–       Chair VCSEA

As we are drawing close to saying goodbye to the year 2022,

I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank everyone on behalf of The Vedic Cultural Society of East Anglia (VCSEA) Board of Trustees and Executive members for your continuous donations and suppor to the Hindu temple.

I wanted to thank each and every one of you for your efforts, support and dedication this year. Despite the many obstacles thrown at us, we have achieved some notable progress across a number of areas in this year full of new challenges.

We welcomed some new people who joined us this year as our Trustees and Executive committee and wish farewell to few members who had sadly had to step down for other roles and responsibilities. We  hugely appreciate their time ,help and support in bringing VCSEA to a better brighter platform as it stands today.

It is important to reflect on what we have done in the context of the hindrances we face. One thing that has been stable is our close working, friendly and mutually supportive team and community partnerships which is something I feel immensely proud of.

 This year has been somewhat better than the previous giving us opportunity to have more face to face events and meeting once again to experience the social community spirit

We were grateful and proud to reopen temple after refurbishments on 15^th June 2022 . The opening event was embellished with receiving of the Covid commemorative plaque awarded by  The Lady Phillipa Dannat, the HM Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk  awarded to us by honourable deputy Lieutenant  Marian Prinsley.

Just a quick update on our activities ; our  Monthly Havan prayers has continued since June  and has been attended face to face by community with warmth and cohesiveness.

The online Tuesday prayers  continue to bring an hour of solace and bliss into the 3^rd year since started during pandemic.

We also held Janamashtmi,  JET Prayer event and  Ayappa Puja at temple premises this year being attended with huge devotional numbers.

Not to miss mentioning the hugely loved and celebrated Diwali festivals  hosted in October. Grateful to our  community partners  Norfolk county council and JPUH for their collaboration. Both events were attended to full capacity and we wish for this to grow over coming years.

The catering support from Namaste India for our events is very much appreciated and humbly rec

Finally a polite reminder that AGM is on 12 Feb 2023 and communication to this regard will  be circulated soon along with membership forms for your attention

 Ending with one of my favourite  lines from Awakening with Sunrise

“Awakening with Sunrise”

Inspiring us to be hopeful, strong, and bold

These times of test will not stay forever

United we will emerge being stronger

Each zestful sunrise and elegant sunset

Forward Life’s journey for the promises to be kept !!”

Let’s stay strong despite the huge challenges.

Wishing everyone a very Happy, safe, and Blessed New Year!

 Best Regards

Vandana Khurana

Chair Vedic Cultural Society of East Anglia (VCSEA)

Email: vedicculture1@gmail.com

Tel :07917466720

Reg Charity 1163742 / www.vcsea.org

Warm Invitation to join Diwali celebrations at the Hindu Temple on Sat 22/10/22 from 4-7 pm

Kindly contact for more details

Vandana Khurana : 07917466720

Join at Temple to celebrate birth of Lord Krishna in blissful presence os Swami Nalinanand Guru ji Maharaaj (U.S) at the Hindu Temple Acle New Road, NR13 3QE.

19th Aug from 7-9 pm

Sat 20 Aug from 4-7pm

For further details Contact :

Vandana Khurana -07917466720

Sunita Nagpal-074470422

Season’s Greetings and Gratitude Message -Chair VCSEA

 As we are drawing close to saying goodbye to the year 2021, I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank everyone on behalf of The Vedic Cultural Society of East Anglia (VCSEA) board of Trustees and Executive members for your continuous donations and support for the Hindu temple.
  This year has been somewhat like the last, bringing challenges of a different kind. Although we had the opportunity to celebrate few events like Diwali face to face, COVID-19 is again looming over us in different variant forms and calling for stricter measures including booster vaccination and social distancing.

 Among many other online events we have well attended regular weekly prayer sessions every Tuesday with second year of continuity.  Humble prayers to all families who have lost their dear ones in this last year and wishing peace and strength to all. 
 We are holding online ‘Bhajan Sandhaya’ on 01 January from 5 pm. 
Invites to be shared in separate email with details

 To end the year on a happy note sharing with immense gratitude, to The Lady Phillipa Dannat, the HM Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk for awarding us a wonderful Covid Commemorative Plaque in relation to work in the coronavirus pandemic for the Hindu community.  
  Hopefully we will arrange to receive it once the Temple is re-opened in the New Year.
 
 Look forward to meeting you all. Ending with lines from Awakening with Sunrise
 “Awakening with Sunrise”
 Inspiring us to be hopeful, strong, and bold
 These times of test will not stay forever
 United we will emerge being stronger
 Each zestful sunrise and elegant sunset
 Forward Life’s journey for the promises to be kept !!”

