Newsletter

Newsletter April 2023

Ekal USA annual musical season starts with Sur Sangam music troupe

Sa Re Ga Ma fame, Shri Vishwanath Batunge, and his team is successfully touring cities all over the US this year from March 10 with his musical melodies – Sur Sangam.

So far they have had programs in Ocala, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Tampa, Tallahassee, Salt lake city. On 1st April, they have program in San Diego CA at 5:00 PM PST and on 2nd April in Bakersfield at 6:30 PM PST to be followed by many more program across USA.

Every chapter doing one better than other, audience loving the lively and entertaining program and wanting for more from the artists. Impressive turn out and record fundraising till now.

Shri Sarath kuravi from Jacksonville Chapter  share his experience -

Ekal Vidyalaya Jacksonville Chapter’s fundraiser for 2023.

The concert was conducted at Bolles Middle School’s Betsy Lovett Arts Center, which is the preferred venue for our chapter. On  11th March 2023, a warm beautiful Saturday evening, our Ekal program started with a social meet and greet at 4 PM. Guests/donors enjoyed the snacks with a little bit of socializing and getting to know Ekal. The beautiful decor at the entrance enthralled our guests who captured the timeless moments of the evening with selfies and family pictures. The event promptly started at 5 PM with a prayer and Vedic chant. The performance of the lead singer and his talented troupe mesmerized the audience. They engaged the guests in an entertaining way with a mix of timeless melodies and heartfelt conversations. There were joyful moments when the guests took to the dance floor and enjoyed themselves. During the  brief intermission, Ekal’s mission and on-going work was shared in the form of videos and pictures from India. Also our Chapter President, Shri Sarath Kuravi shared his first-hand experience of visiting Ekal school from his recent trip to India. The donors were duly recognized and thanked for their continued support to Ekal's mission. The event ended with a warm vote of thanks along with a boxed dinner. About 200 people turned up for the event. With the collective humble effort of the team and kind donors, the chapter could raise donations to support 290 schools.

We at Ekal Jacksonville, take immense pride and happy to be a pillar amongst many pillars which holds the bridge of support to Ekal's mission through fundraisers.

Ekal Youth set up a ‘Dharmic traditions’ booth showcasing Hinduism (HSS’ Darshana project) at Normal Community’s Culture Night.

Ekal Acharya is now SI in UP Police

Kumari Sapna, a Acharya (Teacher) of Ekal Village from 2012 to 2021 in village Saloni ki Madhaiya, has been selected for the post of Sub Inspector for UP Police department. Ekal family is proud of her and wishes her a bright future

Shri Hari Satsang Samity, Ranchi organized group wedding of 27 tribal couples

Vanvasi marriage ceremony organized by Shri Hari Satsang Samiti, Ranchi was held at Marwari Arogya Bhavan. 27 couples from 10 districts of Jharkhand - Ranchi, Ramgarh, Lohardaga, Gumla, Palamu, Latehar, Seraikela, Paschim Singhbhum, Simdega - were married. Hundreds of relatives of the tribal couples were present. National office bearers of Hari Satsang Samiti from Delhi, Gujarat, Mumbai, Kolkata and Ahmedabad participated in this marriage ceremony. To encourage this Vanvasi marriage festival, Honorable Shri Shyam Gupta, Rajya Sabha member Shri Mahesh Poddar and Swami Paripoornanand Maharaj were present.

All India delegation meeting of Ekal Abhiyan held

On February 25 and 26, a meeting of the All India Delegation of Ekal Abhiyan was held at Terpanth Bhavan, Chhatarpur, Delhi. In this meeting, the opinion of representatives of Ekal Abhiyan from 27 divisions across the country was being taken in 2 days on 8 different topics. The meeting was very solemn and full of enthusiasm.

In this meeting held once in a year, various affiliated town and village organizations such as Vanbandhu Parishad, Arogya Foundation of India, Ekal Shri Hari, Ekal Yuva, Ekal Sansthan, Ekal Gramothan Foundation, Ekal Gram Sangathan, Ekal Global, Ekal Bhavishya, representatives of the Women's Department and Gaugram Yojana including Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India, Ekal Bharat Lok Shiksha Parishad presented articles through PowerPoint presentation.

A grand cultural program was presented by the Ekal Sur Taal team in this all India meet.

