- Uttarakhand, Switzerland of nature, divine land of spirituality and glorious heritage of the nation: Swami Chidananda
Rishikesh. Devbhoomi Uttarakhand is the divine state of India which is a wonderful confluence of unique beauty of nature, divinity of eternal culture, spiritual consciousness, indomitable courage and patriotism. Nature has given such unique beauty to Uttarakhand, which is adorned with the huge ranges of the Himalayas, sacred rivers flowing every now and then, lush green forests, picturesque valleys and snow-capped mountains, that is why it is both Switzerland of India and a spiritual land. Uttarakhand is that holy land where there is spirituality in every particle of nature, there is spiritual practice in the silence of the mountains, there is philosophy of life in the continuous flow of rivers and in the hearts of the people there is love for the nation and unwavering dedication towards the land of God.
On the auspicious occasion of Uttarakhand Foundation Day, Parmarth Peethadhishwar, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, while giving hearty greetings to the people of the state, said that Uttarakhand is Switzerland of nature and also a divine center of spiritual consciousness of the world. This is such a holy land situated in the lap of Himalayas, where physical beauty and spiritual splendor are united. The mountain ranges here are eternal inspirations for penance, renunciation, penance and self-realization.
He said that Uttarakhand is identified with divine holy places like Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. This is the same holy land where the holy streams of Mother Ganga and Mother Yamuna touch the lives of crores of people. This land, irrigated by the spiritual practices of sages, saints and ascetics, has provided direction to the spiritual consciousness of India for centuries. Haridwar and Rishikesh are not just pilgrimage destinations, but are global centers of India's Sanatan Gyan tradition, yoga, meditation, Ayurveda and the message of world peace. People from every corner of the world come here not only to see the natural beauty, but also to connect with themselves, find spiritual peace and understand the deeper meaning of life.
Swamy said that the culture of Uttarakhand is its soul. The folk traditions, folk songs, folk dances, fairs, festivals, customs, traditional food and the spirit of hospitality are the unique identity of this state. The rich cultural heritage of Garhwal and Kumaon, the indomitable courage of the mother power here, the bravery of the youth and the dedication of the soldiers towards the nation make Uttarakhand special. This is the land of heroes, where the passion to protect the country's borders has been ingrained in the values for generations.
He said that the creation of Uttarakhand is the result of a long people's struggle, public spirit and sacrifices of innumerable people. Millions of salutes to the immortal martyr state agitators who sacrificed everything for the establishment of this glorious state. His struggle, determination and sacrifice gave a new identity to the identity of Uttarakhand. Today it is our responsibility to build the Uttarakhand of their dreams, where culture remains safe along with development, traditions remain alive along with modernity and conservation of nature is ensured along with prosperity.
Swamy said that the model of development of Uttarakhand should not be of conflict with nature, but of co-existence with nature. Environment friendly tourism is the need of the hour today. Development should be such that the coming generations inherit clean rivers, lush green forests, safe mountains and a healthy environment.
Swami wished that Devbhoomi Uttarakhand with its glorious culture, rich heritage and indomitable courage should continuously set new records in the fields of development, education, health, environment protection, tourism and employment. May every village of the state prosper, every youth become self-reliant, mother power be strong, rivers remain clean, Himalayas remain safe and Uttarakhand continues to play its special role in nation building.