FREMONT: CHERISH, a youth-oriented association under the FIA umbrella, celebrated its 1st anniversary with a successful Saraswati Pooja on February 17. CHERISH operates from the Fremont Hindu Mandir.
On this festive day, children and adults from near and far came to the mandir to perform Bhajans for Goddess Saraswati. Afterwards devotees found peace in a divine pooja performed by 19-yr old CHERISH member, Dev Roy. Following the pooja, everybody was given a heart-healthy prasad. Amidst the joy and friendship, young children and a brave adult found pride in representing their culture by participating in the public speaking competition in Hindi and English.
A representative from Forum for Hindu Awakening enlightened the attendees about Hinduism through a nice quiz. He explained each answer’s significance clearly and concisely for people of all ages to understand.
Overall the event was a major success, and several people left the mandir that day satisfied that they had learnt something about Goddess Saraswati.
CHERISH stands for Center for Hinduism, Enrichment, Recreation, Inspiration and Humanities. People of all ages contribute to the efficiency of this organization. Parents, adults, and children work together to emphasize, enlighten, and encourage youth to be proud of their identity.
The members find lasting friendship and wonderful memories. As the members stand hand in hand, they are proud to make a difference together through strong networking and high leadership roles. CHERISH collects youth, creates bonds, and instills responsibility and creativity in all its members while allowing everybody to stay connected to their roots and finding a better understanding of their culture.
Sangeetha Srinivasan is Grade 11 student at Irvington High School, Fremont.
Sangeetha SrinivasanÂ
