National Hindu Students Council February 2007 Newsletter
Website: http://www.hscnet.org E-mail: hsc at hscnet.org
Happy Mahashivratri!
Hindu Students Council would like to wish everyone a joyous Mahashivratri! Celebrated this year on Feburary 16, Mahashivratri is considered by many as marking the date of the wedding of Lord Shiva and Parvati. It is also said that on the night of Shivratri, Lord Shiva performed the Tandava, known as the dance of primordial creation, preservation, and destruction. Mahashivratri is widely celebrated in India, with many devotees taking ritual baths in the sacred Ganga river on the morning of the festival.
Annual Camp 2007 - Why YOU should come!
Nine years ago, I joined HSC as a sophomore in college. I never knew how big HSC's network was nor had any idea about the caliber of people working for this great cause. In 2001, I went to my first HSC camp in Virginia, and it was the most amazing experience of my life. From talks and discussions on Hindu Dharma and Science, to the daily Poojas, to the Yoga and Meditation Sessions, to the excellently planned games, to the beautiful cultural show, I cherished every single one. Everyone treated me as if I was part of a large family and helped me understand the deeper purpose of HSC - Self Development at all levels - cultural, spiritual, physical and social. I left the camp feeling super charged and with newly created bonds that will stay with me for the rest of my life. While having intense fun, I learnt a great deal about my culture and my heritage.
HSC On-campus
Hindu Students Council chapters started off the semester with a variety of different events. Here's a quick recap of what's happening on various campuses nationwide: The University of South Florida chapter held their first ever Uttrayan event and approximately 40-50 people who showed up for a very entertaining evening. Along with flying kites, the attendees played football, cricket and had refreshments as well, with mood-setting Indian music in the background. The New York University chapter opened the semester by greeting all their members with a mithai social and an introduction to their ambitious new plan to hold 2-3 events a week, with weekly meetings, weekly Bhagvad Gita study sessions, and monthly pujas. NYU has already completed a discussion on Hinduism and the environment, and there is an upcoming discussion titled, "Love In Hinduism: Recognition Of The Divine." The University of Maryland-College Park chapter co-sponsored a screening and discussion of the documentary "Invisible Children" along with other community service organizations, and is holding their first General Body Meeting on February 22nd. More events will be held later in the semester. Back to topHSC's Upcoming Events
Mid-Atlantic Regional Retreat The Mid-Atlantic Regional Retreat is on March 2nd-4th at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Saylorsburg, PA! Register online at http://www.hscnet.org/midatlantic/2007/retreat Back to topHSC Alumni All-Stars
A new feature that we're adding to the newsletter is the profile of various HSC Alumni that are working on various projects and programs after graduation.
This month, we're proud to profile Shital Shah, who was the chapter co-president at Northwestern University and graduated in 2005. After graduation, she spent one year as a Indicorps fellow in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, working with an NGO that focused on child labor in urban slums. Her focus was on finding vocational alternatives for adolescent girls while developing a supplemental life skills curriculum for them as well. She's now at New York University's Wagner School of Public Service, studying International Development.