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Hindu Heritage Youth Camp to mark 40th anniversary at new permanent location
This year, Parth Dargan and Srushti Gaikaiwari, both former campers and counselors, were chosen as HHYC directors
Camp directors- Parth Dargan and Srushti Gaikawari / Image- HHYC
The Hindu Heritage Youth Camp (HHYC) is set to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year at its new permanent home in Columbus, Texas.
A week-long camp, organized by young adults in the Houston area, HHYC combines traditional American summer camp activities with educational sessions about Hinduism for Hindu American youth.
For years, HHYC struggled to find a consistent location due to the COVID-19 pandemic, causing frequent site changes. The new site provides stability and a place for the camp to grow, the organizers said in a statement.
Bottom Row Left to Right: Keshav Shah, Shakti Dash, Trisha Gurnani, Maya Neti, Shraddha Guha, Maya Harpavat, Roshni Parikh, Raina Patel, Krupa Rathi, Radhika Patwardhan, Eesha Patel, Medha Koniki, Simone Alphonse /Middle Row Left to Right: Rishabh Ashar, Ronil Shah, Suhani Shah, Aesha Shah, Meera Borle, Anuhya Juturi, Harshada Krishnakumar, Reya Patel, Smeet Parekh, Aman Patel, Nitika Veludandi, Anuja Pendse, Prisha Menon, Hirni Bhuta, Pooja Shah, Pooja Patel, Hemangi Swaroop, Siddhi Bavare, Srushti Gaikaiwari./Back Row: Parth Dargan, Ishan Shah, Shaan Parekh, Hemish Shah, Abhishek Pratap, Ansh Bhandari, Rahil Dalal, Arch Shah, Anish Havalimane, Ari Bhatt, Ronak Mehta, Aditya Meenakshisundaram, Anunay Dixit, Saahas Ganesh, Kaushik Kallur, Rithvik Edupugandi, Rahil Choksey, Manav Gandhi, Arnav Mehta, Rishabh Raaj, Pratham Rathi / Image- HHYCAccording to the release, camp counselors have spent the summer preparing for this milestone event. They have adapted long-standing camp activities and developed new educational programs about Hinduism. This year, the planned sessions aim to engage campers with topics such as Hindu pilgrimage sites, Ayurveda, and the Chiranjeevi, using interactive methods like games and videos.
The counselors are led by camp directors. This year, Parth Dargan and Srushti Gaikaiwari, both former campers and counselors, were chosen as HHYC directors. Dargan, a recent graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and a data engineer at ExxonMobil, recalls his favorite camp memory, the mango-eating competition. Gaikaiwari, a graduate of Texas A&M and a first-time director, looks forward to creating new experiences for campers.
“I want to be able to cultivate more of the experience I had as a camper. For me and so many kids, camp was a way to see Hinduism adapted to the lifestyle we see in America and being able to help give that experience to other kids was something I’d love to pass on,” Gaikaiwari said.
Campers are also eager for this year's camp. Naina Mehra, a long-time attendee, enjoys the bonfire karaoke nights. Her mother, Niharika, a former camper and counselor, appreciates the continuity and shared experiences across generations.
HHYC operates under the banner of Hindus of Greater Houston and relies on support from local businesses and volunteers. The Texas Hindu Campsite, established through community donations, plays a crucial role in the camp’s future.
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