IPSWICH HINDU SAMAJ
NEWSLETTER
May - December 2011(Issue: 11.)
Editor’s Comments;
There is a famous saying” It is not our abilities, that truly defines us – it is the choices we make”, a writer and commentator, J H Rowling (1998). It does reflect our work, as member of the Ipswich Hindu Samaj, where we have to make choices, for the better social, economic, cultural, spiritual and moral life. Not only for our selves but for the larger community.
We are not perfect persons, and neither are we living in a perfect society. There may be occasions, when our choices do not bring the desired results, that we are expecting, but still we had to prod on – carrying out our actions and duties, and leaving the fruits our toil to All Mighty God.
Our choice to make 5 Thoroughfare – howsoever, the unsuitability of the premises – as the Ipswich Community Centre & Mandir, has been a correct choice – as a stop gap measure – and to continuing to looking for a better and suitable premises/site for our Community Centre & Mandir.
In the mean time, we should continue to make full use of the 5 Thoroughfare, as the Hindu samaj’s Community Centre & Mandir.
Samaj’s Activities
I would like to apologise for not producing the September issue of the newsletter, because of overload of work in the management of the Samaj’s activities and the premises due to the resignation of Mrs Lila Patel from the secretary and the management of the centre due to personal reasons.
- Installation of Deities:
Since May this year, we have been pretty busy. In the first quarter of this year, we had the installations of the deities of Radha Krishna on the 15thJanuary and the installation of deities of lord Rama, Sita Rani, and Lakshmana with Lord Hanuman and of Swami Narain, on Sunday 10th April, and celebrated Rama Naumi, the birth day of lord Rama on Tuesday 12th April.
Before the Navaraatri celebrations, we had the deity of Maa Durga Mata, installed in the Mandir on Friday 5th September, followed by Mata Di Chowki, on Sunday 7th September, which was sponsored by Dr Sushil Soni. The deity of Maa Durga Mata was donated by Mr & Mrs Meshi & Poli Mohan.
- 5th Anniversary of the Samaj.
An “Open day “ was held to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Ipswich Hindu Samaj on Sunday 24th July, at which the Ipswich Borough Councillors and other prominent guests were invited at the centre. The guests were apprised of the progress made by the Samaj in the last 5 years.
- Shri Krishna Janama Ashtami: The birthday of Lord Krishna was celebrated on Monday 22nd August with chanting & bhajans in the Mandir. On this day the deities of Radha Krishna were adorned with beautiful clothes donated by Dr’s Pulin & Dipika Thakerar.
- Visit of Sant Ji from Neasden Mandir:On Tuesday 17th May, on the special Bhajan Evening, we had visits of two Sant ji Maharaj from Neasden Swami Narain Mandir, Wembley, London. The occasion was sponsored by four families from Ipswich & Manningtree. They gave an interesting talk on Bhagvat Gita and on the teachings of Swami Narain.
- Visit of Prabhu Ji from ISKCON Hare Krishna Mandir, Watford, London: On Sunday 18th September, a special Hare Krishna sankirtan was held in the Mandir. Prabhu Ji from ISKCON Hare Krishna Mandir spoke on the importance of Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and on compassion, understanding and friendship. The event was sponsored by Sejal Patel, one of the local devotees of ISKCON temple in Watford.
- Yoga & Elderly Luncheon Projects: These projects which were started in August 2010 finished at the end of August 2011. The projects were funded by the Big Lottery Fund. More than 500 visitors/members enjoyed the yoga classes and elderly luncheon once a week for the whole year.
- Ganesha Chaturthi: From 1st to 11th Sep, Samaj celebrated the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. The Ganesh murti was installed on the 1st and to 10th Sep, daily Ganesh Puja and Aarti were performed in the evening. On Sunday 11th Sep, we had a big cultural day celebration at the Manor Hall Ball Room. Later in the evening, we all went for visarjan in procession from Orwell Country Park to the river Orwell. Unlike previous years we have not been able to visarjan the deity of Ganesha because of low tide. For this event we had 15 sponsors for £31 each during the festival. Thanks to organisers for this event and to volunteers who made this event a great success like previous three years.
