Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) successfully concluded the Swami Vivekananda Family Camp on Saturday, August 13, 2016.

In this 37^th year of our camp, the theme was “Hindu Festivals” where both campers and adult volunteers learned many concepts from our Hindu heritage, while celebrating a number of festivals, including Varsha Pratipada, Guru Purnima, Ganesh Chaturthi with an exquisitely beautiful Palki and Sri Ganesh built by the campers under the direction of the master sculptor Upendra Watwe, darshan of Sri Krishna at Janmashtami, and celebrating with diyas in Diwali. The procession associated with Ganapati Visarjan was unprecedented and celebrated with much fanfare, dancing and music, with Varun devta paying its respects with just a few raindrops at the end. Families from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania attended the camp, which was nearly filed to capacity.

The camp lives by the philosophy “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” – The whole Earth is my family. Our sages have shared great wisdom for our betterment, unselfishly, without seeking glory for themselves. What does it mean for the world to be a family? It means that we are all related, interconnected, much beyond the immediate family of our parents, siblings and children. All the creatures, the plants, and the entire ecosystem is our family.

All the campers and their families participated in many activities throughout the day. The camp began with a wakeup call of bhajans at 6:15 am, and assembly for Yoga by 6:45 am. Every morning, Yoga classes balanced the physical health (Yoga exercises) and spiritual health (Meditation and Breathing exercises). Breakfast followed Yoga, with projects and educational classes on festivals, with campers in eight simultaneously running classes. Teachers, discussion leaders and debate coaches were all drawn from adult volunteers (with assistance from junior volunteers), who contributed admirably. Waterfront activities included swimming, playing on the lakefront, kayaking, canoeing followed by snacks and games, e.g. Kho-kho, Kabaddi, Guru and Namaste. After a break for showers, everyone got ready for Puja and Aarti. Cultural programs performed by campers after dinner, and we ended each day with milk and cookies.

The campers, junior and senior volunteers worked and enjoyed thoroughly, and the whole week ran like a complex machine running in complete harmony. The great capacity of learning of campers, and the selfless service provided by the all the volunteers – kitchen aunties and uncles, facilities uncles and all the volunteers whether in education or games, discussions or debates, was exemplary, truly signifying our work together as a family. The camper, JV and volunteer friendships will grow and sustain for longer, enduring the passage of weeks, months and years. This will allow us to preserve our values, traditions and heritage and keep them going forever – keeping our eternal Sanatan Dharma in action. Our next generations are the rakshaks of Sanatan Dharma, and we look forward to the camp next year! 

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