Gayatri Parivar Centenary Celebrations
Haridwar, November 6
A massive kalash yatra today heralded the commencement of the centenary celebrations of Shantikunj-Akhil Bharatiya Gayatri Parivar. Presenting a unique example of brotherhood, a large number of Muslim devotees too participated in the 7-km procession. Women from Europe taking part in the yatra gave it a global touch.
Women from several states, including host Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, participated in the yatra, which, according to the local people, was the biggest such procession in recent times in Haridwar.
A whopping 24,000 saffron-clad women led the procession which saw a turnout of more than a lakh participants. A helicopter showered flower petals on the women carrying traditional clay pots on their heads. It was an occasion reminiscent of the royal processions of different akhadas carried out during the Maha Kumbh.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat and Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik also took part in the procession which started from a yagyashala situated at Laljiwala.
Two other similar processions were also taken out from Shantikunj-Bhooptawala and the BHEL areas. These later merged with the main kalash procession at Braham Kund, Har-ki-Pauri. Later at the yagyashala, religious rituals were performed with the water fetched from the holy Ganga.
The procession included 17 tableaus depicting the life, struggle and philosophy of social reformer Pt Acharya Shri Ram Sharma.
Accompanying the procession were 11,000 artists, 108 musical bands, 1,551 priests, 1,008 brahamcharis, 108 conch blowers, 2,001 dhapli players, 501 motorcyclists, 501 bicyclists and 108 vehicles carrying portraits and signages on Acharya Shri Ram Sharma’s life.
Presenting diversified culture of different states of the country, 51 cultural troupes enthralled the bystanders with folk items. Lending melody to the occasion were shehnai, mridang and flute artistes.
Addressing the devotees at the yagyashala, chief of the Vishwa Gayatri family, Dr Pranav Pandya, termed the mass participation in the procession as an indication of people’s interest in the philosophy of the Gayatri family which augurs well for society.
“The yellow colour on the kalash personifies sanctity and good thoughts which disseminate in society as the Sun’s rays reflect from them. We hope this is the dawn of a new era of simplicity, ethics, morality, truth, peace and mutual harmony,” said Dr Pandya.
For next three days a variety of programmes will be taking place at the venue of the celebrations at Laljiwala-Rodibelwala, that falls in the Kumbh mela zone.
A “kala manch” has been erected where artistes from across the country will be making their presentations while at the “vichar manch” dignitaries and orators will be addressing the people.
A book and khadi exhibition is on at the venue. A huge 1,551 hawankund yagyashala has been set up while the whole mela area falling in the mountainous terrain between the Mata Mansa Devi and Mata Chandi Devi shrines adjacent to the Ganga has been beautifully decorated and
illuminated.
An ideal example of communal harmony
Haridwar, November 6
Though Haridwar is known worldwide as a Hindu pilgrimage centre, the city has a substantial population of Muslims too and both the communities have been living peacefully here for centuries.
This strong mutual bond was further strengthened today with a large number of Muslim brothers enthusiastically participating in the kalash procession organised as part of the 100th birth anniversary of the Gayatri family founder Pt Shri Ram Sharma.
Clad in their traditional attire, the Muslims participated in the procession which passed through the inner lanes of the city, along the Har-ki-Pauri Kumbh Mela zone.
The local Muslims and the members of the World Organisation of Religion and Knowledge termed their participation as an event that would spread out the message of communal harmony and peace throughout the world.
Later, an interactive session was organised at Shantikunj where the Muslim and Hindu orators highlighted the works of the Gayatri family and the mutual aspects that both the religion teach.
Chairperson of the organisation Sayyed Abdullah Tarik said an era was heralding where humanity, peace and development would reign making people realise that for trifle issues dividing people and sects had done only harm to society.
The religious guru also termed the principles of the Gayatri family almost similar to those as taught by Islam and also related three Islamic ayaets of “Sureha Fateha” almost same as the meaning of Gayatri Mantra in Hinduism.
Recently, the Gayatri family started its publication “Yug Sahitya”, carrying the teachings of Acharya Shri Ram Sharma, in Urdu too. Tomorrow, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha, the Muslim brothers will be attending the various programmes of the celebrations after performing the Eid rituals.
Gauri Shankar Sharma, coordinator of the convention, termed the mass participation of the Muslims as historical and said it was the impact of Acharya Shri Ram Sharma’s teaching. He urged all the communities to work for communal harmony.
