Students recognized for Hindi, cultural and academic achievements.

By: Ashwani Mahajan

Hari Om Gurukul, an initiative of Hari Om Mandir, held its Annual Graduation Ceremony 2026 on Sunday, recognizing 27 students who successfully completed their respective levels during the 2025-26 academic year.

The ceremony brought together students, parents, teachers, volunteers and community leaders and marked the completion of the Gurukul’s third year as it prepares to begin its fourth academic year.

The program opened with devotional presentations by students, including the Shri Ganesh Mantra, Saraswati Mantra, Shiva Mantra, Krishna Stuti, verses dedicated to Maa Durga, Shri Ram Stuti and the Hanuman Chalisa.

Throughout the academic year, students participated in cultural programs at Hari Om Mandir and other venues across the Chicago area. Their activities included Hindi poetry, skits based on the Ramayana and Krishna traditions, and traditional dance performances. Students also participated in the Mandi Theatre Youth Natya Festival, with certificates recognizing their involvement presented during the graduation ceremony.

Hari Om Mandir Chairman Brij Sharma congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to continue learning Hindi and maintaining a connection with their cultural heritage. Mandir President Vipin Wadhera also praised the students for their progress in Hindi and Sanskrit mantras and urged the community to continue supporting the Gurukul.

Certificates were presented to students who successfully completed their annual examinations. Yashika Dubey, Shreyansh Singh, Myra Singh and Samarth Mudgal received special recognition for securing first place in their respective levels.

The ceremony also recognized teachers and volunteers for their contributions to the program. Those honored included Aanchal Verma, Prerna Awasthi, Priya Pathak and Pratima Singh, along with Anubhav Verma, Suvidha Mudgal and Aabeer Awasthi, who provided technical and logistical support.

Anurag Awasthi, founder and coordinator of Hari Om Gurukul, thanked teachers, volunteers and families for supporting the program. He said the Gurukul’s completion of three years represented an important milestone and that the program is now preparing to welcome more students from communities across the Chicago area.

“Our students are the brand ambassadors of Hari Om Gurukul, and all parents are volunteers of this program,” Awasthi said.

The Gurukul offers structured Hindi education for children ages five and older and follows the HindiUSA curriculum. It has also introduced the VHPA Bal Vihar curriculum for senior students, adding lessons focused on Indian culture, traditions, values and Sanatan heritage.

The graduation ceremony marked another year of Hindi and cultural education while highlighting the Gurukul’s efforts to help Indian American children develop language skills and maintain connections with their cultural heritage.