It is autumn now, at least in the northeastern part of the U.S. when the magic of leaves changing colors combines with festivities of Halloween and Thanksgiving, yielding a plethora of sensory stimuli, especially for children and youth. It is also the time when school has been underway for a few months and everyone is looking forward to the first long holiday!  

Hundreds of children of Hindu Indian origin living across the U.S. have been attending another school on the weekends that has also been in session simultaneously. That school may be called Bal Vihar, Bal Vikas, or some variation originated by the specific institution or organization that hosts the school and reflects its own identity in the name, but basically, the meanings all translate to 'children's religious education program.' It is Sunday School for Hindu American kids.

In this Sunday school, however, classes focus on stories about many different Gods and Goddesses, teach an assortment of Indian languages, and have lively discussions about melding American and Indian traditions and values.

I interviewed a husband and wife team that has been volunteering to teach kids in their community about Hinduism for more than 20 years. Listen to their passionate discussion on the invaluable role of such religious heritage education programs in giving children growing up in the diaspora a strong foundation on which to build their identities.

Credits:
theme music track: timbre-loopcentury-bhajan from freesound.org