- Navraatri: From 28th Sep to 4th Oct, the Mandir was kept open all nine days for Mata Bhajans and and for Ambe Mata Aarti. Again unlike previous years we have not been able to organise Garba dance due to the unavailability of a suitable hall.
- Diwali Bazar, Diwali Celebrations & Diwali Milan: On Saturday 23rd Oct, Samaj participated in the ever first Diwali Bazar, organised by our sister organisation, Ipswich & Suffolk Indian Association, in the market square, in front of the Town Hall. The Mandir was kept open for darshan, during the bazaar from 12noon to 5pm. Diwali was celebrated on the 26th Oct in the Mandir from 5 to 7pm and so also the Hindu New Year Vikram Samvat 2068 on 27th Oct. On Monday 31st Oct, Suffolk New College hosted a social Diwali Milan to celebrate the Diwali & the Hindu New Year.
- Annkut: For the 1st time the Samaj celebrated the Annkut festival, on Sunday 30th Oct. 101 dishes were prepared by local ladies for offering to Lord Krishna. The Mandir was packed with devotees who sang bhajans and thali. There were resounding of “Haathi Ghora Palki Jai Kanhiya Lall Ki”. Every one enjoyed the food and offering of sweets, mithai, and savoury. Earlier the importance of the festival was explained to youngsters, who had queried the origin of the festival.
- Karva Chauth Vrat: For the first time again, Samaj organised the Karva Chauth Vrat puja at the Mandir, when all the suhagins or married Hindu women did puja and kept vrat/fast for the welfare, health and long life of their husbands. There were quite a few newly wedded ladies in Ipswich who were having their first Karva Chauth vrat. This vrat is usually kept by ladies from Punjab, India. They break their fast only after seeing the moon.
- 1st Anniversary of the Mandir: To celebrate the 1st Anniversary of the Mandir premises, Samaj organised the recitation of the Sunder Kaand Katha, from Goswami Tulsi Dass Ramayana or Rama Charit Manas, on Sunday 6th November.
- Coach Trip to Bala ji Mandir & Cadbury Choclate Centre in Birmingham: A coach trip was organised by our volunteer Ms Sital Patel, to Bala Ji Mandir & the Cadbury Chocolate Centre in Birmingham. The 28 seater was full and every one enjoyed the trip.
- Children’s Christmas Party:Again Ms Sital Patel organised for the Samaj, Children’s Christmas Party at the Mandir on Saturday 17the Dec, which was again a great success and all the children who came along with their parents had good time. The children’s gifts were donated by Sital and the part was sponsored by Dr Sushil Soni.
- Conclusion As you will note from above that the Samaj had been busy in organising Hindu festivals besides holding the regular sponsored Bhajan Evenings on every 3rd Tuesday of the month. We have also been keeping the Samaj’s website www. Ipswichhindusamaj.org.uk to date. If you have any comments on this newsletter, please do email me at “Ipswich Hindu Samaj” info@ipswichhindusamaj.org.uk.
- Burglary at the Mandir: On the night of Monday 31st Oct, burglary took place at the Community Centre & Mandir. Though no money was taken – as that had been deposited in the bank on the same morning, nor any damage was done to the deities in the prayer room. However, they forced open the lounge and kitchen doors, damaged them, ran sacked the kitchen cupboard for money, and took away with them, donated computer and printer and an ipod cd player. On the whole, we had a very successful year 2011 at the Community Centre & Mandir.
- Aum Shantih, Shantih, Shantih Aum – Let there be Peace Forever. The first Shantih is the “Aadhyaatmika Shantih”, which is for Peace in our body, so that all our biochemical functions in our body work peacefully.
The second Shantih is the “Aadhiboudhika Shantih”, which is for Peace around us, in family, in our house/work place or at the place we occupy such as for meetings.
The third Shantih is for the “Adhi Devta Shantih”. That is peace for celestial bodies and celestial phenomenon, like wind, sun, moon, forests, mountains etc.
So when we say Shantih three times after prayers, it is for the peaceful life and existence of anything and every thing on this earth.
Any violation of these three Shantih’s – the system gets imbalanced. The individual life, the family life, social life, national life and international peace will be affected.
Dr Sushil Soni
Chairman/Secretary
Ipswich Hindu Samaj