THE Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s (GHDS) inaugural Hindu Youth Summit opened on Saturday, uniting hundreds of young people from Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname and the USA, to engage in workshops, discussions and cultural activities to deepen their connection to their heritage and foster leadership within the community.

The two-day event is being held at the at the Dharmic Sanskritik Kendra in Prashad Nagar, Georgetown, and marks an important milestone for GHDS which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
The GHDS is one of the country’s leading cultural and religious organisations and, over the past five decades, it has been relentlessly promoting Hindu values and traditions.

The Hindu Youth Summit, themed “Empowering Hindu Leadership: Leveraging Hindu Wisdom and Cultural Expression for Positive Social Change,” aims to capture the thoughts, perspectives, and views of the younger generation.

Day one of the event featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including religious leaders, educators, and successful young professionals from the Hindu community, all of whom shared insights on the relevance of Hindu values in contemporary society.

Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, who is also the President of the GHDS, delivered the feature address at the Hindu Youth Summit, stressing the critical role of youth in preserving and promoting Hindu culture.

“You have made a wise choice to come here to be engaged, to interact, to network and to share profound perspectives of Sanātana Vedic Dharma,” she told the gathering.

She highlighted the importance of equipping young people with the tools and knowledge to navigate a secular world while staying rooted in their heritage.

Dr. Persaud reminded the young people that they have a collective responsibility to this more than 6,000-year-old dynamic, comprehensive way of life.

According to her, Sanātana Vedic Dharma has been there for aeons.
The GHDS President added: “It has outlived many and it will outlive us. It is incumbent on us today, tomorrow and everyday to ensure that we honour a sacred responsibility that has been passed on to us. What is this responsibility? To ensure that we not only actively participate in everything, but we become leaders in the spheres in which we find ourselves. We should never see ourselves as anything less than a leader. Leaders are not born; leaders are made by the decision to want to be leaders…”

Her speech resonated with the theme of the summit, and she reinforced the Sabha’s commitment to supporting youth through such initiatives, ensuring the continuity and vitality of Hindu traditions.
In his opening remarks, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang, emphasised the critical role young people play in sustaining cultural and spiritual practices.

The ambassador explained religion’s deeper significance than only worship. Being grateful for what you have is a crucial component of the faith, he pointed out.

According to him, there are numerous books that explain religion, and each one focuses on a particular facet of life that could help us grow and become better people. While people may believe in different religions and are of different skin colours, he emphasised that it is the “bond of humanity connects us”.

“We may be in any part of the world, but we are one strong family. That concept of family is very important. Because when you consider your fellow human being as your brother or sister, there is no animosity. Through this strong connection a better world can be built,” Dr Telang added.

In addition to the panels and workshops, the summit offered innovative activities such as Hindu Jeopardy, Ramayan Quizzes, and creative challenges designed to apply Hindu principles to contemporary social issues.

These sessions explored how Hindu teachings can offer solutions to pressing issues, covering a range of topics from modern applications of traditional values to personal empowerment, mental wellness, and leadership.

The event will culminate in the development of a National Three-Year Action Plan for the Hindu Youth Community, aimed at providing solutions to social challenges.