Himalaya Day celebrations at Parmarth Niketan

Science Meets Saints as Faiths and Experts Converge with Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand for Himalaya Day!

Rishikesh- Parmarth Niketan became a sangam (confluence) of science, saints, sarkar (government) and samaj (community) as hundreds of faith leaders, researchers, activists and dignitaries joined the Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand to honour Himalaya Day here today.

The conference, organised by the Himalayan Unity Mission, led by Dr Anil Joshiji, Founder of HESCO, and the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, led by its Founder HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji in association with the Government of Uttarakhand, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Ganga Action Parivar, the Ganga River Institute and other like-minded organisations, brought together science with spirituality in the quest to promote, protect, and conserve the Himalayas.

Known for great natural beauty and rich bio-diversity, the Himalayas have been deeply impacted by human-induced threats, including climate change, deforestation, encroachment and pollution. As a result, a steady proportion of the region’s natural springs are drying up, triggering glaring water crises in areas once known as water-rich. At the same time, disasters are on the upswing, leading to greater instances of flooding, landslides, human deaths and more.

Compounding the region’s threats are migration, lack of economic opportunities, increased instances of forest fires and lack of basic infrastructure such as roads, energy etc. The results are leading to increased melting of glaciers, sky rocketing levels of pollution, loss of precious and fertile top soil, reduced flow in the rivers, loss of biodiversity and countless human, animal deaths.