Dr. Umesh Shukla, Executive Vice-President, reports on BSNA sponsored weddings of young couples and thread ceremonies of young boys from poor Brahman families.  See wedding album here.

Wedding and Yagyopaveet expenses in the Indian Culture require lifesavings of parents. Poor parents are unable to bear such a huge burden.  In order to ease this burden on poor parents, Brahman community in Unnao, UP, India has been organizing and sponsoring a group wedding and yagyopaveet sanskar event for the last six years.  The expenses for this great community service are covered from donations by  several organizations. This year individual BSNA members donated funds to sponsor the event. The group weddings and group yagyopaveet sanskars took place on Feb 24, 2008 in Unnao, U.P.

The sixth annual event organized by the Brahman Samaj of Shuklaganj, Unnao. A total of 15 couples were wed on this day and Yagyopaveet sanskar was conducted for 51 young boys.     BSNA donations were used to provide a steel cupboard, fan, gas stove, gas cylinder, fan and a sewing machine to the couples to enable them to start the household.  Other sponsoring organizations also donated necessary household items like bed, bicycle, clothings and ornaments.  Some of the pictures taken during the event can be found below.
If anyone would like additional information about this event and/or wish to donate funds for this annual event in the future to support this community activity please feel free to contact Dr. Umesh Shukla at 908-431-9845 or via email shuklafamily80@gmail.com

BSNA Executive Committee Adopts a Resolution to Support Hindu Temples and Trusts

Resolution: An Act of Support and Appreciation

This is to affirm that all Hindu Temples and Trusts in India and elsewhere should be free from government control and they should be given full and unequivocal freedom to be managed by Hindus themselves. All Hindu Temples and Trusts should enjoy the same freedom that the other religious institutions are enjoying. All Hindu Temples and Trusts must be freed and all Temple lands must be returned. No special privileges should be given to any religious institutions. All religions should be treated equally and none should be discriminated.

Brahman Samaj of North America (BSNA) supports and appreciates Maha Pada Yatra conducted by Hindu Devalaya Parirakshana Samiti under the able, visionary, tireless leadership of Sri Machavolu Kamal Kumar in Andhra Pradesh. This Yatra is actively supported by Global Hindu Heritage Foundation and emphasizes the importance of managing the Hindu Temples and Trusts by Hindus themselves with no interference from outside the Hindu community or any authorities.  

Sincerely,

Resolutions Passed at the 2007 BSNA Convention held in Washington, DC.

I. Endowment Fund For Needy Brahman Families

The Brahman Samaj of North America (BSNA), and all affiliate organizations of World Brahman Organizations (WBO) will establish an Endowment Fund for supporting educational, social and economic activities for the benefit of Brahmans, and Hindus throughout the world, especially in India.

II. Kashmiri Hindus

World Brahman Organization is very much concerned about the plights of the Kashmiri Hindus and, therefore, believes that the Government of India should facilitate in obtaining justice for Kashmiri Pundits along with other Hindus of Kashmir. The Government of India should also take appropriate measures for their safe return to their homeland and provide adequate support and security for their re-settlement. 

 III. Preserving Family Values and Unity

Brahman families throughout the world are becoming more and more westernized and forgetting our age-old values and customs.  WBO promotes family values and emphasizes unity within the extended family.  We should work together, help in developing self-esteem and pride in our Hindu heritage, foster friendship and help all needy Brahmans.  We should develop efficient ways of communicating our concerns through websites, e-mails or personal contacts.  We should also help Brahman families all over the world in their quest for excellence in life, finding appropriate life partners and livelihood through our collective efforts.

IV. Conversion of Hindus

WBO is very concerned about the conversion of Hindus to other religions. WBO will make specific efforts to educate Hindus, and support other organizations that are making efforts to prevent the conversion of Hindus.

 V. Unity of Brahmans

WBO congratulated and appreciated the unity of Brahmans in the recent elections in Uttar Pradesh, India. For the first time Brahmans have united themselves and voted for the Brahmans and the party.  We hope that this kind of unity will continue in the future in political scenario and Brahmans will play a vital role in India.