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  • Chapters

    Chapters and Local Presence

    VHPA has full chapters, units, and contacts across the country. Chapters engage in activities that range from Samskars to seva and connect with mandirs and other local organizations.

    Atlanta, GA

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  • Sanskar

    SANSKAR

    Sanskar reflects our cultural, moral, and spiritual roots, shaping personal development and community service.

    Balvihar

    Balvihar Hindi School, since 1990, teaches Hindi, Hindu culture, and offers cultural programs.

    Youth & Family Camp

    Connect with Hindu culture, strengthen family ties, and enjoy enriching activities.

    Sharda Hindu Scholarship

    Recognizing high school students for academic, artistic, and community leadership excellence.

  • Seva

    SEVA

    Experience the power of giving, transforming lives and communities through impactful selfless acts of service.

    Appeals

    Current featured causes where you can contribute and make a difference.

    Support-A-Child Fundraising Tour

    Educates and supports underprivileged children, transforming their futures.

    Seva in America

    Empowering communities through youth programs, education, and disaster relief.

    Seva Report

    Periodic reports on VHPA's seva activities, including reports on special seva projects.

    Sewa Diwali

    Uniting communities in selfless service and giving during Diwali.

    SAC T20 Tournament

    Cricket for funding education and care for underprivileged children

    SAC Tennis Tournament

    Raises funds for youth scholarships and homeless shelters.

  • Sampark

    Sampark

    Our network connect and empower Hindu communities, enhancing leadership and collaboration for a stronger united society.

    Hindu Mandir Empowerment Council - HMEC

    Annual conference uniting Hindu Mandir leaders to enhance leadership and advance Sanatana Dharma.

    Hindu Mandir Priests’ Conference - HMPC

    Enhances Hindu worship for youth and empowers priests to advance Sanatana Dharma

    Hindu Business Network

    HBN is a project of the Hindu Council of America, aimed at fostering interaction, cooperation, contribution, and growth.

    Hindu Women Network - HWN

    Empowers women to strengthen families and society through seva, wisdom, and collaboration.

    Hindu Vishwa

    Hindu Vishwa publishes quarterly insights on Hindu dharma, philosophy, and contemporary topics.

    Hindu American Vanprasthi Network - HAVAN

    HAVAN supports retired Hindus in America with self-development, community engagement, and skill utilization.

    Dharma Sansad

    Hindu leaders unite to guide the future of Hindu dharma, culture, and community initiatives worldwide.

  • Parchar

    Parchar

    Ignite change through active involvement—celebrate hindu heritage and unite through dynamic, impactful community initiatives.

    Hindu Heritage Month

    A global Hindu initiative to celebrate our diverse heritage as one family.

    Stop Hindudvesha

    Unveil Hindudvesha: Educate, expose, and empower Hindus.

    National Satsang

    Every 1st Wednesday of the Month | Open to all Hindus | No VHPA membership needed

  • Publication

    PUBLICATION

    Our publications preserve and share Hindu wisdom, educating and connecting the global Hindu community.

    Hindu Vishwa

    Hindu Vishwa publishes quarterly insights on Hindu dharma, philosophy, and contemporary topics.

    Hindu Vishwa Online

    Global Hindu news updates daily and offer Hindu Vishwa magazine and VHPA publications online.

    Chaitanya Bharati

    Chaitanya Bharati is an annual, well-researched educational publication.

    Thematic Calendar

    The VHPA thematic calendar highlights Hindu festivals with yearly themed artwork.

    Posters & Infographics

    Informative posters and infographics.

    Books

    VHPA publishes books on Hindu dharma, Hindu customs, American Hindu history etc.

    Presentations

    Presentations by VHPA at various events, webinars etc.

    Bookstore

    Explore a wide range of books on Hindu dharma, traditions, culture, and history.

  • Special Projects

    SPECIAL PROJECTS

    Special Projects unite global Hindus with impactful events, celebration, devotion, inspiration, and cultural engagement.

    Shree Ram Mandir and Rath Yatra

    VHPA celebrates Shree Ram Mandir with global events.

    Om Hindu Community Center

    OMHCC is a Hindu community center in Greater Boston offering social, educational, and cultural services.

    Reflections@50

    An online conference commemorating the 50 years of VHPA's pioneering contributions to American Hindu life

    Other Historic VHPA Projects

    Some of the past projects of VHPA have now become independent organizations.

  • Media

    Media

    Explore VHPA’s latest press releases, reports, news, and interviews. Connect for media inquiries.

    Press Release

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    Interviews of key VHPA Leaders

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    Reach out to our media team

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  • About

    About

    VHPA is the one of the largest Hindu organizations in the US.

    Organization

    VHPA organizational structure and leadership.

    History

    Founded as the first major non- denominational community organization, VHPA boasts a rich history of over 50 years.

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    VHPA's historic and current tax returns.

    Our Beliefs

    Key positions of VHPA based on the dharmic principles.

