Indo-Asian News Service
MARLBORO, SOUTH AFRICA, April 15, 2004: More than 8,000 people attended the recital of Hanuman Chalisa, a 40-verse salutation to the Lord Hanuman, organized by a Hindu youth organization in South Africa. The Shri 108 Hanuman Chalisa recital was hosted by the Sandton Yuvak Mandal in Marlboro. Initiated by Hindu Youth South Africa (HYSA), a group aimed at uniting the Hindu community through joint celebrations of religious events rather than smaller fragmented ones, the Hanuman Chalisa recital now draws support from all over the country. “Because Hanuman Chalisa programs have become so popular within the community, we decided to consolidate it by giving each regional organization an opportunity to host it, rather than each organization having its own individual one,” said Rashmika Jeewa, public relations officer of the Sandton Yuvak Mandal. Jeewa said 50 bhajana (religious singing) groups had participated this year in the recital. The recital took place at the temple of the Sandton Hindu Samaj in Marlboro Gardens. The small Hindu, mainly Gujarati, community of Sandton had difficulty with venues for its religious and cultural activities until the temple and the cultural center was built there in 1993. The next Hanuman Chalisa recital will take place at Louis Trichardt in Limpopo Province in March, 2005.