KHNA Richmond and DC Meetings

KHNA Get-togethers in Richmond, VA and Washington, DC, Jan 12-13, 2008: Continuing the activities to build more strength to our Malayali hindu network, KHNA had two get-togethers near the US capital area during the auspicious makara-samkraanthi weekend - at Richmond, VA (Jan 12) and Washington DC (Jan 13). As in all other cities around the world, Malayali hindus in Richmond and DC were also getting together to conduct Ayyappa poojas, and it was a wonderful time for KHNA president Dr. Ramadas Pillai (CA), Director Sri Ratheesh Nair (VA) and Trustee Prof. R. Jayakrishnan (CA) to meet and greet several friends in both the cities.

Both the meetings included viewing of highlight videos of the 2007 KHNA convention in New York, as well as extensive discussions on what KHNA as an organization can do to help the local activities in the cities. The Richmond meeting hosted by Sindhu and Ratheesh Nair included a spiritually charged and vigorous Ayyappa Bhajan. It was attended by nearly 20 people from the area where the malayali hindu community has noticeably grown in strength during the last decade from a handful of families to over 70 families now. Everybody in the get-together felt that the trip from KHNA organizers was very timely. The Washington DC community is much larger and has been established for decades, with several organizations. Many at the DC meeting felt, however, that it was time for the capital area to form a single coordinating organzation that liaises and brings together all malayali hindus who are active in the various local organizations. President Ramadas Pillai explained the options for KHNA to help in that. The informal, friendly and non-political nature of the discussions appear to help bring out several of the concerns and questions that the nearly 20 people in the meeting had. The DC meeting was hosted by Sri. Sivadasan Madhavan, and was attended by many community leaders such as Dr. Raghu Nath, M. G. Menon, Dr. Muralee Rajan, Ravi Saraswathi, Dharmarajan, etc. KHNA also thanks Mr. Jiju Unnikrishnan, President of Kerala Association of Greater Washington and Mr. Jayaprakash Kossery KHNA regional coordinator for the 2007 convention, for their good wishes towards the meetings. The DC meeting ended with several of the participants taking the mike in an impromptu music and bhajan session! KHNA hopes to stay in touch with the capital area and provide all help and encouragement for unified activities there.