Preparations for the The Hindu Youth Festival 2001 are in full swing, the only one of it’s kind organized by the Oxford Centre for Vaishnava and Hindu
Pujya Bhaishri will be reciting the Shrimad Bhagwat Katha at the ‘Hindu Youth Festival 2001’ this summer in London, where the largest gathering of young Hindus in Europe will take place.
Hosted by the Oxford Centre for Vaishnava and Hindu Studies (OCVHS), the event is organised in association with ‘Sanskruti Foundation UK’ and various Hindu youth groups from all over UK. Pujya Bhaishri, who has been visiting the UK since 1983, will be rendering Bhagwat katha after 8 years and, for the first time, in Hindi.
The highlight of the 11 day festival will be the gathering of Hindu youths from across the country who will attend and participate in a variety of social, education and inspirational activities aimed at giving them an understanding of their culture and spiritual values. The festival will also give young Hindus the opportunity to learn about the philosophy of Hindu heritage and build bridges within their community.
Proposed events for the youth festival, which will be taking place every evening, include discourses in English, music and dance performances, interactive sessions, audio-video presentations and plays and dramas. Each evening will focus on a different aspect of Hinduism such as Science, Art and Architecture, and Philosophy.
The festival, which has already received support from a variety of religious and cultural groups within the Hindu community, will provide an opportunity for youth to participate in both inter-faith and intra-faith discussions and dialogue. Hindu Youth have shown much excitement and anticipation for the festival.
The entire event will take place at Roundwood Park in Harlesden, London, and will run from Thursday 26th July until Sunday 5th August. A press launch for the festival took place on Wednesday 11th April at the Shree Swaminarayana Hindu Temple in Neasden, London, where a myriad of saints and dignitaries were present to show their support for the festival. These included Pujya Swami Chidananda Saraswati (Pujya Muniji), Pujya Shree Atmaswaroop Swami (representing the Swaminarayana Hindu Mission) and Pujya Shree Bhakti Charu Swami (representing the Hare Krishna organisation).
The proceedings at the launch began by all the invited Swami’s and VIP’s performing the Aarti together in the main temple room. In the prayer hall, the three Swami’s conducted the ‘Deepa lighting ceremony’ while Vedic mantra’s and hymns were sung with their meaning translated into English. Milen Shah, a final year Medical student at University College London, carried out a multimedia presentation of the aims, objectives, and initial plans of the festival. This was followed by the blessings of the invited speakers.
Pujya Muniji described how the evening events would give Youth a new direction. ‘If you are looking for direction, how to have peace – not be in pieces, how to be better – not bitter, then come to this festival,’ he said. ‘Our scriptures, Kathas, Saints do not stop us from having glamour in our lives…. Be glamour-conscious, it is wonderful, but after this, be God-Conscious. Wear Jeans, but do not forget your own Genes – your own culture.’
Pujya Bhakti Charu encouraged the hundreds of youth present at the launch with his message. ‘Those who really care for the welfare of the world are looking up to you with expectation because you are the hope and you are their confidence.’
Pujya Muniji commended the youth that have planned the festival. ‘It takes a lot of time, a lot of energy, and a lot of commitment. It’s not that easy to bring people together, and I appreciate and admire the efforts of all youth who have taken the lead to bring all youth together.’
The importance of youth coming together was also echoed in Pujya Atmaswaroop Swami’s address. ‘On this occasion, I pray to my Guru and to the great Saints and Sages who are here with us to bless us so that we can revive that spirit of Hinduism where we can all work together. Friends, coming together is the beginning, staying together is progress, working together is success.’ He went on to describe that the festival had received blessings from His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
The festival is currently being planned by a number of youth groups across the countries that are meeting for the first time towards a common cause. The initiative has received great support from MP’s in Britain such as Prime Minister Tony Blair, ‘This event provides British Hindu’s with an important opportunity to explore their culture and their faith. It will also give the participants an opportunity to discuss what it means to be a young Hindu in Britain today.’
‘The Himalayas have great height, but no depth. The ocean has great depth but no height. Hinduism combines the lofty ideals of the Himalayas and the depths of the ocean. The Hindu Faith and the people who follow that Faith are made great by the ideals of love, sacrifice and surrender, as well as the great height of dedication and the spiritual depth of spirituality.
As a result of this Festival all of society will become aware and aspire towards this great Faith which believes the world as one family.’
– Pujya Bhaishri
To contact the organizers for more details visit kathaschedule.htm
Or for more information on the Hindu Youth Festival visit www.hinduyouthuk.org
