Tristate Arya Samaj Retreat – a great success

By, Dr. Ramesh Gupta, President, Arya Pratinidhi Sabha America

Arya Samaj community of the tristate area held its first joint meeting “Arya Samaj Retreat” with fifteen affiliated Arya Samaj of tri-state (New Jersey, New York and Connecticut) on March 2nd at Om Temple, Bellville, NJ.

Across The United States and Canada, there are over 40 Arya Samaj mandirs/groups. 22 years ago, a need was felt to bring these congregations together. This need resulted in the creation of a national body known as the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha America (USA and Canada). Interested members (about 250) meet on a yearly basis in July or August for 3-4 days. In last few yrs., the youth participation at this annual meeting, in just the past five years has increased from a few individuals to over 40 youth in the last Sammelan held in Detroit. A need has been felt for a while there be a regional body, which can bring the 15-20 arya samaj institutions of the tristate area together functioning body. Towards that goal, there have been some attempts in past. We are extremely fortunate that this time we were able to organize a “retreat with the intention of networking and making a joint effort to fulfill the needs of all the arya samaj of the area, while also benefiting the hindu community at large and even to be of greater service to the community at large. This retreat was organized under the combined umbrella of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of USA(APSA) and United Arya Samaj Federation(UASF).

The effort was led by the UASF team and local members of the Board of APSA under the leadership of Pt. Vedvrat Etwaru and Dr. Ramesh Gupta. Dr Gupta and Pt Etwaru also lead the overall meeting throughout various sessions. Needless to say that this idea and get together was well received, was quiet successful and overwhelmingly supported by the able leaders and members of various local arya samaj members. This meeting provided a platform for cautious optimism to achieve the desired results. The results of this get together will really depend on what we put in to it now. There have been very positive mails from various respectable members of about 17 arya samaj of the area.

On the morning of March 2, 2013, the event started at 9 am with a warm welcome by a team of volunteers from the host arya samaj “Om Temple”. The Chopra family of Om Temple provided the hot breakfast for the attendies.

At 9.30 PM, morning prayer was recited by Pt Vedvrat Etwaru which everyone joined. Dr. Ramesh Gupta then welcomed everyone and introduced the attendees from all tri-state Arya Samaj mandirs/groups. While these introductions were going on, the youth from various institutions were getting together and getting ready for the musical interlude, which began following the introductions.

Here is the list of the mandirs representated at this retreat:

New Jersey

Arya Samaj of Garden State (OM Temple)

Arya Samaj of New Jersey

New Jersey Arya Samaj

New Jersey Vedic Society

Arya Samaj of Edison

Arya Samaj of Plainsboro

Arya Samaj of Central Jersey

Arya Samaj of Parsippany

Arya Samaj of Holdmel

New York

Arya Spiritual Center

Arya Samaj USA

Gurukul

Hudson Valley Arya Samaj

Arya Samaj of New York

Arya Samaj Suburban New York

Arya Samaj of Long Island

Connecticut

Arya Samaj of Connecticut

The speakers from different samaj mandirs then came to podium to give give a brief introduction of their mandirs, their activities and mission .

Around 11 AM, various issues were discussed. The list of these is

1. Clergy services

2. Visiting scholars from outside within USA/Canada and other countries including India and Gayana

3. Student networking or other youth needs

4. To have common Havan/Satsang procedure on line

5. Vedic literature on internet including curriculum for education and sanskars

6. Social services and connecting with national Hindu organizations, by having a representation from different mandirs to organizations such as Hindu Seva Cherities, which has link with Homeland Security. These social services could include providing service/ making contributions in disaster situations in USA and internationally , helping poor and the elderly in nursing homes in tri-state area and meet other needs of our community such as matrimony, medical, legal etc.

7. To have a stronger representation at the national level (APSA) and make the Annual Arya Maha Sammelan more successful specially as far the youth presence and activies.

8. To make the arya samaj foundation day held in April every yr in New York, more successful

9. To have a good Arya Samaj presence in India day Parade in NY in August every year.

This discussion was well attended and actively discussed.

This was followed by Lunch

At 1.15 PM or so, the meeting was reconvened and after a short presentation, 4 separate discussion groups were formed. Each group discussed one topic.

These topics/issues were:

1. Youth involvement in Arya Samaj

2. Public relationships (representation in different cultural programs and build awareness

3. Social services/Priest clergy services

4. Vedic literature and webpage

Consensus was reached that work was needed on all the issues. Various committees are to be formed and a dialogue and work will continue on an ongoing basis. It was decided to hold this type of get together twice a year at Om temple or some other chosen location.

1. Activities of individual arya samaj mandirs be put on tristate federation website viya links and there be a better publicity/community awareness or the arya samaj activity through media (television, radio, newspapers, face book, etc.

2. tri-state Arya Samaj should participate as one entity in India Day Parade in NY

3. Make the newly created federation website robust and publish an annual magazine of the federation as well.

4. Invite civil leaders on major programs. Pravachans should be focused on youth.

Work and dialogue will continue on all the other issues presented. All the four group members will finalize with their follow up action within 90 days.

Youth group met separately again in afternoon and suggested that there be a centralized social networking via electronic web media for tri-state Arya Samaj, youth recognition for goal achievements, classes for Hindi (mother language of India) learning, and summer camps.