Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh celebrates Earth Day with Adopt-A-Highway

Earth Day on April 22 is believed to be the most widely celebrated secular holiday in the world and highlights the importance of environmental sustainability and prosperity.

Although Earth Day is typically celebrated on a single calendar day, it is crucial that care for our environment becomes a part of one's daily lifestyle.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh of the Naperville-Aurora branch in the state of Illinois has been practicing implementing this principle as part of their Sewa (service) philosophy. \

Environmental consciousness is deeply engrained in the Hindu belief system where the Earth is not only considered as a mother but given the form of divinity - Bhoodevi who sustains and nurtures all lifeforms every day with her care. Therefore as part of the Hindu Dharma, it is a natural outflow that Bhoodevi is cared for through every day actions.

Given this year's theme of "Invest in Our Planet," volunteers from HSS and SEWA international organized the Adopt-A-Highway program April 23 to clean up the four-mile stretch of 75th Street between Route 59 and Naperville-Plainfield Road.

Adopt-A-Highway is a voluntary program arranged by DuPage County to encourage the public to take ownership of cleaning up the highways.

Volunteers spent the day cleaning up the side of the road and collected plastic wastes and other wastes.

The participating group consisted of several youth members who were self-driven to volunteer for this cause. The event was graced by the presence of the Consul General of India, Mr. Amit Kumar, who kickstarted the campaign with inaugural words of encouragement to the participants. The event ended on a high note with all participants eager to return for subsequent cleanup events through 2022.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh thanks DuPage County for programs like Adopt-a-Highway that gives them an opportunity to work on the Hindu philosophy that the entire universe should be perceived as divine.

For more details, visit www.facebook.com/BalagokulamNapervilleAurora or www.facebook.com/SewaChicago/.

Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA Inc. is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt non-profit charitable organization.