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14th Annual Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference in USA – Sustaining Temples and Institutions

The 14th annual Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC) is being led by the VHPA NJ chapter and it will be held from September 20 to 22, 2019 in East Hanover, New Jersey, USA. This year’s theme, “Sustaining Temples and Institutions: Building Security and Strength through Processes, Outreach and Seva,” will delve into the challenges facing Hindu temples and institutions as technology and social changes affect traditional beliefs and practices.

Around the globe we are seeing an increase in the number of disruptive and ignorant acts targeting religious institutions that threaten our safety within our places of worship. To protect ourselves and our Dharma, we must educate ourselves and the community while building awareness by connecting Hindus and non-Hindus alike through outreach and seva.

The 14th annual HMEC conference will give Hindu leaders the opportunity to understand how current events impact the safety of temples and institutions, and develop ways to strengthen temple management, religious programs, youth engagement, serving seniors and society.

HMEC was conceptualized by VHPA as a platform for Hindu temples and organizations to network, with the joint mission of strengthening and sustaining temples and building effective leadership, and facilitate new generation of Hindu leadership in North America.

To learn more about HMEC and to register for HMEC 2019, please visit http://www.hmec.info/Home/CurrentHMEC

Bhagvad Gita Scholarship for Middle and High School Students

Coalition of Hindu Youth (CHY) / Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC) announces ‘The Bhagvad Gita Sanatan Dharma Scholarship’ which aims to promote independent research, focusing on the rational foundation and the teachings of the Bhagvad Gita.

The Bhagvad Gita is a well-known Hindu spiritual text that is universally accepted not just for its sanctity, but also as a guide for day-to-day life i.e. “a handbook of life.” Messages from Bhagvad Gita such as: “Inaction in action and action in inaction,” are within the reach of common seeker of all ages.

Eligibility for the scholarship is extended to any student who is currently enrolled in the United States education system at the middle school and high school levels.

HMEC Responds to Attack on Hindu Temple in Queen, NY

August 12, 2022

HinduPACT Responds to Attack on Hindu Temple in Queen, New York

WASHINGTON, D.C – HinduPACT condemns the vandalization of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi outside the Shri Tulsi Mandir temple in Queens, New York last Wednesday. An unidentified individual knocked the statue over and left it face down on the ground with its arm cracked and hand broken into pieces. 

Utsav Chakrabarti, Executive Director of HinduPACT, said, “This is the fourth attempt at destroying a Gandhi statue across North America and the fifth attack on a Hindu temple in the past year. There is a concerted campaign at spreading anti-Hindu hate in major urban centers across the country. The rise in anti-Hindu attacks over the last few years has been carried out by the same groups and individuals that target Jews and spread anti-Semitism.”

Ajay Shah, the President of World Hindu Council of America and Convenor of HinduPACT and American Hindus Against Defamation (AHAD) said, “This represents not just a hate crime against American Hindus but also a deep rooted insecurity of hate mongers. We believe that the targeting of the Hindu mandir and specifically vandalism of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue is an act against the core Hindu ideals of peace, coexistence, respect for diverse religious beliefs and the promotion of diversity and equality among all human beings.” 

 Tejal Amit Shah, Convener of Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC), said, “This act of vandalism took place during the holy month of Shravan (9th month of Hindu Calendar), when Hindus are engaged in traditional worships, fasting, and, religious and spiritual practices.” She added, “This is very upsetting for the Hindu community in general. It is a sign of hate crime and Hinduphobia. We strongly condemn this. HMEC thanks NY State Assemblywoman Jennifer Rajkumar for holding the press conference and providing support to the local community. HMEC also appeals to law enforcement to get to the root cause and bring a lawful close to this unfortunate incident.”

HMEC, AHAD and HinduPACT are initiatives of World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)