Sacramento ( California ): Brahma Kumaris Sacramento participated in the ceremonial signing of a proclamation declaring the month of October to be Hindu Cultural Month by the Mayor of Elk Grove and City Council members.
The main Guest of this program was Dr. Parikh, member of the City of Elk Grove Diversity and Inclusion Commission, who spoke at the ceremony – “It was with great appreciation and honor to be presented with the proclamation.”
All the Hindu community leaders and BK Hansa added their finger of cooperation in making this momentous occasion happen, and a warm heartfelt relationship formed with the local Indian communities.
PRAYER VIGIL FOR THE SIKH COMMUNITY AT CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL
Brahma Kumaris Sacramento attended a Sikh Prayer Vigil as part of the Greater Sacramento Interfaith and shared the message of love, harmony, and unity during this time of healing.
The Mayor of West Sacramento spoke on behalf of the City of West Sacramento and conveyed their full support for the families and victims.
Guest of this session: BK Hansa, Sacramento City Mayor Darrell Steinberg, previously California Senate President, and Sacramento City Council member Katie Valenzuela.
BK Hansa conducted a meditation for healing and harmony. Youth and other Community leaders attended the vigil. Sikh youth spoke about the importance of being aware and safe. Many dignitaries and political leaders attended and spoke.The Mayor of West Sacramento, Martha Guerrero, spoke on behalf of the community.
The vigil ended in silent prayer and candle lighting. Many new contacts were made, and there was recognition of the Brahma Kumaris’ unending work of offering spiritual support to the community wherever needed.
GURUNANAK JAYANTI CELEBRATION
Brahma Kumaris Sacramento participated in Gurunanak Jayanti celebration in Yuba City California.
For 43 years, on the first weekend of November, close to 100,000 people from different parts of the USA and Canada come together to celebrate Guru Nanak Jayanti in Yuba City, CA (45 miles north of Sacramento).
Even in the midst of festivities and parades, people visiting the Gurudwara created an atmosphere of peace and devotion filled with love.
As per Sikh tradition, meals are organized and served free of charge in a very peaceful manner.
This year for the very first time Brahma Kumaris Sacramento was invited to participate in the event. The Brahma Kumaris booth included meditation pictures and the Virtue wheel. The booth was visited by many from the Sikh community.
Special blessings cards created in the Panjabi language with English translations were distributed. Young and old enjoyed spinning the virtue wheel and received their virtue as a gift. Some school teachers were interested in starting a value education with meditation for their students and teachers. Overall it was a very good experience for all who attended.
DIWALI CELEBRATION AT BK CENTER
Multiple community leaders Mr. Akram, member of Salam Center and member of Elk Grove Interfaith Council; Mr. Santosh, President of Intel India; and Dr. Parikh, member of the Elk Grove City Diversity and Inclusion Commission, participated in a Diwali celebration at the Brahma Kumaris Center.
BK Hansa, Sister Elizabeth, and BK Hema, with community leaders and children of all ages joined the celebration and shared their thoughts about Diwali. Seven-year-old Vedanta gave a talk about how Diwali means lighting the lamp of positivity. Four-year-old Naadan also shared about Diwali as an experience of light, peace, and love. Neil Nayyar, a 17-year-old prodigy from the City of Elk Grove, who plays more than 100 instruments perfectly and recently appeared on the Jennifer Hudson Show, also participated in the celebration.
Sister Ganga performed a graceful dance while Sister Elizabeth sang a Hindi song “We are one family…”.
BK Hansa conducted a candle-lighting ceremony with BK Hema and BK Elizabeth. At the end, everyone shared their Diwali greetings and received a message about how we can keep the light ignited from BK Hansa. Sister also shared about how we can take care of ourselves while connecting to the divine light in the middle of the forehead.