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| Gayatri Parivar actiivists take part in a kalash yatra in Haridwar on Sunday. |
Haridwar, November 6
A massive kalash yatra today heralded the commencement of the centenary celebrations of Shantikunj-Akhil Bharatiya Gayatri Parivar. Presenting a unique example of brotherhood, a large number of Muslim devotees too participated in the 7-km procession. Women from Europe taking part in the yatra gave it a global touch.
Women from several states, including host Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa, participated in the yatra, which, according to the local people, was the biggest such procession in recent times in Haridwar.
A whopping 24,000 saffron-clad women led the procession which saw a turnout of more than a lakh participants. A helicopter showered flower petals on the women carrying traditional clay pots on their heads. It was an occasion reminiscent of the royal processions of different akhadas carried out during the Maha Kumbh.
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat and Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Madan Kaushik also took part in the procession which started from a yagyashala situated at Laljiwala.
Two other similar processions were also taken out from Shantikunj-Bhooptawala and the BHEL areas. These later merged with the main kalash procession at Braham Kund, Har-ki-Pauri. Later at the yagyashala, religious rituals were performed with the water fetched from the holy Ganga.
The procession included 17 tableaus depicting the life, struggle and philosophy of social reformer Pt Acharya Shri Ram Sharma.
Accompanying the procession were 11,000 artists, 108 musical bands, 1,551 priests, 1,008 brahamcharis, 108 conch blowers, 2,001 dhapli players, 501 motorcyclists, 501 bicyclists and 108 vehicles carrying portraits and signages on Acharya Shri Ram Sharma’s life.
Presenting diversified culture of different states of the country, 51 cultural troupes enthralled the bystanders with folk items. Lending melody to the occasion were shehnai, mridang and flute artistes.
Addressing the devotees at the yagyashala, chief of the Vishwa Gayatri family, Dr Pranav Pandya, termed the mass participation in the procession as an indication of people’s interest in the philosophy of the Gayatri family which augurs well for society.
“The yellow colour on the kalash personifies sanctity and good thoughts which disseminate in society as the Sun’s rays reflect from them. We hope this is the dawn of a new era of simplicity, ethics, morality, truth, peace and mutual harmony,” said Dr Pandya.
For next three days a variety of programmes will be taking place at the venue of the celebrations at Laljiwala-Rodibelwala, that falls in the Kumbh mela zone.
A “kala manch” has been erected where artistes from across the country will be making their presentations while at the “vichar manch” dignitaries and orators will be addressing the people.
A book and khadi exhibition is on at the venue. A huge 1,551 hawankund yagyashala has been set up while the whole mela area falling in the mountainous terrain between the Mata Mansa Devi and Mata Chandi Devi shrines adjacent to the Ganga has been beautifully decorated and
illuminated.
An ideal example of communal harmony
Haridwar, November 6
Though Haridwar is known worldwide as a Hindu pilgrimage centre, the city has a substantial population of Muslims too and both the communities have been living peacefully here for centuries.
This strong mutual bond was further strengthened today with a large number of Muslim brothers enthusiastically participating in the kalash procession organised as part of the 100th birth anniversary of the Gayatri family founder Pt Shri Ram Sharma.
Clad in their traditional attire, the Muslims participated in the procession which passed through the inner lanes of the city, along the Har-ki-Pauri Kumbh Mela zone.
The local Muslims and the members of the World Organisation of Religion and Knowledge termed their participation as an event that would spread out the message of communal harmony and peace throughout the world.
Later, an interactive session was organised at Shantikunj where the Muslim and Hindu orators highlighted the works of the Gayatri family and the mutual aspects that both the religion teach.
Chairperson of the organisation Sayyed Abdullah Tarik said an era was heralding where humanity, peace and development would reign making people realise that for trifle issues dividing people and sects had done only harm to society.
The religious guru also termed the principles of the Gayatri family almost similar to those as taught by Islam and also related three Islamic ayaets of “Sureha Fateha” almost same as the meaning of Gayatri Mantra in Hinduism.
Recently, the Gayatri family started its publication “Yug Sahitya”, carrying the teachings of Acharya Shri Ram Sharma, in Urdu too. Tomorrow, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha, the Muslim brothers will be attending the various programmes of the celebrations after performing the Eid rituals.
Gauri Shankar Sharma, coordinator of the convention, termed the mass participation of the Muslims as historical and said it was the impact of Acharya Shri Ram Sharma’s teaching. He urged all the communities to work for communal harmony.
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