    Our Initiatives

    Preserving dharma through service, education, culture, youth, and unity.

    Vision, Mission & Objectives

    VHPA aims to build a vibrant society that promotes unity, serves the community, and upholds values.

    Vishwa Dharma Prarthana

    VHPA prayer, "Universal Dharma Prayer in English, is a prayer that encompasses the principles of righteousness and moral values for universal peace and harmony.

  • VHPA Awards

    VHPA Awards

    Honoring excellence in service, leadership, culture, and community impact.

    American Hindu Lifetime Contribution Award

    VHPA honors community leaders to inspire selfless dedication.

    Sharada Hindu Scholarship Winners

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  • Chapters
    • Atlanta
    • Boston
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  • VHPA Awards
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    • Sharada Hindu Scholarship Winners
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Hindu-Catholic interfaith conference to be held in Virginia on May 23

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Participants include the President of the VHP of America.

By Raif Karerat

WASHINGTON, DC: The Durga Temple of Fairfax Station, Virginia, is slated to host a Hindu-Catholic interfaith conference in conjunction with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on May 23, 2015.

The dialogue is designed to promote better understanding between the two religions, collaboration on social issues, and working together to achieve common goals.

The event will prominently feature comments by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue at the Vatican and Anantanand Rambachan, Professor of religion, philosophy, and Asian studies at St. Olaf College.

Other speakers include Abhaya Asthana, president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America; Bishop Paul Loverde of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Va.; Anuttama Dasa, chairman of the ISKCON Governing Body Commission; and Francis X. Clooney, Parkman professor of divinity and director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard University.

Anti-Christian sentiment has gained traction in India, especially in the context of “Hindu nationalism,” which could arguably be translated to “Hindu jingoism.”

According to the Human Rights watch, violence against Christians is viewed by prominent national political factions as a tactical means to political ends. A separate report from September 1999 revealed the number of incidents involving anti-Christian violence rose in the months following the victory of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in March 1998.

India’s current prime minister Narendra Modi, is the head of the BJP, and was previously implicated in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

However, in early 2015, Modi said his government would react strongly against any acts of religious violence. Speaking at an event celebrating the canonization of Father Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sister Euphrasia as saints, Modi stated, “The tradition of welcoming all faiths in India is as old as India itself … We believe that there is truth in every religion. This is critical for peace and harmony in the nation.”

According to Vinay Lal of the UCLA College of Letters and Sciences, ongoing acts of violence against Christians include the arson of churches, re-conversion of Christians to Hinduism under the threat of physical violence, distribution of threatening literature, burning of Bibles, raping of nuns, murder of Christian priests, and destruction of Christian schools, colleges, and cemeteries.

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World Hindu Council America (VHPA)

200 New Bond Street
Sugar Grove, IL 60554-9171
Tel.: +1-732-744-0851
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.vhpamerica.org
Nonprofit, tax exempt 501(c)(3) organization

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  • Chapters
    • Atlanta
    • Boston
    • Chicago
    • Cincinnati
    • Connecticut
    • Dallas
    • Detroit
    • Florida
    • Houston
    • Indiana
    • Irvine, CA
    • Lehigh Valley
    • Los Angeles, CA
    • Metro DC / Maryland
    • Minnesota
    • New England
    • New Jersey
    • North Carolina
    • Pittsburgh
    • San Francisco Bay Area
    • Southern California
    • Staten Island
    • Virginia
  • Sanskar
    • Balvihar
    • Youth & Family Camp
    • Sharda Hindu Scholarship
  • Seva
    • Appeals
    • Support-A-Child Fundraising Tour
    • Seva In America
    • Seva Report
    • Sewa Diwali
    • SAC T20 Tournament
    • SAC Tennis Tournament
  • Sampark
    • Hindu Mandir Empowerment Council – HMEC
    • Hindu Mandir Priests’ Conference – HMPC
    • Hindu Business Network – HBN
    • Hindu Women Network – HWN
    • Hindu Vishwa
    • Hindu American Vanprasthi Network – HAVAN
    • Dharma Sansad
  • Parchar
    • Hindu Heritage Month
    • Stop HinduDvesha
    • National Satsang
  • Publication
    • Hindu Vishwa
    • Hindu Viswa Online
    • Chaitanya Bharati
    • Thematic Calendar
    • Posters & Infographics
    • Books
    • Presentations
    • Bookstore
  • Special Projects
    • Shree Ram Mandir and Rath Yatra
    • Om Hindu Community Center
    • Reflections @ 50
    • Other Historic VHPA Projects
  • Media
    • Press Release
    • VHPA Media Reports
    • VHPA Interviews
    • Contact VHPA Media Team
  • About
    • Organization
    • History
    • Financials
    • Our Beliefs
    • Our Initiatives
    • Vision, Mission, Objectives
    • Vishwa Dharma Prarthana – Universal Prayer
  • VHPA Awards
    • American Hindu Lifetime Contribution Award
    • Sharada Hindu Scholarship Winners

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