ON Saturday May 12 the Humanitarian Mission of New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc, (NJASHM) is hosting a grand open air pre-Mother’s Day Multi Kund Havan Yajna, in honour of mothers. The Mandir’s parking lot will be transformed into a beautiful place of worship with approximately 200 families in attendance from the tri-state area. While others will be out socialising, shopping and going about their regular routine, the executive and members of the Humanitarian Mission of the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc. thought it wise to pay tribute to mothers in a cultural way by prayers, worship and thanking mothers for contributions they have made to family and society. Mothers make up the back bone of both family and society.

As Aryans/Hindus we believe Matrimaan, Mitrimaan Acharyamaan Purusho Veda – Mother is the first teacher; father the second then comes the teacher at school. Officiating Priest and keynote speaker will be Dr. Satish Prakash, PhD, and in attendance will be the Hon. Jerramiah T. Healy, Mayor of Jersey City and other dignitaries. The programme includes making Hawan offerings, children garlanding parents, beautiful bhajans to be sung by the children in honour of moms, and other items. The atmosphere itself will be serene and one could feel the love, unity and spirituality.

President of the organization Pandit Suresh Sugrim, said that in our society today, we pay very little attention to parents when there are alive. Due to old age and sickness they become unwanted and are dumped in old-age homes. We give them roses to smell and feed them posthumously when they are gone. We need to sing their praises and thank them when they are alive, not when they are gone. As I visit the nursing homes and other institutions and listen to the stories of many parents, I feel sad, very sad.

As part of the programme, attendees will be given an opportunity to express their feelings towards their parents.  The focus will be to love and cherish parents while they are still alive and not to wait until they are gone to express how we feel.  In past Mother’s Day programmes, children and adults took the opportunity to express their feelings to their moms.  Our experience tells us that this year’s programme will be a unique celebration, more than just a flower day.

The purpose of such a celebration is to bring awareness and spirituality into people’s lives; to recognise the sacrifices that our mothers have made for us. Children need guidance and mothers are always there 24/7 no matter what the circumstances are. The NJASHM recognises the importance of a mother in a child’s life and encourages open communication between a child and mother. NJASM also stresses  the fact that women should become educated  spiritually and academically since the futures of their children are dependent on such education. They were taught that learning is a two-way street and no person is too old to learn.

Pandit Sugrim said that the relationship between a child and a mother begins at the time of conception and does not  end until death. He also stated: “No love in this world is greater than the love of a mother for her child.” Most importantly, he noted that a mother is someone to love and guide us throughout our lives with infinite patience and warm understanding. All relationships pale into insignificance when compared to the relationship between a mother and child. Who can love a child as much as a mother does? The answer is no one. Mothers’ love comes with no price attached and it is unconditional and forever. How can we begin to measure mothers’ love? How can we give meaning to the word mother? He also encourages everyone that they should acknowledge a mother’s contribution to society and mankind as a whole; the wonderful and selfless sacrifices she made without any complaints.

The power GOD has placed in the hands of a woman is incomparable and is the power to bring forth life without which mankind would cease to exist. For those fortunate ones who have their parents alive, let them know how much you love them. Don’t let that day come when you would have wished to tell them something and you couldn’t. It is never too late to develop a relationship with your parents. Pandit Sugrim encourages everyone to see and recognise the good in each other. Through knowledge and understanding, we can become  better persons. Never underestimate the power of a woman and the love of a mother.

Pandit Sugrim, said that the NJASHM will observe a minute of silence in prayers to all those victims who have lost their lives  due to domestic violence, rape etc.,in  Guyana and around the world. I know its hard to be without a mother, especially at this time of the year . We think about their children, spouses, and families as we embrace them with our prayers and thoughts, while we ask God to give them courage and comfort.

I remain the humble servant for the poor