Events 2011 - 2013

January 1, 2011 Saturday
New Year celebration
Special Havan starts at 11 am, bhajans, Ahuti by all participants, priti bhoj

February 27, 2011   Sunday
Maharishi Dayananda Birth Day
Havan, Yagroop prarthana followed by Bhajans, special Pravachan about Maharishi

March 6, 2011   Sunday
Shivratri Rishi Bodhotsava
Havan, Yagroop prarthana followed by Bhajans, Shivratri Pravachan

March 20, 2011  Sunday
Holi
Havan, Yagroop prarthana followed by the holi program in the back at 11.00 AM.  For pictures from this celebration, please click here.

April 10, 2011   Sunday
Arya Samaj Sthapna Divas
Acharya ji will give special pravachan, Awards ceremony for DAVSS shlokathon/Essay competition

April 16, 2011 Saturday
Teacher Appreciation Day
Hosted by the MC members

April 17, 2011   Sunday
Ram Navami
Special Bhajans, Pravachan message from Bhagvan Rama's Life

May 15, 2011   Sunday
DAV Montessori School Graduation
DAVMS Graduation Program. Graduating children as Yajmans during brief Havan

May 29, 2011   Sunday
DAV Sanskriti School Graduation
Graduating children and their parents as Yajmaans for Havan, Yagya Roop Prarthana. For pictures from this celebration, please click here.

August 14, 2011   Sunday
Rakshabandhan

August 21, 2011   Sunday
Janam Ashtami
Pravachan about Bhagawan Krishan ji

September 9-11, 2011   Friday - Sunday
Arya Samaj Houston Sthapna 20th Anniversary Celebration
Arya Samaj Greater Houston celebrated 20th anniversary of its founding with a Chatur Veda Shatak Yajna over three days.  The yajna included recitation of 10 mantras from each of the four vedas. Pictures from the celebrations can be viewed by clicking here.  Four videos are also available.  To View them click on respective title. The videos are:

20th Anniversary Synopsis

Ten Principles of Arya Samaj as recited by DAVS students.

World Cup Victory Dance - a skit by DAVM students.

Words of Wisdom - Part 1

Words of Wisdom - Part 2.

October 2, 2011   Sunday
Gandhi Jayanti
Arya Samaj and Indian Community celebrated birthday of Mahatama Gandhi.  The program included a children's essay program (held at ASGH), a cultural program at Miller Outdoor Theater and a walk for peace.  The theme of the program was Thousand Lights for Peace.  A few pictures from the program can be viewed by clicking here.

October 9, 2011   Sunday
Dussehra

October 15, 2011 Saturday
Karva Chauth
We will have the Karva Chauth pooja in Arya Samaj hall before sunset

October 22, 2011 Saturday
Deepawali
Program will start at 5 pm with Havan 20 min, Bhajan 5 min, cultural program 1 hour, Arti, then Diwali Mela in the backyard.  To view some pictures of the celebration, please click here.  An excellent story in the Houston Chronicle on Diwali and celebrations at Arya Samaj along with more pictures can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.chron.com/default/article/Diwali-celebration-lights-up-Hindu-faith-2236300.php

December 11, 2011 Sunday
Acharya Prem Chand Shridhar Retires
Acharya Prem Chand Shridhar retired after 12 years as the Chief Priest at the Arya Samaj Temple. A special program of tributes and slide shows of his tenure in Houston was presented to a very large gathering of his well wishers.  He, along with his wife, Shanti Ji, has returned to India to be with his children and grandchildren.

December 25, 2011 Sunday
Swami Shraddhanand Balidan Divas
Acharya ji's pravachan will cover Swami ji's contribution to Arya Samaj.

January 1, 2012 Sunday
New Year Day Havan
Please join us with your family and friends to a Havan to usher in the new year.  The program includes an extended Havan, Bhajans and pravachan.  There also will be an opportunity for all present to give ahuti.  The program starts at 11:00 am and should be completed by 1:00 pm followed by prasad.

