Bhakti Shakha HSS Iselin NJ

03/19/2026

02/27/2026

Want to know about HSS . Here is what we do

10/25/2025

🪔🪔🪔🧘🏽🧘🏾‍♀️🚩🚩🚩
Namaste,
'Open Yoga' in Woodbridge, NJ celebrated Diwali as part of the yoga session today. This time, to our surprise, the participants proposed to celebrate the Diwali. It was a heartneing experience. The participants brought the snacks and donated money ($206) to Open Yoga as token of appreciation. Open Yoga team will decide on how to spend these donations for Open Yoga so that yoga becomes more accessible to the community.

Open Yoga is an initiative between Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), and Woodbridge Public Library (WPL). It started in January 2023, meeting every Saturday from 9.15 am to 10.15 am at Woodbridge Main Library hall.

Open Yoga is free for everyone who wants to do yoga. Open Yoga does not solicite money. The yoga session is comprised of Vyāyāma, āsanas (postures) with standing, sitting, reclining and relaxing positions, breathing techniques (Prāṇāyāma), and guided meditation. Surya namaskāras are also routinely performed.

The response has been inspiring and the feedback from the participants shows the benefits that they are getting for an hour spent every week.

Dhanyavādah
🙏

🪔🪔🪔🧘🏽🧘🏾‍♀️🚩🚩🚩

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA Woodbridge Public Library System - WPL NJ

08/22/2025

Last Sunday HSS (Aug 17) participated in India Day parade with a Marching band (Ghosh) on the occasion of Indian Independence Day.
The parade saw enthralling enthusiasm from 250+ HSS Volunteers from across North East US, among them 110 marched with Sangh Ghosh (HSS’ marching band).

We had 20+ participation from Bhakti Shakha as well.
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA
HSS - New Jersey

06/24/2025

HSS volunteers’ commitment towards “clean Woodbridge” is unshaken even if it rains !
On Sunday June 22, 11 HSS Volunteers and a Police crew helped to make our highways cleaner and prevented significant amount of Plastics from becoming an eternal garbage for Mother Earth.
Thank you so much Mayor John E. McCormac Woodbridge Police Department for your support during this cleanup drive.
Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA

06/02/2025

“I think, therefore I am” – Descartes. Teachers are the principal agents of instilling the path of critical thinking and guides to the road of knowledge. In the Hindu culture and tradition, the teachers or gurus hold a very special place. Not only are they the mentors and pathfinders for the young minds, the Hindu way of living places the teachers at par with Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the three cardinal deities of the Hindu faith.

On May 12th, the Woodbridge chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, or HSS – a voluntary organization representing the Hindu community and working for overall community development, organized an event to felicitate the teachers at local schools in a colorful cultural event at the Kiddie Keep Well Camp in Edison. Fifteen teachers from different Elementary and Middle schools in Woodbridge, Edison and Scotch Plains Fanwood School Districts and their families attended. The event named Guru Vandana (teacher facilitation) was blessed with the august presence of the Mayor of Woodbridge John McCormoac and Mr. Raunak Patel, a member of the Edison School Board.
The event started off by a short presentation activities of HSS, HEF ( project of HSS) and the significance of Guru Vandana explaining the unique role played by teachers in Hindu tradition.

This was followed by a series of exquisite cultural programs performed by the students who are also volunteers of HSS. The cultural milieu comprised of chanting hymns to the Guru or teacher, a dance recital in the form of yoga, a rendition of marching band or Ghosh - again performed by the kids and finally the actual felicitation.
The felicitation was extremely sweet and invoked memories of a Tapovana - a grove of austerity and spiritual practice in ancient India.
Each kid felicitated their respective teachers by a lit lamp and symbolically touching the feet of the teacher as a gesture of obedience. After felicitation, a fun activity of musical chair enjoyed by everyone was conducted.
Each teacher shared their experience of the event and everyone was overwhelmed by the purity and serenity of the event. They spoke highly about how welcomed they felt being at the event.
The event concluded with a simple but tasty Indian dinner. Everyone had a glimpse of traditional Indian culture and the program ended with a great note with a promise of a repeat next year.

Here are highlights of the event as captured in some of the pictures.
Mayor John E. McCormac HSS - New Jersey Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA

01/28/2025

Since Eternal times (Sanatan kaal), Makar Sankranti has been the most auspicious and significant day for the Hindu community and actually for all life forms on Earth.
The day marks the transition of Sun into Capricorn and thereby increasing Sun’s exposure to Northern Hemisphere from this day onwards.
Sun, the source of all life energy on Earth , is worshipped by the Hindus and we celebrate this significant occasion of Makar Sankranti.
HSS Woodbridge chapter also celebrated this festival with around 60 volunteers including kids. The celebration included an informative talk on the topic and followed by a joyous Haldi Kumkum 😊.

The Makar Sankranti also marks the beginning of 2 week long Surya Namaskar Yajna (Sun Salutation campaign), through which we encourage everyone to adopt Surya Namaskar (sequence of impactful Yogasanas) in daily lives. The 10 step Yogasanas helps our body to be in perfect harmony with the energy of Sun and thus get maximum benefits.

We are delighted to share some of the pictures from various activities conducted as part of Makar Sankranti and on going Surya Namaskar Yajna.

12/22/2024

Dharma Bee 2025 - DISCOVER YOUR HINDU CULTURE AND HERITAGE

Give your child a gift of culture and heritage this new year, 2025

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) is organizing an 8-week fun and learning class on Hindu Heritage and Culture between February 1st and March 30th, 2025 (8 weeks), which includes a contest at the end of the course.

