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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.

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    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.

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

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

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

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    Educates and supports underprivileged children, transforming their futures.

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

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

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    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.

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

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

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

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

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

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    Reflections@50

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

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

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  • Chapters
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Hindu Americans Organize HAVAN, Prayers and Yoga as they Allocate Relief Funding during COVID- 19 Crisis on President Trump’s Call for “National Day of Prayer”

"Hindu Americans hold Havan, prayers & yoga, allocating COVID-19 relief funds in response to President Trump’s National Day of Prayer call."

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March 15, 2020

The following statement was issued by World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) 

Responding to President Trump’s call for “National Day of Prayer” today, Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference (HMEC), a body representing 400+ Hindu Mandirs, institutions, Meditation & Yoga groups in North America, organized HAVAN and prayers across North America. The effort is aimed at addressing growing mental health and anxiety concerns arising from the COVID- 19 pandemic.

Vallabha Tantry, one of the coordinators of this efforts, explained that “keeping in mind the concerns of mass gatherings, a two-pronged approach was adopted, i.e.,  Prayers at the Temples & Organizations and Prayers by the Individuals (Virtual Satsang)”. She added “Devotees were  encouraged to ‘Pray from Home’ when the Havan was being performed at their respective Temples by the Priests. Facebook live or video recording were enabled by the Temple Management for the devotees to participate remotely in the prayer proceedings”. Thousands of people across North America joined the prayers and many more are planning to join in the coming weeks. 

Ajay Shah, Execute VP of the  World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) noted that “Temples, Gurudwaras and other Dharmic institutions and communities, will continue to Pray for Global Health which tie-up with Hindu thought of ‘Sarve Santu Niramayah – May all be free from illness.”

Pointing to a recent health guideline report published by Harvard Medical School, Anil Sharma, a community organizer who was part of this initiative, noted that “Aasana, Dhyana and Praanayama, could go a long way in mitigating the isolation anxiety that is gripping communities across the United States.” 

Over the past month, the spread of COVID-19, with its global implications, have affected the lives of billions around the world in an unprecedented manner. Millions of lives have been affected around the United States and Canada. Leaders around the world, including President Trump, have been encouraging the public to embrace “Namaste”, a traditional Hindu greeting, as one of the safest protocols for public interaction. Such time-tested spiritual and social protocols have withstood thousands of years of global pandemics, and have emerged as “best practices” for healthy community interactions.


The World Hindu Council of America (VHPA)  has allocated funds for helping international students in need of emergency resources, in partnership with Hindu Students Council.  As more funds are being raised, Five thousand dollars have also been immediately released for donations to the Federal government institutions that are providing relief to vulnerable communities. As we raise more resources, we thank the Mandirs, Institutions and Meditation and Yoga Centers across the United States and Canada who participated today. We, at VHPA, encourage everyone to follow the CDC and local health department guidelines regarding COVID-19.

Previous Post

HMEC – Pray From Home, Pray for Global Health

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Seva Patri – Jan 2019

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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  • Hindu Women Network (HWN)
  • Hindu Vishwa

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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

COPYRIGHT © 2025 World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) | All Rights Reserved

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