Sanskaar Deeksha Shivir : Inculcating Dharma in Young Minds

In today’s increasingly competitive world kids are expected to learn every activity that is ‘saleable’ in the job market.Not just the academic sphere but they are expected to excel in the extra-curricular activities too. Every year during summer vacations there is a mushrooming of various hobby classes for activities like singing, dancing, etc., where parents are eager to send their children. In such a scenario if somebody proposes to put kids in a week-long residential camp named “SanskaarDeekshaShivir”, one doubts that this idea is going to get many takers. But defying this common belief, a few individuals in Palwal, Haryana are successfully conducting such a residential camp from last 3 years.

This year the eight-day long “SanskaarDeekshaShivir” was conducted from June 3 to June 10 in SPS International School, Palwal. In the Shivir, Upanayan (thread-ceremony) of the kids is done and they are taught daily-rituals like Sandhyopasana, Samidaadhaan, etc., which otherwise are declining in our social lives. Along with that Yoga exercises and knowledge of true Indian history and heritage are also given to the students. The closing ceremony function is attended by the parents in which children enact plays or recite poems/songs learnt in the Shivir. Last year the chief guest in the closing ceremony was noted social activist Shri Indresh Kumar.

The Shivir is conducted under the aegis of ‘Vaidik Bharat Trust’ along with the voluntary help of many others. What’s remarkable about the Shivir is that it’s conducted by young individuals who come from various backgrounds. Shri RajendraBainsala of Vaidik Bharat Trust, who is also the president of Bharatiya Janata YuvaMorcha (BJYM) in Palwal, tells that “India culture is still alive because we once had a very rich and robust Gurukul system. Through our Shivir we try to impart that traditional education to the kids living in a modern society. In the Shivirkidsonly wear traditional attire- dhoti and uttareeya, they play Indian games, learn poems on nationalism and stories of our great historical personalities. Inculcating a feeling of reverence about our traditions and history in young children is our aim.”

The Shivir provides for lodging and boarding of the students; food, clothing, samidhas for Havan to every student and other expenses are borne by Shivir only. Crowd-funding and individual donations are the main sources of its finance. Telling how difficult sometimes managing the things gets, Shri Bainsala said, “During our first Shivir we even had to build toilets ourselves for the students just 24 hours before the Shivir!”

“That our efforts are well-received by the parents can be understood by the fact that in 2015 we had 23 students and this year the total number was 75”, adds Shri Bainsala.

To teach the students rituals properly Vedic scholars from DoodheshwarNathVedVidyalaya, Ghaziabad and from Vishwa Hindu Parishad’sVed-Pathshala in Mandloi, are called who teach Sandhyopasana and Samidaadhanam to students. These Acharyasremain in touch with the students even after the Shivir to make sure that students are continuing with their daily duties which they have learnt in the Shivir.

Up to last year, students were also taught spoken Sanskrit, in which they even enacted a play during the closing ceremony. Recently a student, who attended the Shivir, cleared his class 10th exam and opted for Arts stream because he wanted to pursue his career in Sanskrit only. “These are regular school going kids, whose parents had the wisdom to encourage them for learning their tradition instead of wasting their summer holidays watching TV,” says ShriMohit Bhardwaj of Vaidik Bharat Trust. He further added that “for a residential camp of this level financial help is always needed, especially when we don’t charge any fees. It’s very encouraging when people whom we hardly know come forward to offer their help. This year the person who printed our pamphlets and receipt books refused to take any money for it when he came to know the motive behind our Shivir.”