18 Katy ISD teachers graced the occasion along with their families. It was wonderful to see teachers coming together with kids and grandkids, some of whom were dressed in colorful Indian costumes. For teachers, the event was journey into their student’s culture – one that is full of warmth, love, vividness and bonding!
Event started with Ganesh Pooja – worshipping the lord of knowledge. There was a small cultural program presented by children representing different facets of Hindu culture.
Yoga, one of the greatest gifts from India to rest of the world, was demonstrated by tiny tots. They presented some amazing asanas (postures) with great zeal and ease.
An instrumental performance with Indian and Western musical instruments by young kids was one of the highlights of the evening. A musical ensemble that comprised of Indian instruments like Tabla, Sitar, Harmonium and western instruments like Violin and Piano was enjoyed by all.
Indian classical dance of Kathak was then presented by young girls. The beauty of this dance unfolds through the graceful hand gestures and rhythmic pada-nyaas (foot-steps).
Cultural event concluded with children gathering on stage to recite some beautiful Sanskrit shlokas (verses). Their recitations filled the environment with positive vibrations while bringing the inner calm.
This set the stage for the main event, Guru Poojan. All teachers were invited on stage. Their respective students sat at their feet. Every student then put tilak (red dot) on their teacher’s forehead, performed aarati and took blessings from teacher. This is a unique way of honoring in Hindu culture. Teachers showered rose petals on student’s head as a form of blessings. Students were thrilled and teachers overwhelmed.
Shri Gururaj Naik, professor at Rice University was the chief guest at the event. He spoke of the importance of imparting knowledge and how it is the greatest gift anyone can ever give to anyone. Anant Samdani, HSS volunteer, gave a vote of thanks and highlighted how such event brings back memories of one’s teacher and makes one feel humbled.
The informal part of the event started thereafter. Teachers were invited to take quick crash-course on Indian Folk dance of Dandiya. Students found it extremely amusing to teach their teachers on how to perform this dance with your partner using a pair of sticks. It was a wonderful sight to see young kids pairing up with their teachers for dandiya.
Indian traditional attire has always been of keen interest world over. Teachers got an opportunity to try out Indian costumes at this event. There were colorful, bright sarees and pagadees (turbans) that no teacher could resist to try. Needless to mention their new get-up provided yet another photo opportunity to teachers with student and his family.
Thanks to the Henna artists, almost every teacher had beautiful, decorative designs on their palms – much like an Indian bride.
No Indian event can conclude without the great Indian food. HSS families had brought in home cooked food for teachers while taking care of any food restrictions of the invited teachers. Teachers enjoyed the sumptuous food together with student’s family.
The warmth of the event would surely stay with all the teachers and the young kids. It is this warmth that will help spread and foster everlasting Indian values and bring the world together as one family.
