Yoga & Surya Namaskar
The morning opens with light stretches and the flowing twelve postures of the sun salutation — steadying the breath and waking the body. No mat skills and no experience required.
A shakha waiting to begin
HSS in Davao — Help Start a Hindu Shakha
There is no HSS shakha in Davao just yet. But the story of every gathering begins the same way — with one or two families who decide it is worth starting. In Davao, that first page is still blank, and it could be written by you.
We will be straight with you: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh does not yet run a weekly shakha in Davao. Our two regular gatherings are both in Metro Manila, hundreds of kilometres to the north.
We could have filled this page with a fictional address and a time that does not exist. We chose not to. HSS is built on Sanskar — good character — and honesty is where character starts. So here is the plain truth: Davao is a city we would love to see a shakha take root in, and right now it has none.
That is not a closed door — it is an open invitation. A shakha is not a franchise handed down from head office; it is a small circle of people who commit to meeting each week to grow in character, serve their neighbours, and keep their heritage alive. If that idea stirs something in you, then you are exactly the person this page was written for.
No shakha in Davao yet — and we won't pretend otherwise
You won't find an invented venue, a made-up meeting time, or a photo of a gathering that never happened anywhere on this site. When a shakha genuinely begins in Davao, this page will carry its real day, its real place and its real people — not a moment sooner.
What you would be starting
What a weekly shakha actually offers
A shakha (branch) is a free, weekly gathering of about an hour and a half — a gentle rhythm of body, mind and heart that families return to week after week. Here is what a Davao shakha could hold.
Khel — team games
Traditional games like kabaddi and kho-kho, plus relays and sports. There is no bench and no sideline — a child and a grandparent can end up on the same team, laughing.
Geet & stories (bauddhik)
Songs sung in one voice, short talks, and stories of courage and compassion drawn from our shared heritage. This is where values are named and quietly take root in the heart.
Balagokulam for children
A bright, playful world where children meet their heritage through games, yoga, storytelling, bhajans and crafts — and, just as importantly, make firm friendships.
Values — Sanskar
Truth, compassion, self-discipline and selflessness, practised together rather than merely preached. Character is easier to live when a whole circle is living it beside you.
Seva — service
Selfless service that grows from the gathering — clean-up drives, helping elders, food or blood drives, and lending a hand to neighbours in need. Nar Seva, Narayan Seva.
Every shakha closes standing together for the Vishwa Prarthana — a universal prayer offered not for ourselves alone, but for peace across the whole world.
Who a Davao shakha is for
Whether you have one child or three generations
A shakha is meant for the whole family, and no one ages out of it. In Davao, a gathering could welcome:
- Parents who want their children rooted in their heritage without it feeling like a chore.
- Children and teenagers looking for friends who share their background and a place to simply play and belong.
- Young professionals and students who have moved to Davao and miss the warmth of a community.
- Elders who carry stories, songs and languages worth passing on.
- Anyone — of any background — drawn to yoga, service and good character, whether or not they are Hindu.
There is no membership fee, and there is no test of belief at the door. Everyone who shares our values is welcome.
You don't need to be an expert
Starting a shakha does not ask for a scholar, a yoga teacher or a fluent Sanskrit speaker. It asks for one or two families willing to show up each week and a little help getting going — which is exactly what we provide. The rest is learned together, the way it always has been.
Weekly
A rhythm you can return to
All ages
Children to elders, as one family
No fee
Volunteer-run, open to all
2+ families
Is enough to begin
Help start a shakha in Davao
Be the family that begins it
Every shakha in the world — from the first one in Nairobi in 1947 to our own in Manila — began with someone deciding it was worth the effort. Davao is simply waiting for its someone.
You would not be doing it alone. Reach out and our volunteers will walk the road with you — sharing how a shakha runs, the simple three-part rhythm, songs and games to begin with, and steady guidance as your circle finds its feet. All you need to bring is the willingness to gather.
Here is how a first conversation usually goes: you tell us a little about your family and where in Davao you are; we share what starting a shakha involves; and together we look at whether there are enough interested families nearby to begin. No pressure, no commitment — just an honest talk.
In the meantime
Everyone is welcome at our Manila shakhas
While Davao waits for its own gathering, our two free shakhas in Metro Manila are open to all — a good way to see a shakha first-hand before helping to start one closer to home.
Every Sunday · 9:00–10:30 AM
Main shakha — Paco, Manila
An all-ages family gathering at the Hindu Temple, Paco — yoga, games, songs, stories and a closing prayer, for children, youth and elders together.
Every Saturday · 5:30–7:00 PM
Chhatrapati Shivaji Shakha
For children and young people at the Crimarcel Basketball Court — named for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, with games (khel), stories of courage, and good company.
Planning a trip north, or curious to learn more? Message our pracharak (volunteer organiser) on WhatsApp at +63 915 857 5603.
A little context
Davao already has a Hindu presence
Davao is one of the largest cities in the country and the beating heart of Mindanao — a place long shaped by many faiths and cultures living side by side. Among its diverse residents are families of Hindu and Indian origin, some of whom have made southern Philippines their home for generations, contributing quietly to the city's trade and community life.
We mention this only to be honest and encouraging: there are people here who share this heritage, which is often all it takes for a small weekly gathering to eventually find its feet.
A note on who we are — and who we are not
HSS has no shakha, chapter or affiliate in Davao, and we claim no connection to any temple, association or community body in the city. The Hindu and Indian-origin families of Davao are simply neighbours we hold in respect — independent of HSS. If a shakha ever begins here, it will be through fresh volunteers choosing to start one, and we will say so plainly.
Davao, this could be you
Help write the first page of a Davao shakha
A weekly gathering here starts with a single message from someone who thinks it is worth beginning. If that is you, we would be honoured to help — and there is no obligation in simply asking.