What: Discover your Hindu Heritage - Dharma Bee contest
When: 02nd-Feb to 05th-April 2025
Registration Fees: $10 for 8 weeks, which includes course material.
Who can attend: Kindergarten to 8th grader
Location and time: Choose one of the six locations at your convenience.
Final contest date: March 29th, 2025

Registration link: https://forms.gle/JZDpKut1QZ9sHuq7A

Please register as soon as possible and share with friends and families in your circle.

Dharma Bee Unique Classes & Contest to Discover Hindu Heritage for Kindergartners to 8th Graders Weekly classes will be held at the following centers (Shakhas) from February 1st to March 30th, 2025 (8 weeks): (1) Sai Datta Peetham Wednesdays: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Sai Datta Peetham Shakha: 1665 Oak Tree...

10/13/2024

Destination Oak Tree

A pre-release event of the NJ PBS & Vyas Productions documentary “Destination: Oak Tree Road” was held in Woodbridge Main Library on September 26th, 2024, in the evening (the documentary was to be released to the public on October 2nd). The “Destination: Your Iselin” exhibition was also inaugurated at the event. The month-long exhibition features Woodbridge Township students’ artwork and library history archive materials highlighting Iselin.

Several exhibits showcased Indian Hindu culture. The Woodbridge Chapter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh co-sponsored the exhibition. The event was attended by Woodbridge Township Mayor Mr. John McCormac, Producer Rohit Vyas, Isha Vyas, President of the Board of Trustees of Woodbridge Libraries, Councilman Mr.Viru Patel, and several Woodbridge Township residents.

While speaking at the event, Mayor McCormac said, “I saw how Iselin has changed from abandoned buildings to the most viable and busy section of Woodbridge Township. I can’t wait to see the story in the documentary. We have a close bond with the Asian Indian community. HSS does great things like food drives and other community events”.

Isha Vyas, President of the Board of Trustees of Woodbridge Public Library, mentioned that libraries are the heart and soul of communities and that Woodbridge Library has excellent research materials that contributed to the making of the documentary.

The inauguration was followed by music and dance performances by kids from Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh. Delicious Indian vegetarian snacks were served.

Woodbridge Public Library and documentary producers were delighted with HSS's contribution and have conveyed their gratitude to HSS.

09/26/2024

Witness the release of documentary about our own Oak Tree Road. The PBS documentary release program will be enriched with the Artwork exhibition arranged by Woodbridge Students and volunteers of HSS Woodbridge chapter which includes “Darshana” as well.

08/21/2024

Like every year HSS, Woodbridge volunteers celebrated Rakshabandhan with those who have protecting our society 24x7. On this occasion, a group of
38 HSS volunteers of all age groups (Kids, teenagers and Adults) tied Rakhi to the Director of Woodbridge Police Department, Robert Hubner
Deputy Director, Joseph Nisky
and Detective Michael Harris, Community Affairs unit.

Hindus traditionally observe Rakṣā Bandhana (pronounced ruck-SHAH bund-HUN) festival – loosely translated as the “Protection Connection Festival” – as reaffirming the relationship between sisters and brothers. HSS celebrates this occasion at a societal level to reaffirm our social and civic responsibilities to support and protect the community that we are part of.
As part of celebrating the festival, we tied rakhi—a thread signifying the bond and the promise of protection.
Rakhi also symbolizes the spirit of universal oneness and harmony among all sections of society.

Celebrating this festival with the Woodbridge Police Department is our Hindu way of recognizing WPD's efforts to keep the town safe and protected.

The wonderful celebration concluded with Detective Michael Harris giving a tour of their workplace where Cops work round the clock to keep the society safe.
Everyone especially kids were enthralled by this insightful tour.

We are thankful to the Mayor John E. McCormac and Woodbridge Police Department for giving us this opportunity.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA
HSS - New Jersey

06/23/2024

Celebration of International Yoga Day 2024 by HSS in Woodbridge NJ

HSS celebrated International Yoga Day (IYD) in the 'Open Yoga' session at Woodbridge Public Library, on June 22, 2024. The regular yoga session started with āsanā, then prāṇāyāma and dhyāna in the form of guided meditation.

Open Yoga is a weekly yoga session at Woodbridge Public Library every Saturday from 9.15 to 10.15 AM. It is a collaboration between HSS and Woodbridge Public Library that started in January 2023. It's open to everyone and free.

After the regular session was over, the IYD celebration started. A brief talk on ‘Yoga for self and society’ was delivered using the reference of prayer - sarve bhavantu sukhinanah. This universal prayer in Sanskrit establishes peace, health, and contentment for all living and non-living beings of this universe. A human can remain happy and healthy if the entire environment is at peace and healthy. The peace that one finds after the practice of Yoga leads to one reflecting empathy to society and brings peace and happiness around. After this brief talk, the participants shared their experiences and insights on Open Yoga. Many participants are regulars for the last 18 months of the Open Yoga journey, and it was heartening to listen to those experiences.

One of the best reflection shared by one of the participants was - ‘I like the vibe that you all have created here. I feel being with my family here and that’s why I come.’ This pretty much summed up the sentients.

Hearts were filled with gratitude and empathy to see the wider community come together to practice Yoga regularly.

With the grace of Ișvara and the HSS samskāra, the volunteers are able to learn and teach Yoga to the wider community.
शुभम् भवतु
🙏🏼


HSS - New Jersey Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA Woodbridge Public Library System - WPL NJ