Raksha Bandhan Utsav
Raksha Bandhan simply means “knot of protection”. A sister ties a rakhi on her brother’s wrist and prays for his long life, while the brother vows to protect his sister. In the modern era, it has gained popularity as a festival of love and caring between family.
Raksha Bandhan encompasses a higher perspective. When Indra dev was badly defeated by the asuras, he took refuge of his Guru Brihaspathi. Shravan Poornima being the most auspicious day for tying the raksha sutra, Guru Brihaspathi tied one to Indra dev and asked Sacchi devi to do the same in an effort to pray for his safety and victory. In the Mahabharat era, Draupadi had torn a piece of cloth from her saree and tied it on Lord Krishna’s little finger, who had protected her in times of need.
In shakha, swayamsevaks and sevikas tied rakhis with a commitment to protect each other and preserve peace in the society. Police and fire stations were visited to tie rakhis to the officers and firefighters, as a symbol of appreciation for their service, and a prayer for their happiness, prosperity and longevity.
Modern Science Meets Ancient Wisdom
In a seminar titled "Modern Science meets Ancient Wisdom, The Gut Microbiome, Food @ Ayurveda", Dr. Prasad Dhurjati explained the effects of food on Gut Microbiome, a topic that was explored by Acharya Charak thousands of years ago. Over 170 professionals participated in the event.
International Yoga Day & Surya Namaskar Yagna
Surya Namaskar Yagna was carried throughout January in the shakhas of Ontario to foster and encourage the spirit of yagna on others for the three weeks of this event. The event encourages regular practice of Surya Namaskar as a committment to one's physical, and mental development. In a friendly competition, medals were awarded to the highest performers during the 3 week span of the event. Collectively, more than 100,000 surya Namaskars were performed throughout the Yagna.
On June 22, 2018, more than 140 residents of Regina participated in celebration of International Day of Yoga organised by Veer Sawarkar shakha, Sasketchwan. Everyone was enthusiastic about learning yoga and meditation techniques, and left feeling rejuvenated after the session.
SSV Canada
There were two Sangh Shiksha Vargas organized in Canada, one of which was in Ontario, and the other in BC. In Ontario, there were 81 total participants in the week-long, overnight camp, of which 29 were sevikas and 52 were sevaks. Shiksharthis came from all across the province, including London, Kitchener, Mississauga, Brampton, Scarborough, and Ajax. Two shiksharthis flew all the way from Regina, Saskatchewan to participate. In British Columbia, there were 55 participants of all age groups.
The varg had a packed schedule, filled with a balance of physical, intellectual, and spiritual activities. Participants started the day at 5:30am with yoga and pranayam. The morning shakha included physical activities including Niyuddh (a form of martial arts), Samata, the art of synchronized marching, and unique and challenging games. Breakfast was followed by a slew of intellectual activities including lectures, presentations, workshops, discussions, and team building activities.
Participants had an opportunity to learn musical instruments throughout the week, and demonstrated their skills in a marching band to an audience of family and guests. The schedule winded down with bhajans and stories, which allowed participants to explore their spiritual side. Finally, the day would conclude with a fun activity to relax.
The Matru Bhojan event was a wonderful bonding experience. 28 families from shakhas across the GTA brought home-cooked meals and enjoyed dinner with the participants. The smiles, laughter, and cheery mood was evident, and it was clear that this would be a long-lasting memory for all.
Overall, the varg was an eye-opening experience, and all participants left with new skills, friends, and were eagerly waiting to join again next year.