Chennai, Feb. 19: Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation (HSSF), a unique forum that showcases the service activities of diverse Hindu spiritual organizations, is organizing the Fifth Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair from February 19-24, 2013 at A. M. Jain College grounds, Meenambakkam, Chennai.
Commemorating Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary the HSSF proposes to install big cut-outs of this Warrior Prophet of India in some 400 spots in Chennai besides organizing ratha yatra, walkathon, exhibition on Swamiji’s life and thoughts during the week-long extravaganza.
The high spirit of public service rendered by various Hindu spiritual organizations draw attention of the society at all levels. Some well-known Hindu spiritual and service institutions which are participating in this fair included All World Gayathri Parivar; Art of Living; Arya Samaj; BAPS Swaminarayan Samstha; Central Chinmaya Mission Trust; Divine Life Society; Friends of Tribal Society; ISKON; Isha Yoga Foundation; Jain Educational Society; Jeeyar Educational Trust; Karuna International; Mata Amritanandamayi Math; Panamana Ashram Kerala; Patanjali Yogapeeth; Prajapitha Bramha Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidhyalaya; Rashtra Sevika Samithi; Samskrita Bharati; Satyananda Yoga Charitable Trust; Seva Bharati; Sree Ramachandrapura Math; Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala; Shri Puthige Math; Simplified Kundalini Yoga (SKY); Sivagir Ashram Kerala; Shri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) Kerala; Shri Siddhaganga Math; Shri Ramakrishna Math; Sri Aadhi Chunchunagiri Mahasamsthana Karnataka; Sri Ahobila Math; Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Math; Sri Narayani Peetham Vellore; Sri Ramakrishna Tapovanam Tiruparaithurai; Sri Sarada Ashram, Ulundurpet; Sri Sathya Sai Organisations; Sri Sringeri Sarada Peetham; Sri Vivekananda Ashramam Vellimalai; Svyasa Karnataka; Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Siddhar Peetam; Madras Sanskrit College; The Archeological Survey of India; Thiruvavaduthurai Atheenam; Tirupathi Tirumala Devasthanam; Vanavasi Seva Kendram; Vivekananda Educational Society; Vivekananda Kendra and a host of other charitable organizations are participating in the fair.
Around 240 organizations had come forward to participate in the fair this year. Sri L K Advani, the former Deputy Prime Minister of India will be the chief guest at the inaugural function along with two spiritual leaders Swami Ashutoshananda of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Chennai and Swami Omkarananda of Chidbhavananda Ashram, Theni.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarkaryawah Sri Suresh alias Bhayyaji Joshi will be visiting the spiritual fair on February 20.
The details of the massive network and services rendered by the various Hindu spiritual and service organizations during last year are:
| No. of Centres run by the organizations | 01.95 lakh |
| No. of full time and part time workers | 10.95 lakh |
| No. of beneficiaries | 21.55 crore |
| No. of Schools (including single teacher/tribal) | 01.00 lakh |
| No. of Students on Roll | 73.34 lakh |
| No. of Students supported | 02.48 lakh |
| No. of Ved Pathshalas | 819 |
| No. of educational institutions for blind | 080 |
| No. of Rural Development Projects | 00.59 lakh |
| No. of Villages covered | 00.89 lakh |
| No of People benefitted from Water Supply | 01.44 crore |
| No. of Hospitals run/managed | 8226 |
| No of Patients availing services | 01.43 crore |
| No. of Medical/non-medical staff | 00.55 lakh |
| No. of Medical Camps held | 01.18 lakh |
| No. of Patients given free/subsidized care | 19.52 lakh |
| Total Amount for cash assistance for medical relief | 27.31 crore |
| No. of beneficiaries by tribal welfare work | 01.03 crore |
| Total disaster relief distributed | 229.82 crore |
| Houses built for Tsunami victims | 8504 |
| No. of tree saplings planted | 07.57 crore |
| No. of Self-Help Groups for women | 01.48 lakh |
| No. of Orphanages run | 347 |
| Free houses for slum-dwellers | 32600 |
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