Approximately 70 Young people from across the community came together on Sunday 6th September in Barkingside, London for Vidya Yatra 2026, a day-long youth programme designed to help the next generation explore Hindu Dharma, strengthen their identity and develop confidence, leadership and a spirit of seva. The day began with a welcome address from organiser Shuchishmita Maitra (Auhona), followed by a recitation from the Bhagavad Gita by Shornil Maitra (Shorgo). A live bhajan and aarti was then performed by Shantanu Das, Sparshiya Das, Mr Subash Das, Shornil Maitra and Shuchishmita Maitra, bringing participants together in prayer at the start of the programme. Children and young people took part in a series of interactive activities. In “Who Am I? – Dharmic Edition”, participants explored figures, traditions and festivals including Ram, Hanuman, Saraswati, the Ganga, Holi and Diwali. They were encouraged to find out more about their significance and present what they had learned to others, helping to build confidence, independent thinking and public-speaking skills. Another activity, “Rishi’s Mystery Box”, invited participants to identify Dharmic objects such as through touch before discussing their meaning and significance within Hindu tradition. The Khel and physical activity session was led by Mr Bikram Banerjee and Miss Ojasvi Banerjee, engaging participants in a range of fun, energetic and interactive activities.
One of the major highlights of the programme was the return of Mr Dhruv Chhatralia BEM as guest speaker. Dhruv ji, who also participated in last year’s Vidya Yatra, delivered an engaging and thought-provoking session encouraging young people to think more deeply about Hindu philosophy and to understand not only what they believe, but why. He also spoke to parents about raising the next generation with Dharmic values before leading the popular “Dharma Courtroom” session. Young participants were invited to take the role of lawyers and debate different Dharmic philosophical viewpoints, including the question of one God or many Gods. The exercise encouraged them to think critically, construct arguments, listen to opposing views and speak confidently in front of others. Dhruv ji concluded each debate with a Dharma verdict, linking the different arguments back to the wider understanding and philosophy of Sanatana Dharma.
The young people also took part in the Dharma Compass Game, where they were presented with real-life situations and asked to decide which Dharmic principle should guide their response. The four principles – Seva, Satya, Sangha and Shakti – encouraged discussion about how Hindu values can be applied to everyday choices and challenges. Participants then joined the Vidya Yatra Council: Charity Force, where they were asked to consider what they would like to improve within their community. The organisers plan to develop one of the strongest seva ideas from this activity into a future youth-led community seva project, allowing the young participants to take their discussion beyond the event and turn it into meaningful action.
The day concluded with reflections and the collective prayer “Saraswati Namastubhyam.” Participants were also invited to write a personal letter to Maa Saraswati, sharing their hopes, aspirations and thoughts about the person they would like to become in the future. The letters were placed in a Wish Box as a symbolic reflection on knowledge, ambition and personal growth and will be returned in the near future. Vidya Yatra 2026 aimed to show that learning about Dharma can go beyond listening and memorising. By giving young people opportunities to research, question, debate, speak, make decisions and propose community projects, the programme placed them at the centre of their own Dharmic learning. The event concluded with a strong message for the next generation: to remain rooted in Dharma, confident in their identity, willing to question and learn, and ready to serve the wider community.
