Hindu Forum Germany: 2022 Summary

Hindu Forum Germany has achieved the following milestones for the year 2022:
The establishment of legal entity is complete with all necessary formalities with all authorities and departments concerned. The legal form of Hindu Forum is gUG (gemeinnützige Unternehmergemeinschaft) consisting of two bodies. The upper body of the organisation is the “advisory board” followed by the lower body, the “executive board”. The detailed functioning of these two bodies is framed as per the deliberations made with the stake holders prior to the establishment of the Hindu Forum. In addition, the Hindu Forum has been given the non profit status by the tax authority which means any donations made to the Hindu Forum would be eligible for tax benefits. Furthermore, the Hindu Forum is officially registered with commercial register as well as the trade office. This completes all necessary steps for the establishment of legal entity under German law.
Hindu Forum Germany has invited Hindu organisations to join the forum and unite as the voice of Hindus in Germany. Six eminent Hindu organisations have accepted our invitation and entered into agreement with Hindu Forum Germany in the year 2022. Several Hindu organisations have shown interest to join the forum in the year 2023.

Esteemed members of Hindu Forum Germany:

• Yoga Vidya, Germany
• Ganesha Mandir, Berlin
• Kamaksi Ambal Temple, Hamm
• Hindu Mandir, Hamburg
• ISKCON Simhachalam, Jandelsbrunn
• Bhakti Marga, Germany

National Conference of Hindu Forum Germany

Date: Sunday, 12 December 2021

Event: Online Meeting of Hindu temples and organizations in Germany

Host: Hindu Forum Germany

Participants:

Kamakshi Ambal Temple – Hamm
Sanatan Hari Om Mandir – Cologne
Hindu Temple – Essen
Bhakti Marga – Frankfurt
Hindu Temple – Hamburg
Sri Ganesh Mandir – Berlin
Sivaalayam – Munich
Yoga Vidya – Bad Meinberg
Gita Vidya – Hamburg
Hindu Forum Germany – Hamburg

Summary:

For the first time in the recent history of Germany a large representation of Hindu communities has come together to discuss and set the way forward for the larger good of Hindus in Germany. This accomplishment was possible by the kind participation of major Hindu organizations in a conference hosted by the Hindu Forum Germany. These major organizations as mentioned above approximately represent 87200 Hindus living in Germany, which could amount to 60% of the total Hindu population in Germany.
The prominence of this historic conference has gained paramount significance due to the active participation of the Hindu community leaders and their invaluable wisdom. Each of their feedback about the past and present situation of Hindus living in Germany has contributed meticulous information about their issues and concerns. Every participant spoke freely and openly their will and wish for the welfare and progress of Hindus through protection and propagation of Hindu values and ethos.
This conference in a way laid foundation for a collective thinking of all major Hindu organizations in Germany while keeping their individual identity. Every participant gladly agreed and welcomed the need for a collective platform which is now realized by the establishment of Hindu Forum Germany. Furthermore, each participant contributed their valuable suggestions and advice which formed the basis and purpose of Hindu Forum Germany. The detailed discussions are documented as video recording and the points made by the participants are turned into an action plan. One among several key points was to take a note of the number of Hindu people living in Germany by initiating the “National Hindu Register”.
The executive body of Hindu Forum Germany has formally invited the leaders of prominent Hindu organizations to join as advisory councilors and guide the Hindu Forum Germany towards realizing its purpose and objectives which is to integrate the Hindu community and represent them in one voice. All participants have expressed their pleasure to join as advisory councilors. Hindu Forum Germany will serve as a unifying force to bring together all small, medium, large, registered, unregistered, physical, virtual, permanent, seasonal, Hindu establishments and related groups of Hindus living in Germany of all nationalities.

Inauguration of Hindu Forum of Germany

Date: Monday, 10 May 2021, 06:00 p.m. to 07:00 p.m.

Event: Meeting of representatives from Hindu Forum of Europe and Germany

Host: Hindu Forum Germany

Participants:

Hindu Forum Europe:
Srmt. Dr. Lakshmi Vyas (President),
Sri. Mukesh Morjaria (Communications and Projects Coordinator for Europe)

Hindu Forum Germany:
Sri. Gopi V. Prasad,
Sri. Sridhar Thatikonda (Vrajajana Das),
Sri. Erlend Pettersson (Vaidyanath Das),
Sri. Christoph Nitz (Kalyana Giriraja Das), and
Sri. Hubertus Spornhauer (Hemanga Gopal Das).

Summary:

The inaugural meeting between the representatives of the Hindu Forum of Europe and the Hindu Forum of Germany took place to discuss the first steps and future scope of HFG. The development of Hindu Forum of Germany since 2010 and the current status were presented by Sri Vaidyanath Das. The background and milestones of the Hindu Forum of Europe were shared by Srimati Lakshmi Vyas. An open discussion among all participants has laid foundation to a formal structure and strategy for the Hindu Forum of Germany. The first steps for a stable and sustainable future were proposed by Sri Gopi V. Prasad. Adding to this, Sri Mukesh Morjaria shared his advice and offered further assistance. Sri Kalyana Giriraja Das highlighted the opportunity to establish contact with the Government in view of the forthcoming elections. Sri Sridhar Thatikonda offered his assistance in interacting with the other Hindu Forums in Europe for exchange of cooperation and support.

With this the Hindu Forum of Europe has formally recognized the Hindu Forum of Germany and its commencement under the leadership of Erlend Pettersson (Vaidyanath Das), Sridhar Thatikonda (Vrajajana Das), Christoph Nitz (Kalyana Giriraja Das), and Hubertus Spornhauer (Hemanga Gopal Das).

Formation of Hindu Forum of Germany

Date: Sunday, 18 April 2021, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Event: Hindu Temples Conference

Host: Hindu Forum Germany

Participants:

Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple – Berlin,
ISKCON Temple – Hamburg,
Sri Hindu Mandir – Hamburg,
Aasamai Mandir – Frankfurt,
Shree Peetha Nilaya – Frankfurt,
Manawa Bharti – Duesseldorf,
Sri Sithi Vinayagar Tempel – Stuttgart
Sivaalayam - Munich

Summary:

The representatives of Hindu temples and organisations from across Germany came together to discuss the current situation and future prospects of Hindu communities in Germany. In the midst of the Corona pandemic, all spiritual, religious, cultural and social activities of Hindu communities came to a halt. The Government has brought new guidelines to protect people from the pandemic, and in the process has restricted the public gatherings. Objective of this conference was to discuss the impact of the pandemic on the current functioning of the temples, and at the same time to discuss the future scope for the religious, social and cultural integration of Hindu communities across Germany.

The keynote speaker, Sri Kalyana Giriraja, addressed the importance of unifying the different Hindu groups and organizations to leverage the support from the Government. He compared the progress of other communities in this context and emphasized on a cohesive approach for the Hindu community in Germany.

After the discussion, the participants unanimously agreed that it is time for a common platform to integrate and progress collectively for the common cause of Hindu organizations and groups in Germany. The proposal for integrating the different Hindu organizations and groups to form a Hindu Forum of Germany was unanimously agreed upon by all participants. The necessary steps in this regard were discussed.