February 12, 2012 Sunday
Acharya Suryanarayan Nanda Joins Arya Samaj
After the traditional Sunday Havan, Shri Dev Mahajan, Management Coordinator, introduced Dr. Suryanarayan Nanda as the new priest at Arya Samaj Greater Houston.  He is a very learned Vedic scholar and comes to us from New Delhi where he was teaching Sanskrit at Stephen College and a very active pracharak for Arya Samaj.  He fills the position vacated by the retirement of Acharya Shridhar.

April 21, 2012 Saturday
Hindu Sports Day:  
Hindu Khel Divas, a joint program of the Arya Samaj Greater Houston and the Durga Bari temple, was held on April 21st from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the two temples.

May 5, 2012 Saturday
Teacher and Volunteers Appreciation Lunch
At 12:00 noon and hosted by the MC members

May 20, 2012   Sunday
DAV Montessori School Graduation
DAVMS Graduation Program. Click here to view an article on the ceremonies in a local newspaper.

May 27, 2012   Sunday
DAV Sanskriti School Graduation
Graduating children and their parents as Yajmaans for Havan, Yagya Roop Prarthana. For pictures from this celebration, please click here.

September 22, 2012   Saturday
Arya Samaj Expansion Project
Arya Samaj celebrated the completion of the expansion project with a grand opening ceremony. The project includes a new addition to the school building essentially doubling the capacity, extending the dining room to almost double its area, and expanding the parking facility. 

November 17, 2012 Saturday
Deepawali
Program will start at 5:30 pm with Havan, Bhajans, cultural program, Arti, then Diwali Mela in the backyard. 

January 13, 2013 Sunday
Look Healthy Feel Healthy
Dr. Rajesh Varma will present a seminar on healthy living based on ayurvedic principles on Sunday, January 13, 2013 from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm.  For more details, please click here for a flyer on the seminar.

January 19, 2013 Saturday
Breakfast Yoga
Breakfast Yoga Club organized a meeting on Saturday, January 19th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the Arya Samaj. To view some pictures from the event, please click here. For an article on the event, please click here.

March 3, 2013 Sunday
Readathon 2013 Awards Program
At the regular satsang, Arya Samaj hosted an awards program to honor students and volunteers of DAVSS for organizing the 2013 Readathon to benefit Jeevan Prabhat Pondicherry, India. For an article that includes pictures from the event, please click here.

August 10-11, 2013 Saturday and Sunday
Arya Samaj Greater Houston Sthapna Divas
Arya Samaj Greater Houston celebrated its 22nd Sthapna Divas (Foundation Day) with chatur veda yajnas on Saturday evening, Sunday morning and concluding on Sunday evening. The programs also included pravachans by Dr. D. Ramanathan and Acharya Suryanarayana Nanda ji and musical and cultural programs by DAVS and DAVM school children.  To see articles about the celebration in a local community newpaper, please click here. To view pictures of the program, please click here

August 25, 2013 Sunday
DAV Sanskriti School Starts 2013-2014 School Year
DAVSS started new session on Sunday, August 25th with a Havan, very well attended by the students, parents, teachers and volunteers.  The Havan was followed by presentations by the management committee and introduction of teachers.  An article on the proceedings by a DAVSS student can be seen here.

September 1,2013 Sunday
Janma Ashtami
Actual Janma Ashtami, celeberating the birth of Bhagawan Krishna falls on August 28th this year. Acharya Ji's pravachan will address the impact of Bhagawan Krishna's life on all of us.

October 22, 2013 Tuesday
Karva Chauth
As in previous years, a traditional pooja on the occasion of Karva Chauth will be held. Further details will be available shortly.

November 2, 2013
Deepawali
Arya Samaj celebrated Deepawali in a grand fashion on Saturday, November 2, 2013.  The program included traditional havan and a cultural program by DAV Sanskriti School and DAV Montessori School children to a packed hall.  The program was followed by a Diwali mela with variety of food items on sale.  The celebration concluded with a professional fireworks display.  A slideshow of the activities can be viewed by clicking here.  For an article on the celebrations in the community newspapers, click here.

December 29, 2013 Sunday
Swami Shraddhanand Balidan Divas
Swami Shraddhanand was assasinated on December 25th. Acharya Ji's pravachan will highlight his service in the founding and growth of Arya Samaj.