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Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi, Kabaddi........
On Sunday 25th March 2012, 250 ladies/girls as well as 650 men/boys of all ages from all across the country, put on their sports gear and gathered in Leicester and Derby respectively to compete in three very different games: Kabaddi, Kho-Kho and Ring. These traditional Indian games challenged all participants to demonstrate their skills, strength, teamwork and tactics, all of which needed to be present to lift the trophy at the end. For both Hindu Sevika Samiti UK (the ladies) and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK (the men) the level of competition had never been higher especially with the Olympics just a few months away.
Samiti participants were fortunate to be in the presence of the England Women’s Kabaddi team (formed from serving members of the Armed Forces), their coach Mr Ashok Das (President of European Kabaddi Federation) and Mrs Kawal Das (General Secretary of England Kabaddi Association). Everyone present was inspired to see the England team playing the Indian sport so passionately at an International level. A few were very fortunate to have an opportunity of playing Kabaddi with the England team, leaving the spectators stunned. Throughout the day the demonstration of all the sports was at it’s highest.
Mr Ashok Das spoke regarding the history of Kabaddi where he stated it is 6000 years old and in the Ancient times Lord Bhuddha played this game too. He spoke of how the techniques we use in this game relate back to the times of the Mahabharata where he gave an example of the raider who is going to the opposite team to raid (whilst chanting Kabaddi, Kabaddi) and the team try to prevent the raider from returning back by trying to circle the raider in, which is very similar to the Chakhravyuha (Disc formation) technique used in the Mahabharata where Abhimanyu during the war of Kurukshetra had entered but was unable to get out.
After all the games were played, the winners were finally announced for Samiti with Ashton being Champions of Kabaddi, Woolwich winning Kho-Kho and Birmingham becoming Lords (or Ladies) of the Ring! For Sangh we had Birmingham winning Kabaddi and Finchley winning both Kho-Kho and Ring. With such a brilliant atmosphere and community spirit, everyone there was enthused to keep up the practice and come again next year with an even higher standard of play.
The rules for this years pratiyogita are available here. Please click here to see the photos from this years event and to find out more about our local branches please visit our Shakha Locations section.
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Climate Week – 12th – 18th March 2012
Hindu Sevika Samiti are proud to be taking part in Climate Week, Britain’s biggest Climate Change Campaign, from 12th – 18th March 2012 with members and branches raising awareness about climate change and carrying out practical actions to do our bit. In particular we are focussing on 3 main actions:
1. Use green transport to shakha (weekly branch) – walk, cycle, use public transport or car share to get to shakha this week. As well as reducing our carbon emissions, it will help us get fit and catch up with others while travelling to and from shakha.
2. Have a 4 minute shower every day – as well as saving water, which is much needed, this will save energy from reduced hot water and also the embedded energy used in purifying the water supply and cleaning it once down the drain.
3. Eat a low carbon meal – eat food made from local, seasonal ingredients to save on food miles and/or make a feast from leftovers to prevent wastage.
In addition, branches will be taking part in the one hour challenge and quiz during this week as well as holding talks about Hindu Dharma and the Environment.
Please think before you throw something away without care. This is how long the following takes for the following things to decompose:
Paper Towel - 2-4 weeks
Banana Peel - 3-4 weeks
Paper Bag - 1 month
Newspaper - 1.5 months
Apple Core - 2 months
Cardboard - 2 months
Cotton Glove - 3 months
Orange peels - 6 months
Plywood - 1-3 years
Wool Sock - 1-5 years
Milk Cartons - 5 years
Cigarette Butts - 10-12 years
Leather shoes - 25-40 years
Tinned Steel Can - 50 years
Foamed Plastic Cups - 50 years
Rubber-Boot Sole - 50-80 years
Plastic containers - 50-80 years
Aluminium Can - 200-500 years
Plastic Bottles - 450 years
Disposable Diapers - 550 years
Monofilament Fishing Line - 600 years
Plastic Bags - 200-1000 years
Recycle and save the Natural World. Let us all ensure that our future generations enjoy NATURE like we have done. For more information on Climate Week visit www.climateweek.com
Click here to view information on Hindu Dharma and the Environment. For more Climate changes ideas for Bauddhik in Shakha, please see this document.
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Surya Namaskar Yagya - February 2012
Take part in this years Surya Namaskaar Yagna and be part of a big movement! Contact your karyavahika's for more information! Any questions please contact the Shareerik Vibhaag. In the meantime, you can view the full meanings of the Surya Namaskaar mantras on Youtube here...
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Shree Chandadidi Sathaye visits the UK!
The UK was graced by Shree Chanda Sathaye in late 2011 whereby she visited most of the shakhas in England. Bhagyashree (Chanda) didi Sathaye is Pracharika (full time worker) from Bharat. Chandadidi is currently a Pashchim Kshetra Pracharika of Bharat which is a Pracharika for the west zone of India (includes Maharashtra and Goa states). She is also in the Vishwa Vibhag Mandal for samiti where she helps coordinate activities outside of India.
Chandadidi is from Pune and has been a sevika from a very young age. She has MA (masters) and B.ED (Bachelor of Education – Teaching qualification) in Sanskrit and a Diploma in Japanese. She has been a Prachaarika since 1998 (13 years). She has given full time for the Samiti work.
She is a passionate writer and a singer. She has written two books:
1. “Varg Samhita”, which is a book giving guidance on conducting an effective varg
2. “Karma Yogi”, which is a book about her father Madhav-ji Sathaye.
During her pravaas outside of Bhaarat (India), Chandadidi has visited countries like Sri Lanka and Kenya.
Chandadidi received the “Vandanya Mausiji Shaurya Puruskar” (bravery award). It was given to her on the Birth Centenary of Taiji after 10 years of being a Prachaarika. Please see here for her full interview.
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Sewa Day 2011
As part of the global initiative for International Sewa Day on Sunday 25th September 2011, our Northampton Shakha gathered 40 people from our local Community to volunteer their time to help the Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust at the Lings Local Nature Reserve. Activities on the day were to help the environment and included: Litter Picking – to help maintain the appearance of woods which creates a welcoming atmosphere for visitors. Path Clearance – To ensure ease of access, especially in areas for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Scrub Management – Removal of non-native species such as Rhododendron and Sycamore trees which can hinder other plants from growing. We also had an appearance from The Mayor and Mayoress of Northampton, who joined and helped the litter picking group. Overall it was a very successful and fun day enjoyed by all who took part and to finish off we had a great picnic and some team games too! (Article written by Zeel Shah)
Sevikas and Swayamsevaks from Kenton Shakha went to Newton Ecology Park in Harrow for Sewa Day 2011. The local woodlands and pond area were full of rubbish and junk, and the park was poorly kept and run-down. A team of 40+ volunteers armed with gloves and litter pickers helped to clear the woodlands and collectively, we managed to fill over 20 bags of rubbish, including an old mattress which had been dumped in the pond! We also planted wildflowers and shrubs to attract animals, insects and birds to the area. It was a fun-filled day, with plenty of hard work and muscle-building, but it was definitely worth it! (Article written by Bindu Bhudia)
Click here for the photos!
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