- Call for single use plastic free Gangotri, Uttarakhand and plastic free pilgrimages
- A tree in the name of mother – Planting a tree in the name of mother earth
- Heartfelt tribute to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and national hero, former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri on his birth anniversary.
- Prayers for the speedy recovery of Captain Smit Machar, a symbol of courage, duty and faith.
Gangotri. A wonderful resolution of service was taken today in the lap of the Himalayas, on the land of arrival of the holy stream of Mother Ganga, which is a vision of life for the pilgrims and the coming generations. On the auspicious occasion of the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, Parmarth Peethadhishwar Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Dr. Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati visited Gangotri Dham and received the blessings of Mother Ganga and gave the message of love for nature, pilgrimage and nation through the cleanliness campaign under the holy company and leadership of Swami.
Gangotri, a divine pilgrimage, is a living center of spiritual consciousness of India. Mother Ganga flowing from here is not just a water stream, but an uninterrupted stream of Indian culture, faith, belief and life. Therefore, cleanliness of the banks of Ganga is not only an environmental necessity but also a responsibility towards our faith.
Swami Chidanand Saraswati said that we should be aware of our surroundings, our rivers, our pilgrimage sites and our land. Bapu considered cleanliness as an integral part of life. Today, spreading the same idea in the form of service to the Himalayas and the birthplace of Mother Ganga is our tribute to him. Swami made a clear and strong call to Gangotri that freedom from single use plastic should not be just the goal of any campaign, but a resolve to protect the sanctity of the pilgrimages. This voice coming from Gangotri is a message to the entire Uttarakhand and all the pilgrimage sites in the country that plastic free Gangotri, plastic free Uttarakhand and plastic free pilgrimage.
He said that we go to pilgrimage places for darshan, but now is the time that we should also take a pledge to serve the pilgrims. If we return after seeing Mother Ganga leaving plastic on its banks, then our devotion is incomplete. True faith is that which turns philosophy into responsibility, faith into conduct and worship into nature conservation.
On this auspicious occasion, heartfelt tributes were also paid to Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and national hero, former Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri. Remembered these great ideals of truth, non-violence, simplicity, courage, duty and service to the nation.
Parmarth Niketan also prayed for the speedy recovery of Captain Smit Machar ji of flydubai, who displayed indomitable courage and devotion to duty in times of crisis and dedicated today’s Parmarth Ganga Aarti to him. Captain Smit displayed courage and presence of mind in securing the safety of the passengers in the midst of grave danger. While talking to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he shared about reciting Hanuman Chalisa in difficult moments and getting courage from it.
Swami said that while on one hand the Himalayas teach us patience, Ganga teaches us flow and Hanuman ji gives us the message of courage, on the other hand the great tradition of India teaches us to make service the religion of life.
Today a message from this holy land of Gangotri that pilgrimage is not just a place to go, but a responsibility to fulfill. Let us return from the banks of Mother Ganga with a resolve that wherever we are, there will be cleanliness; Where there is nature, there will be conservation; Where there is society, there will be service and where there is India, there will be the feeling of nation first.
May the purity of Mother Ganga, the divinity of the Himalayas and the spiritual consciousness of India always remain constant. Along with this prayer, this resolution and this same spirit of service, on this occasion, an emotional resolution of “One tree in the name of Mother Earth – One tree in the name of Mother Earth” was also taken. The Rishikumars, Acharyas and members of the Parmarth family of Parmarth Gurukul conducted a cleanliness campaign in Gangotri Dham.