 Let’s stay strong despite the huge challenges.

 Wishing everyone a very happy, safe, and blessed New Year!
 Best Regards 
 Vandana Khurana
 Vandana Khurana
 Chair Vedic Cultural Society of East Anglia (VCSEA)
 Email: vedicculture1@gmail.com
 Tel :07917466720 
 Reg Charity 1163742  / www.vcsea.org

Lohri -13 January 2022

Makar Sankranti/ Pongal – 14th January 2022

Vasant Panchami- 05 Feb 2022

Maha Shivratri- 1 March 2022

Holi – 18 March 2022

Navratri Dates- 02 April 2022

Durga Ashtmi – 09 Apr 2022

RamNavmi- 10 April 2022

Hanuman Jayanti -16 April 2022

Akshaya Tritya -03 May 2022

Raksha Bandhan -11 August 2022

Krishna Janamasthmi-19 August 2022

Ganesh Chathurthi -31 August 2022

Shardiya Navratri begin- 26 September2022

Vijay Dashmi -04 October 2022

Sharad Poornima – 10 October 2022

Karva Chauth -13 October 2022

Ahoi Ashtmi -17 October 2022

Diwali 24 October 2022

Bhai Dhooj – 27 October 2022

Gita Jayanti – 07 December2022

VCSEA held Havan and Mahamrintunjaya Jaap on 2nd May to raise funds to support friends and families in India. Please join this journey by supporting us.

As we draw to the end of 2020, I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank you all on behalf of The Vedic Cultural Society of East Anglia (VCSEA )board of Trustees and Executive members. 

This year has been a year like no other, and it has brought challenges beyond anything we could have imagined or believed. By March, COVID-19 was declared as a pandemic -a global epidemiological crisis by the World Health Organisation. It not only affected the economical and physical aspects of living but also had a huge emotional and psychological impact on people, worldwide. 

We have all been living in an era of communal grief where many people are coming to terms with their individual losses daily, including illness and death due to the coronavirus or loss of employment, business, and similar life situations.

Due to Lockdown and regulations we were unable to offer service through our temple. However in the month of April we had started a virtual trial of Monthly Havan and a weekly Hanuman Chalisa / Bhajan evening via Zoom.In these sessions we celebrated festivals from Janamastmi, Navratri, Diwali to Christmas . We have captured spirit of all these festivals with a Difference.

Recently we are offering Vedic Mantra classes on Sunday evening which are again very much attended with regularity. These sessions are open to all and attended by not only community in UK but across globe ( U.S, Germany, India). The feedback and support to these activities  has been very encouraging in terms of maintaining connections with friends and community despite restrictions.

We endeavour to open the Temple as per guidance once a month and happy to support anyone needing to visit by strictly adhering to the law and guidance.  Kindly contact and book the visit  prior to attending with us and we will be happy to support keeping everyone’s safety as priority..

Going forward in the foreseeable future Zoom/virtual  meetings have been considered  the safest mode of connectivity. We have an unlimited Zoom licence now and if anyone would like to start a group or class for benefit of community must get in touch, so that we can facilitate it to be offered in these locked in moments.

Annual General Meeting AGM  is on Sunday 10^th January after monthly havan and the details will be  circulated in a separate email.

I would  like to end my message with this small poem from my pen , which I composed for my book with the same title

“Awakening with Sunrise 

Golden Rays on empty sand Beaches

As if Nature revealing our breaches

A sight so poignant, sad and rare

Calls us to respect, love and care 

Crowning glory of sun spread as liquid red gold

Inspiring us to be hopeful, strong, and bold

These times of test will not stay forever

United we will emerge being stronger

Each zestful sunrise and elegant sunset

Forward Life’s journey for the promises to be kept !!”

Lets stay strong despite the huge challenges.  Wishing everyone a very happy , safe and blessed Christmas and New Year !

Vandana Khurana

Email: vedicculture1@gmail.com

Chair and Trustee VCSEA (Vedic Cultural Society of East Anglia)

Reg Charity 1163742

Please see attched policy, PHE link below and the main points below, for considertation when visiting the temple.

1. Temple to open every second sunday afternoon for prayers

2. Max of 30 people will be allowed at one time

3. Strict abidance of guidance from PHE, will be followed by attendees

4. In cases where non-adherence to guidance is observed, individuals will be requested to leave the temple.

5. Name and contact details of all attendees at the temple will be required.

Guidance link – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-the-safe-use-of-places-of-worship-during-the-pandemic-from-4-july