“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” – Henry Ford

These words by Henry Ford perfectly capture the spirit of the Hindi Language Academy (HLA), a community-based heritage language institution dedicated since 2019 to making Hindi language education accessible, engaging, and meaningful.

हिंदी भाषा केंद्र (Hindi Language Academy) offers project-based, hands-on, and culturally rich online Hindi and Indian culture classes for children and youth across the USA and Canada. HLA’s teaching is rooted in the World-Readiness Standards and ACTFL guidelines, catering to both heritage and non-heritage learners. We also proudly prepare high school students for the Seal of Biliteracy, an important credential recognizing language proficiency.

Over the years, HLA has blossomed into a warm and vibrant learning community where students, teachers, and families come together to learn, support, and grow. One of our most cherished traditions is our annual in-person celebration, Bharat Utsav, which brings together our local teachers, students, and their families for a day of connection and celebration.

This year’s Bharat Utsav was held on March 30th at Colonial Park, Somerset, NJ—a joyful day filled with laughter, learning, and togetherness. The event featured traditional Indian games, vibrant Holi color play, engaging science experiments, some dance moves, vibrant music, delicious food, and meaningful conversation.

We proudly honored two of our local students, Shloka Harish and Advika Joshi, for their remarkable achievement in earning the Seal of Biliteracy in Hindi. Additionally, we celebrated several students from across the USA who successfully passed the Seal test this year: Eshaan Roy, Aksh Devangan, Kapish Joshi, Adhvaith Suresh, Ruchita Patel,
Ilisha Prakash,Akash Rijhsinghani and
Rutvij Borkar.We couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and success!

We were especially grateful to have Shri Anoop Bhargava Ji join us for the event. A long-time supporter of HLA, Anoop Ji has consistently created platforms for our students to showcase their talents. During the event, he also shared exciting news about the upcoming Hindi Olympiad 2025 hosted by Vishwa Rang Foundation—a wonderful opportunity to promote Hindi language and Indian culture on a global stage.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to our incredible team of educators—the true pillars of strength at HLA. Despite their demanding personal and professional lives, our teachers go above and beyond to create a rich, joyful learning experience for our students. From organizing Holi colors, planning activities, managing food, games, and dance, to ensuring every child felt included and engaged—they did it all with love and care. We are deeply grateful for their unwavering commitment and teamwork.

And last but certainly not least, a huge thank you to our amazing students and their supportive parents. Despite the chilly weather, the turnout was wonderful, and the warmth of community spirit made it all worthwhile. It was so special to connect with families in person and strengthen the bonds that make HLA more than just a school—it’s a family.

As Rita Mae Brown beautifully said, “Language is the road map of a culture; it tells you where its people came from and where they are going.” At HLA, we remain committed to preserving this road map—bridging generations and keeping the essence of Hindi and Indian culture alive for years to come.

By : Soma Vyas