Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America
Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Inc.
World Hindu Council
A Non-Profit Tax Exempt Organization
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To promote unity among
Hindus through a network of chapters and likeminded organizations
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To establish VHP as the
voice of Hindus everywhere and represent Hindu organizations and
institutions on matters of Hindu interests
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To raise Hindu awareness
through seminars, conferences, publications, media and audio-visual aids
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To cultivate a spirit of
self-respect in Hindu way of life and respect for the people of all
colors, creeds, races and religions
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad
of America aims to create a dynamic, vibrant, visible and effective Hindu
society based on and inspired by the eternal values of Dharma, and the lofty
ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, “the entire creation is one family.” VHPA
works to preserve, protect and promote the Hindu way of life. The Parishad
is of the view that Hindus are those who believe, practice and respect the
spiritual and religious principles and practices having roots in India.
Thus, Hindus includes Jaina, Baudhha, Sikha and people of different sects
and traditions within the Hindu ethos.
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To establish world-wide
contacts with Hindus through need-based projects and programs
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To provide community
service to people in distress without consideration of race, religion and
nationality
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To create a team of
dedicated, assertive volunteers for community service
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To create opportunities
for imbibing Hindu values based on Hindu scriptures and heritage through
Bala Vihars, camps, Satsanga, family retreats and educational institutions
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS: The programs and projects are defined by the
local community needs within the broad framework of the Parishad mission.
The ongoing projects are: Hindu Student Council: It is the youth wing of VHP-A
functioning in 50 universities and colleges in the USA. It offers the Hindu
youth a forum to discuss and learn about Hindu Dharma, history, culture and
methods to manage the challenges they face as Hindu youth in America.
Support-A-Child: The Indian American Hindus support the education of
children in India by contributing $250.00 per child per year. There are 700
boys and girls under this program. Ekala Vidyalaya (One Teacher School): To
open ‘One Teacher School’ in every one of the 133,913 villages with
tribal-poor population of 70 million in remote parts of India. There are
2030 such schools are functioning. The cost of sponsoring one such school is
$365.00 per year. Publications: Hindu Vishwa, Souvenirs, Curriculum-books
for the education and other resource material as needed. Bala Vihars,Youth
Camps and Conferences: They offer opportunity and forum to learn about Hindu
religion, culture and heritage. Emporium: It is resource for authentic Hindu
books, deity pictures and the items for performing rituals. Hindu Calendar:
It provides Hindu festival dates and is also a resource for spiritual
knowledge. Chaitanya Bharati: It is a ‘theme’ oriented annual publication,
which provides the insight of Hindu Dharma, culture, history and heritage of
Punya Bhoomi Bharata. Emergency Seva Programs: VHP of America undertakes the
programs to galvanize efforts to muster resources to help people under
distress as result of Nature’s calamities. The typical examples are the
cyclone in Orissa and earthquakes of Uttara Kaashi in Uttara Pradesh, of
Latoora in Maharashtra and the recent one in Gujarata.
Vision of
Vishwa Hindu Parishad of
America, Inc.
A dynamic, vibrant Hindu Society
inspired by the eternal values of Dharma,
and
the lofty ideal of Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam, meaning, The entire
creation is one family.
Dynamic - A society
that is moving with the times, nay, verily pushing the envelop of time, ever
radiating the timeless wisdom of the Rishis in every act, every achievement,
every endeavor. A society that is the master of all sciences, technologies
and arts that are known, and yet to be known, to humankind. A society that
is boldly experimenting, exploring, discovering and personally experiencing
and validating all aspects of the Truth manifested in the universe as it
unfolds outside and within us. A society that is fearless, strong,
courageous and mighty.
Vibrant - Not a stagnant society but one full of energy and vigor,
nurturing the ideas, creativity and aspirations of every member, big and
small. A healthy, prosperous society, adorned by the twin jewels of arts and
music, beaming with joy and confidence that comes only from abundance. A
society that is forever alert and vigilant!
Mission of Vishwa Hindu
Parishad of America, Inc.
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Prachar - Voice of the Hindus
- Promote Unity amongst Hindus
through a network of Parishad chapters and like-minded organizations.
- Provide a Forum For and Represent all Hindu organizations and
institutions for Hindu interests.
- Raise Hindu Awareness through seminars, conferences,
publications, media, audio-visual aids
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Seva
- Provide Community Service to people
in distress without consideration of race, religion or nationality.
- Build a Team of Parishad active members for community service.
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Sanskar
- Cultivate the spirit of self respect
in our way of life, and respect for the people of all colors, creeds,
races and religions.
- Create opportunities for imbibing Hindu Values, Hindu Scriptures
and Hindu Heritage through Bal Vihars, Camps, Family Retreats and
Educational Institutions.
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Sampark
- Establish World-wide Contacts with
Hindus through projects and programs focusing on Hindu interests
everywhere.
- Raise Funds for Parishad Mission.
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VHP of America was
founded in 1970 in New York to preserve, promote and practice those
great universal and eternal values which were discovered and practiced
by the Sages of Bharat. Though inspired by the same ideals as those
followed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad of Bharat, VHP of America is
distinct, legally separate and operationally independent Non-Profit
organization in its own right within the USA. In 1974 the Parishad
office was incorporated in New York State.
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A great motivating
factor for launching VHPA and many of its programs was to bring the
Hindu immigrant community together and to address many difficult
issues facing the community as it started to settle down in a largely
unknown land. Bal Vihar programs were offered to provide succor and
support to families that were searching for ways to impart Hindu
values to their growing children. Towards this end, a Children’s Book
Store was started in New Hampshire and lecture tour programs were
started to share the knowledge of Hindu heritage with the community at
large. And, hugely popular Hindu Heritage Youth camps were started in
the late seventies, the first being in Rhode Island. Seva projects
were started to offer concrete assistance to institutions in Bharat.
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VHPA set the trend in
the West for conducting regional and national conference on Social,
Spiritual, and Cultural issues affecting Hindus. The first conference
was held in Florida. The Tenth National conference and the First Youth
conference was held in 1984 at New York and was a global, historical,
trend-setting Hindu event outside of Bharat. The Seva program was
enhanced with the launch of Support-a-Child Program. In the late
1980’s we witnessed the birth of Hindu Students Council to meets the
needs of the growing number of Hindu students on University campuses
across the country.
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The Global Vision
2000 Programs were held in 1993 attended by 15,000 people. The First
Dharma Samsad in America at Arsha Vidya Gurkulum in 1998, and was
another first of its kind event in the western hemisphere. This was
followed by another unique event Dharma Prasaar Yaatra in 1999 in
which eminent Sadhus from Bharat made a sweeping 10 day tour of 10
major cities in USA giving spiritual guidance to over 15,000 people.
The year 2000 saw another historical event called Dharma Ganga, done
in conjunction with the United Nations Millennium Peace Summit in
which 108 eminent Sadhus from Bharat and many other learned scholars
participated in spiritual discussions at the UN followed by lecture
tours across the country.
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Sushim Mukerji
National Office Manager
Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Inc.
P.O. Box 611
Iselin, NJ 08830 |
732-744-0851
732-744-0847 (fax)
E-Mail: office@vhp-america.org
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Gaurang Vaishnav
General Secretary
732-754-1727
732-603-7740 (eve)
E-Mail: gensecy@vhp-america.org
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