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Annual Function at Samvid Gurukulam

didima — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 07:13:29 +0000

Samvid Gurukulam in Vatsalyagram Vrindavan held its Annual Function on 18th November 2017. The program commenced with the lighting of the Ceremonial lamp by Param Pujya Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara Ji which was followed by an overview the of the annual report which highlighted the school achievements. All the students participated in the function, exhibiting their hidden talents and emotions through plays & various dances. Primary students showcased their talent by performing on the theme ‘Female Foeticide’.

Rebuilding lives of Kedarnath tragedy orphans

didima — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 06:28:02 +0000

Over 250 children in the state were orphaned during the deluge that followed the cloudburst in the Kedar valley. The disaster-affected children aged 5 to 15 congregate for prayers, at the end of a school day, in the hall of the Vatsalvya Seva Kendra in Guptkashi. This is followed by supper.The children were kept engaged through yoga, pranayama and meditation sessions to soothe their frayed nerve.
Initially, the organization had come to Rudraprayag to help in the rescue and relief work. On visiting the place, seeing the disaster-stricken victims, we decided to start the center and rented the current premises. Now, these children are our responsibility and we ensure they complete their education and get jobs.
Interestingly, 10 college-going girls, who had given up their education after the tragedy, have volunteered to look after these children and in turn, we are taking care of their education.
One of the Volunteers, Vandana Vajpayee said, “I had left my MBA mid-way after the disaster as my father lost his job. I joined the ashram 8 months ago. Now not only have I resumed my studies but also fought college union election, and become its general secretary. The satisfaction of bringing up these children has given me immense pleasure.”
Our main aim was to rebuild the lives of the children orphaned in the Kedarnath tragedy so that they are not defined by the disaster.

Elevating the Special Needs Children

didima — Fri, 12 Jan 2018 06:19:16 +0000

To meet the needs of children with pronounced disabilities, a school in Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, is performing yeoman service by addressing their basic educational requirements.
A growing number of parents who have children who are either physically, mentally or visually challenged are opting for Vaishishtyam, a special school set up by the Param Shakti Peeth at Vatsalyagram in Vrindavan, which is run and managed by Sadhvi Rithambra.At present, more than 70 children, most of them belonging to poor families, are being home-schooled free of cost and are being provided transport from their homes to the school and back as well.
This institution has created support groups and a specialized curriculum to meet the specific requirements of these children. These kids are also being provided free uniforms, books, and teaching material.
Vaishishtyam has also launched a project focused on the latest approaches to be adopted by kindergarten teachers when working with autistic children. The school has sufficient educational assistants, access to specialized services and follows an individualized education plan for each child.
Vaishishtyam is a charitable day and boarding school serving children of different age groups suffering from autism spectrum disorder, speech and language impairments, vision and hearing impairments, Downs Syndrome and multiple other disabilities. Most of the students have challenging behaviors that interfere with their academic progress at school as well their home life.
Vaishishtyam is working on building an inclusive school that is open to children with disabilities, through play and the creation of free support services for disadvantaged families.

Delegation from US visits VatsalyaGram Student Exchange Program

didima — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 10:57:12 +0000

Vatsalya Gram, Vrindavan, hosted a delegation of academicians under the ‘Student Exchange Program’ from Newtown High School, Connecticut, USA.The group included Sir Kimberly, Timothy, Sara Chau, Sussane McKennel, and Reena.All the members were heartily welcomed on their arrival.

According to Mr. Shishupal Singh, Education Director of Samvid Gurukulam Senior Secondary School, the team members observed physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and computer labs along with classes of the school on 4th September. On the following day, the foreign visitors enjoyed Teachers’ Day celebration at the Maa Kalawati Palayam Auditorium. During the celebration, the guests addressed girl students and delivered some really inspirational speeches.
On September 6, the guests were a part of splendid activities by students in sports, art and craft, yoga, music, dance, orchestra and horse riding.
On the evening of 7th September, the farewell ceremony for the delegation was held in an emotional atmosphere amidst spectacular performances of students. The entire school family, including Mr. Sanjay Bhaiyaji, Mr. Lalit Kishore Mittal, Ms. Suman ji, Smt. Preeti Mehra participated in the event. Pujya Didi Maa Ji honored all the guests.

Sadhvi Ritambhara Devi Offers Passionate Presentation of Her Works, Hindu Vision

didima — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 11:08:20 +0000

Organizers of Didi Ma event in Houston.

HOUSTON: Sadhvi Ritambhara Devi’s oratory skills are legendary and a packed room of prominent Hindu leaders in Houston were witness to the full force of that power on Saturday, July 22 at Keshav Smruti. Using equal measures of humor and gravity, Ritambhara Devi spoke about spirituality, her work with destitute children and women, and her vision to build a museum to showcase Hinduism a first of its kind in the world.

Construction is already underway on a 12-acre plot and will utilize state-of-the art, high-tech innovations to exhibit and explain the tenets of Hinduism. Hindu philanthropist Brahm Aggarwal of Florida announced a donation of approximately $1.8 million for this unique project in Vrindavan, whose opening is scheduled for 2020.

The museum will also feature the contributions of women through the four Yugs or ages—the Sat, Treta, Dwapara and the Kali Yug. Women like Draupadi and Janaki are well known, but Hindu scriptures are equally replete with examples of powerful scholars like Lopamudra, who was a philosopher and the principal of an important Gurukul during the Sat Yug.

Other exhibits will include explanations about Hindu deities and their mode of worship and the story of the Purus Avatars. Life like sets and the use of special effects will depict the Hindu ancient civilization and the different jugs or ages.

Most people know of Sadhvi Ritambhara Devi as a fearless Hindu leader who made headlines with her fiery speeches during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. At that juncture, she could have easily opted for a successful political life but veered away to become Didi Maa to thousands of poor children and destitute women.

From left: Rohini Gupta, Didi Ma, Braham Aggarwal, and Krishna Aggarwal.

As a child, Nisha as she was named, was reflective and displayed a detachment from worldly things. During her second year of college, she went to an ashram in Haridwar to seek some of life’s answers. Three months later, she met her Guru Mahamandaleshwar Swami Parmanand Guruji Maharaj and was given the name Sadhvi Ritambhara Devi.

Didi Maa runs a Vatsalya Gram or a Village of Maternal Love under the Param Shakti Peeth Trust in Vrindavan. The birth of this village began when a day old baby was abandoned on the front steps of the ashram she was staying.

She started with 22 children in two rooms and gradually expanded to include widows, abandoned women and the aged. The structure is based on a unique concept of making a Vatsalya family where five girls, two boys, a mother, aunt and a grandmother live like a family in an independent house. There are several such families housed there, which in essence, becomes a children’s home, a women’s shelter and an old-age home all in one. There are seven Vatsalya Grams in India today.

Vatsalya Gram has an English medium school based on the CBSE pattern. Good values and morals are taught along with yoga and meditation. Today, they are graduates, post graduates and working in good jobs.

The team effort of emcee Gitesh Desai, Event Coordinator Achalesh Amar, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh Houston President Subhash Gupta, President of PSPA Shekar Reddy, Hindus of Greater Houston Vijay Pallod, VHPA Texas Chapter President Girish Naik, Rajni Jain director of Param Shakti Peeth America Youth Coordinator Vitec Sharda and many other volunteers was displayed in a smoothly organized event.