Growing technology had surrounded the lives of every boy and girl with computers, video games, i- pods and what not.
Then what happens to our culture and traditions? This is the prime concern of every parent, nowadays.
But hold on, there seems to be a solution for this too.
A summer camp drew kids towards the Indian culture and traditions, in K. K. Nagar.
Vedic Links is an organization started by ‘Vedic’ Ravi and Jeyaraman in 1982. Since then this organization has been conducting workshops and summer camps for children based on Sandhyavandanam and other traditional practices.
“Its not that the children don’t want to do these activities: it’s only that they want to know the scientific reasons behind everything that they do. Once we explain the reason to them and they are convinced with it they do it with utmost interest” says Ravi, who after finishing his schooling underwent formal training in Vedas.
A surprising fact is that whatever was told by our ancestors regarding culture has a very logical scientific explanation. For example- the reason behind growing tulsi in the house was because tulsi is an antiseptic by nature or keeping kumkum had a even more beneficial use. Kumkum is made of mixing turmeric and ghee where turmeric is the best antiseptic in nature.
Vedic Links teaches its students not only slokas and Vedas but also inculcate a sense of discipline with divine inclination in the children mind. Ravi believes that this will serve them well in future in appreciating our hoary tradition and heritage.
They are also planning to hold a two-day camp to enlighten children based on these traditional practices. Since the children of today are loaded with academic pressures and have less time to spend outdoors, Vedic Links has also started online class through their website www.vediclinks.net to facilitate children to learn whenever they can.
The motto of Vedic Links it that they link old tradition to new values.
“Now a days people strive hard to keep themselves fit by walking, doing exercises to prevent obesity and other ailments. But one equivalent to all the exercises is Sandhyavandanam, which is basically deep inhalation and exhalation” says Ravi.
Several children attend their workshop and enhance their knowledge in Vedas. Many of these children go for regular education in prestigious schools like Padma Seshadri Bal Bhavan, Jawahar Vidyalaya, Kendriya Vidyalaya, etc.
They are very smart kids with different ambitions and dreams like any other child of their age and they enjoy every moment at this workshop too.
“We find this very useful and even understand the meaning of slokas rendered in temples when we visit a temple” says Venkatesh with full enthusiasm who is attending this camp now.
Vedic Links is located at: 353/1, Dr. Lakshmanaswamy Salai, K.K.Nagar Phone: 24744188.