Jan
24
2013
In the service of God and humanity
In the service of God and humanity
As a divine start to the Divine Shakti Festival, the National Day of the Girl Child on January 24th with a unique ceremony in which 60 daughters of fishermen were worshiped by the Parmarth Rishikumars as goddesses led by Pujya Swamiji. The purpose of the ceremony was to shed light on India’s girl children as worthy of respect and reverence. Pujya Swamji spoke about how girls represent the past, present, and future of Mother India, and that for India to grow and thrive, they must be allowed to grow and thrive....
The Ganga Sansad (Ganga Parliament), which ran from the 21st to the 23rd, gathered in the evening at the Ganga Action Parivar camp in the Kumbh Mela, Allahabad. Participants in the Sansad included Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, retired General Shri V.K. Singhji, Jal Purush ("Water Man") Shri Rajendra Singh, Pujya Swami Harichetanandji, and Shri D.N.S. Subbaraoji among other esteemed guests....
Ganga Action Pariwar has organised a Sangam Clean-up at Allahabad in Kumbh Mela. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati addressed to devotees and requested to conserve Ganga, Yamuna except Forts and Monuments. He said Ganga and Yamuna are our Nose ("Dignity", Pride) we would have to save our Nose except Forts....
On January 20th, Ganga Action Parivar organized a special procession of 5,000 school children from thirty Allahabad-area schools, to inspire them in solidarity and support for saving the Ganga and Yamuna Rivers. The students paraded through the grounds of the Kumbh Mela, singing songs and carrying hand-made signs, some of which stated, “Ganga’s Rights are Our Rights”, finishing their march at the Ganga Action Parivar camp. His Excellency Uttar Pradesh Governor, Shri B. L. Joshiji was guest of honor at the event, whom Pujya Swamiji named our “Green Governor.” The program...
Here is the Star News coverage of the Clean Sangam campaign so far at the Kumbha Mela. on Makar Sankranti day, Ganga Action Parivar --with so many pilgrims and devotees from all over the world -- cleaned the trash on the banks of Mother Ganga. Then, we went back the next day with the boatmen to pack it all into sacks and bring it to shore to be properly disposed of....
On 19th January, His Excellency, Uttarakhand Governor, Dr. Aziz Qureshiji, Pujya Swamiji, distinguished Mayors and Government officials met to discuss ways to make the pathways of pilgrims as clean as the temple they pray in. In bringing together lauded officials from across India, this conference will enable the sharing of information and ideas about how India’s cities and pilgrimage places can become cleaner and greener. “If every mayor gives one solution, imagine, you’ll have 20 solutions. And when you go back, you have not only had a dip in the sangam, but...
On January 14th we celebrated Makar Sankranti, a day marking the beginning of the Sun’s ascent into the Northern Hemisphere, as well as the official start to the Kumbh Mela. Before taking a sacred dip in Sangam’s waters, however, Pujya Swamiji declared “Let us first give a bath to Sangam before we take our own bath in Sangam!” Thus, devotees, pilgrims, and yogis joined together to clean trash and other waste from the banks of the Sangam. After thoroughly cleaning the banks of Sangam, removing pounds of plastic, polythene, leftover puja material...
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati delivered an inspiring press conference in Rishikesh regarding plans to make this upcoming Kumbh Mela significantly more environmentally friendly. In such a way, India's precious holy rivers will be better protected, as will the health of millions of Yatris....