ASHLAND, NEW ENGLAND, USA, February 11, 2008: One of New England’s largest Hindu temples will offer seven $1,000 scholarships. The Sri Lakshmi Temple, in Ashland, will also give two scholarships to local high schools to award as they see fit, said Raj Raghavan, the temple’s chairman of youth culture and education.
“We just felt that we have to be part of the community and increase the youth who come to the temple and get involved in temple activities,” said Raghavan, a trustee at the temple.
Auditions for the first scholarship are Sunday. The first award will be given to a student who performs Hindustani classical music, but the temple wants to encourage students who do not intend to perform professionally. The second scholarship audition is Feb. 23 for all types of Indian classical dance, and another one will feature music from southern India, Raghavan said. The remaining scholarships will recognize academic merit.
For more information, contact the temple at 508-881-5775.