Indian-American couple donates over ₹14 crore for Texas' first Hindu campsite

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first Hindu campsite in Texas, which will hold heritage youth camps every summer. Similar to schools and colleges providing academic education, the Hindu Heritage Youth camps provide a life-moulding education, a media release said Friday. Subhash Gupta and Sarojini Gupta, who made the mega donation, said they are passionate about the camp because it inculcates critical values and skills in the next generation.

“This is the best thing we can do for the next generation," Subhash said. “We are already losing youth in this country because they are not interested in our Hindu dharma and preserving our value system, so whatever we can do to cultivate that, the better," he said. The campsite, located on a 37-acre property in Columbus, Texas, will be complete next summer, just in time to welcome campers for a six-night and five-day camp.

The camp started in 1985 and has historically been held at a variety of campsites, such as Camp Lantern Creek in Montgomery. However, the organisers said it had become increasingly difficult to find a location that could accommodate the 1,200 plus youth who want to participate. The new campsite will include cabins, a swimming pool, a dining hall that will accommodate 200 people, an outdoor amphitheatre, covered basketball courts and classrooms.

By 2024, there will likely be two week-long camps, Subhash said, adding that his ultimate goal is to run as many camps as necessary to accommodate everyone interested. During the school year, other groups will be able to rent out the campsite to host their own retreats, corporate events or family gatherings there. “We hope this can be a place kids can be proud of," said Sarojini.