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HUA Saṃvāda Bay Area
The Bay Area Friends of HUA warmly invites you to HUA Saṃvāda on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026— for an evening of thoughtful dialogue, community connection, and shared purpose.
This gathering offers an opportunity to explore civilizational ideas that matter, while supporting the mission of Hindu University of America (HUA).
Your presence and engagement will help advance HUA’s work in fostering academic excellence, critical inquiry, and authentic voices rooted in the Sanātana Dharma — preparing scholars and lifelong learners to represent Dharma with clarity and confidence in academia, media, and public life. Reserve Your Seat.
What is Saṃvāda?
Saṃvāda (संवाद) means “dialogue.”At HUA, it is a living platform where scholars, practitioners, and community members come together to explore Hindu knowledge systems, culture, and civilizational ideas. This gathering supports the future of authentic Hindu studies, meaningful inquiry, and intergenerational continuity in America.
Why this event matters?
Q&A and networking with FoHUA leaders and community partners
A chance to support HUA’s mission through your contribution
Learn about HUA courses, certificates, and ways to get involved
Keynote Address – Reframing Sanātana Dharma for Changing Times
Swami Tattwamayananda, Minister-in-Charge, Vedanta Society, San Francisco, and Swami Chidananda Puri, Founder, Advaithashramam and Member, Board of Overseers, HUA, will engage in a thought-provoking Saṃvāda—From Ādi Śaṅkarācārya to Svāmi Vivekānanda & Beyond. Exploring the timeless legacy of Sanātana Dharma reframed for our times, this conversation will be facilitated by Shri. Kalyan Viswanathan, President, HUA.
Dhvani – A Musical Interlude
BayRaagis, a Bay Area based classical fusion collective, will present an uplifting musical exploration blending Indian classical music with modern beats, beautifully blending the two; beautifully showcasing the profound relationship between sound, spirituality, and the Hindu tradition.
Book Launch – Unbaptized
The Bay Area launch of Unbaptized: Why I Left Christianity and Returned to My Roots by Smt. Esther Dhanraj, will be a special feature of the evening. This stirring reflection explores faith, identity, and the rediscovery of civilizational roots in a unique deeply-personal journey of the author, who is also HUA’s Director of Advancement.
Special Session – The Future of Hindu Studies in America
Shri. Kalyan Viswanathan, HUA President, will share insights into the future of the Hindu University of America, highlighting how HUA is building the academic infrastructure necessary for a committed study of Hindu traditions within academia, and will illuminate how HUA is nurturing the next generation of Dharma-centered scholars and voices in the West.