As the Mahila Samelan this year
required all branches to provide
volunteers for the day, Walsall did
their fair share of activities, from
the breakfast run to helping out at
the mehndi table. We also entered
the rangoli and the cake decoration
competitions. Overall a fun filled day
was had by all who attended. We are
already looking forward to next year,
when the Mahila Samelan will be held in
Birmingham.
The end of summer every year is marked
with the SPA Sports Day. This year the
cricket tournament saw history being
made as Walsall and Birmingham
entered a joint team, the first time
this has been allowed by the Samaj,
to encourage greater participation.
Individually, neither branch would
have been able to enter a team this
year, therefore this can be gauged as
a success. Furthermore, the Walsall/
Birmingham team did fantastically well
and in the end were runners-up overall,
losing only one close game to overall
winners Leicester.
For Walsall and Birmingham, the first
half of 2014 was devoted to preparing
for the Seniors Samelan, held in June.
Both branches were keen to host the
event. SPA Walsall and Birmingham
teamed up together focusing on
bringing the two communities together
in all areas.
Shradhdh Bhajan
The event ran very smoothly, and it was
very pleasing to see how eagerly the
volunteers worked together in their
teams. As always, preparing the meal
for so many is in itself a mammoth task.
The Kitchen Team in particular were
wonderful and together prepared the
meal on the day, which also received
great reviews. It was especially pleasing
to note how very quickly all the youth
and senior members simply got on with
the duties throughout the day.
This event has highlighted how well we
can work together. Our elders have been
known to use the word “sump”, referring
to the way we need to have this to
achieve the best. It is true, “sump” is the
glue that holds us together to form one
unit.
This however, cannot hide the fact that
Samaj participation from our younger
members is not as strong in numbers as
it has been from previous generations.
Some of this can be explained by our
people now living away from home,
further afield from our community
network. We should all remind each
other of the objective of the Samaj and
what it stands for:
“The objectives of the Shree Prajapati
Association shall be the advancement
of Education and Hindu religion and
culture, the relief of poverty, sickness
and distress among the Prajapati
community and the promotion of
wellbeing to the communities affected
by natural disasters.”
(Extracted from the SPA UK
Constitution. A full copy of the
constitution is available from your
branch representatives).
Volunteers at the Senior Samelan