JOHANNESBURG — Prominent Hindu women leaders were celebrated in South Africa for their outstanding social, spiritual, and community service during a special awards ceremony held to mark the country’s National Women’s Day.

Hosted by the non-profit Mathaji Foundation under the leadership of Swamini Mathaji Dr. Kali Samrakshini, the Hindu Women of the Year Awards took place at the BAPS Swaminarayan temple in Johannesburg. The gathering brought together representatives from 42 organisations and an audience of over 1,000 people, kicking off with cultural performances before moving into the formal presentations.

National Women’s Day is celebrated annually in South Africa on August 9 to honor the historic 1956 march by nearly 20,000 women to the Union Buildings in Pretoria protesting oppressive apartheid pass laws.

This year’s awards recognized women who have made significant contributions to society—ranging from constructing temples and operating community television broadcasts to offering free wedding and funeral services, as well as advancing wellness through yoga instruction.

Key Award Recipients

  • Sanatana Dharma Award: Presented to Pandita Lucy Sigaban alongside television producer and presenter Yashika Singh.

  • Health and Wellness Award: Awarded to yoga expert Maya Bhatt.

  • Arts and Culture Award: Conferred jointly upon Anusha Pillay and Shirley Naran.

  • Business Award: Presented to Yogini Pillay.

  • Education Award: Awarded to Rogini Naidoo.

  • Lifetime Achievement Award: Conferred on Jeannie Naggar for her tireless work sustaining local temples in areas where the Hindu community faced residence bans during the apartheid era.

Addressing the audience as the event's keynote speaker, South African children’s author and linguistics scholar Jolene Raison shared her personal spiritual journey toward Hinduism. She described embracing Dharma not as a formal conversion, but as an intuitive return to her spiritual roots.

Raison noted that while South Africa's historical legacy remains ever-present, Dharma transcends geographic and social borders, creating a welcoming space devoid of division.

Cultural Showcase

The ceremony concluded with a vibrant traditional fashion show titled "From Kashmir to Kanyakumari", organized by Rashmi Haribhat, founder of the Women Empowerment League. The presentation highlighted traditional attire and cultural heritage from various regions across India.

Haribhat expressed gratitude to members of the Indian diaspora who participated in the showcase despite busy work and family schedules, emphasizing that geographic distance often deepens the community's bond with Indian culture and traditions.