Like every year ISKCON Gurugram has organized one summer camp for the students of tender age to enlighten them morally and spiritually so that they utilize their summer vacation time in a constructive way and also help themselves in their moral and spiritual upliftment.

The Summer Camp has commenced from 26 May 2018 at ISKCON Badshahpur Gurugram temple premise and would continue till 2nd June 2018. About 90 students from different reputed public schools in Gurugram have joined in the camp.

“Indian society is always rich in moral and spiritual values but due to the onslaught of widespread westernisation, we are on the verge of losing our ethos and values. This summer camps will teach students some of the value-based practical lessons of education which are never taught in our conventional educational system. We got tremendous responses in our previous years’ sessions,” said Madhu Mangal Das, President ISKCON Gurgaon.

“The Culture Camp is a systematic approach to deliver knowledge in a way that children can enjoy with fun and actively participate. The camp consists of the several value-based sessions where children practically learn lots of things which they, later on, follow in their life also. This is the speciality of our camp. For example, we teach the student how to do Arti, meditation and how to play musical instruments and play these instruments in Bhajan and kirtan,” said Akhila Shyama Devi Dasi, programme head of the camp.

The main modules of the summer camp that students are taught are- Japa Mediation, Shloka recitations, Pottery Colouring, Arati & Sankirtana, Yoga, Fireless Cooking, Arts & Crafts, Story-telling Classical Dance, Drama and Vocal music.

“The camp begins with Sloka recitation and meditation. Sloka recitations help students in their pronouncement of the word. Meditation has lots of benefits as it increases students’ power of concentration in studies, relieves one from stress and get relaxation. Our Vedic scriptures recommend this process for in this age of Kali Yuga as the suitable means of deliverance from all ills in life,” said Aruna Madhavi a coordinator of the programme.

In the storytelling, session children are told about stories from Bhagavatam, Ramayana, Mahabharat, Hitopadesha and the teachings of Srila Prabhupada.

“I have enrolled my child here because childhood is the ideal time for learning. With the rich cultural and spiritual discourse at the camp, children gain precious moral and spiritual education they will cherish a lifetime and beyond,” said Rakhi Jha, a mother of participating student.