- Sanjay Malviya
Head of Publicity Department

Shri Lalan Kumar is the new Ekal Abhiyan Pramukh

Dr Lalan Sharma has been made the new Abhiyan pramukh (campaign head) of the Ekal Abhiyan. Shri Madhavendra Singh, who was holding this post till now, has been given the responsibility of organization in-chargeo.

The decision was taken at a two-day all-India delegation meeting of Ekal Abhiyan held in New Delhi. Earlier, Shri Lalan Sharma was the co-campaign chief and national coordinator of Ekal Gramotthan Yojana.

Shri Shyam Gupta, the founder of Ekal Abhiyan will continue to be the guide. All members of the Central Executive of Ekal Abhiyan, heads of all dimensions and presidents of all divisions were present in the meeting.

Canara HSBC Life Insurance under their CSR project 'Prajwal' support the Ekal villages Nerlkuppe Hadi, Kandegala, Nuralakuppe C, Nunse Kuppe in Karnataka.

'Colours of India' organized by Vanbandhu Parishad

'Colours of India' organized by Vanbandhu Parishad and Sri Hari Satsang Samiti, Dhanbad Chapter on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at Dhanbad from Dhanbad Club to Forest Resort, Aamghata to promote health awareness and sports among rural children

"Ekal Ke Sang" a race was organized. More than 400 children, youth and elders participated in the race. The enthusiasm of all was visible in this 8.4 kilometer run.

The participants of the race were given T-shirts on behalf of Ekal and certificates were also given after the race. The first three winners were given cash prizes of INR. 5000, INR. 3500 and INR. 2500 respectively. 

New WEC at Shelmba and new IVD at Rampara

Dr  Kishor Trivedi from Durham NC, USA along with the family of his brothers accompanied by Dr Hasmukh Shah and his wife Smt Jyotsna Shah inaugurated a new IVD center in Rampara. Valiya Bharuch and new Women Empowerment Centre (WEC - a tailoring center) in Shelmba, Sagbara in Narmada district, Gujarat, near Maharashtra boarder. Dr Kishor is already a donor of Women Empowerment Center in Gujarat at Limkheda Dahod district.

54 trainees complete training in IVD, Tamilnad

Samithis of IVD centre at KC Patti under Dindukal Anchal, Tamilnad organised a grand celebration to distribute certificates to those completing the computer and tailoring training on12th March. 54 trainees of the first batch received certificates from the samithis that included Dr Kirthika, Smt Shanthi, Shri Meganathan, Shri Shivanandham and Shri Karthik Kumar.

Vanyatra experience by Shrikant Bhave from Newzeland

Namaste.

I sponsor Ekal schools from New Zealand. Before my trip to Bharat, I had expressed my interest in visiting an Ekal school. Such visit is aptly called Vanyatra.

Considering my travel dates to different locations in Bharat, I requested for a visit between 20-25 Feb to a school near to Nagpur, Maharashtra.

The Ekal Global team set their communications in motion and I was constantly being kept informed.

21st Feb was fixed for Vanyatra to a school in Vil Pathari Tah Karanji district, Pandharkavada (About 160 km from Nagpur).

The village has a population of about 1200. The school had 22 Girls and 18 boys.

When we reached the village, we were given traditional welcome of pouring water over our feet, applying Kumkum and Akshada (Rice) on our forehead by the ladies of the village.

We were then led by students singing a patriotic song to a pandal in front of the temple where the school is held daily.

After initial introduction about Ekal by karyakartas, children were asked to repeat pledge. Most students had it memorised.

Thereafter, a demonstration was given by the teacher of teaching language, mathematics, art & craft, social science etc. Teacher used innovative ways and involved children in learning.

The Vanyatra concluded with a small Q & A with children, as well as the ladies of the village, who are involved in setting up a Bhajan Mandali. 

Overall, it was a memorable experience and very satisfying as well as inspiring.

I am sure that taking this experience back to sponsors of New Zealand will help them understand and motivate them to spread the word around to bring on board more sponsors.

- Shrikant bhave 
Auckland , New Zealand 

27/02/2023 and 28/02/20 23, on behalf of ONGC Foundation of Sivsagar area, the CSR departmental officials visited the Ekal Vidyalaya.