e-Shakha

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Sangh Shakha

What is Shakha?

Shakha:

A weekly 1.5 to 2 hour gathering between Hindus young and old. The literal definition of shakha is "branch", but each weekly session is known as "shakha" amongst common shakha participants. This is done through weekly sessions involving activities of physical, intellectual, and amusing content. Regular activities in each shakha include games, "boudhiks" or intellectual discussions, "slokas" or prayers, and "ghosh" or band. On top of these activities, there are a variety of dynamic activities requiring mental and physical concentration. Each activity has its own unique benefit on the participants, but the variety of benefits helps to better the person in many aspects.

"Shareerik", or physical activites, include games, dand, (martial arts with bamboo stick) samata, (disciplined marching exercise) neyuddha, (general martial arts) and yogchap, (body and mind coordinaton with music instrument). These are just few of the "shareerik" activities.

Dand, just like Neyuddha, teaches the participants mind and body coordination, awareness, and discipline. The "dand" is the Sanskrit name for the bamboo stick, but is also used as the name of the art itself. In Dand, one must maneuver a bamboo stick accordingly to the exercise he/she is doing. One such exercise involves spinning the bamboo stick behind the back, followed by a one hand twirl, and a stop in the crouching position. To pass this exercise, the participant, when twirling the dand, must be able to twirl it with no more than one inch distance between the shoulder and "dand". Dand teaches the participants mind and body coordination as well as discipline in this manner. It teaches awareness when applying the art of Dand to a real life situation, such as defending oneself with a "dand". One must be able to judge how to use the "dand" in such a situation.

Samata teaches the participants discipline and team coordination. The participants must properly perform the marching exercise, listen closely to the shikshak's or commanding officer?s commands, and stay synchronized with the group. If one member makes a mistake, the order of the entire group is put at risk. Thus, each member needs to be aware of his team members, the commanding officer, and himself.

Yogchap is samata with a musical instrument. Basically, one must be aware of his group members, himself, and the shikshak's ajnas or commands, while marching and rocking the instrument back and forth to make the appropriate noise. On top of all this, the participant will rock his instrument up and down, front and back, and in all types of directions according to the "shikshak's" commands.

There are numerous games played in shakhas, of which most are from India. Games include the traditional Indian games of Kabaddi, Kho Kho, and other games as well as American games like Telephone, Basketball, and more. These games provide a variety of benefits as well as lots of fun!

These are just some of the many shareerik activities in shakha, but physical activities aren't all.

Intellectual activites in shakha include boudhiks, story-telling, acting, leadership activities, slokas and geet. Each activity helps to broaden one's horizon of thinking, provide them with leadership advice, information, and opportunity, and bring about optimism and rid of shyness.

Boudhik or intellectual discussions are group sessions in which one person will speak on a topic, educating his peers. Boudhiks are held amongst the adult groups and teenage groups, whereas kids are told stories. Boudhiks usually inform the group about something to do with Hindus or Hinduism, and allow them to apply their knowledge in the world. Charchas are similar to boudhiks, but charchas are led by a single person, but he will conduct a conversation between the group of participants. This would be done by asking questions of opinion, and educating them as well. Charchas even involve debates between teams, followed by some experienced advice and examples from Hinduism, allowing the participants to think for themselves.

Slokas or prayers, are led by one or more persons who teach the participants slokas. The difficulty factor of the slokas being taught is dependant on the age of the group of participants. Slokas help to educate participants more on Hinduism, and help them to connect with God.

Geet is song in Sanskrit, but the common shakha participant knows the song session as geet. Every geet is of content based on Hinduism in one way or another, and most of them are of the Hindi or Sanskrit language. Participants have a fun filled time singing and learning songs. Geet is one manner by which participants come out of their shy shells.

These are also only few of the many intellectual activities conducted in shakha. Both physical and intellectual activities better the participants in many ways. But participants don?t just attend weekly shakhas. Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh also coordinates utsavs or festivals, community service projects for kishors, activities for kishors, shikshak training camps for participants, and even programs to assist kishors in college preparation.

By coming to shakha, you gain knowledge, strength, wisdom, and friends. But, what do you have to lose? Try it...