'Ganga Arti' for peace in Gorakhpur

Varanasi, Jan 31 (UNI) It was not only for rendering spiritual solace to the riverine audience that the Ganga Arti was performed at the majestic riverfront here this evening.

Instead it was for a larger cause -- to pray that peace and normalcy returns to riot-ravaged Gorakhpur soon. Muslims joined their Hindu brothers and countless foreign tourists at Daswashamedh Ghat here to perform a special evening Ganga Arti, only to pray for peace in Gorakhpur.

''The Ganga river is as sacred to us as to all Hindus. Hence the the Arti has been organised to pray to this mother river to render peace in Gorakhpur and preserve the signature Ganga-Jamuni culture of the country,'' said Aslam and Baba, two of the three Muslims, who participated in the Arti amid resonance of Sanskrit shlokas.

''This Arti has shown that Ganga does not belong to any one religion but is equally sacred to all,'' said Kishori Raman Dubey 'Babu Maharaj,' the chairman of Gangotri Seva Samiti (GSS) which has been organising this world famous evening Arti on the riverfront for nearly 15 years.

Among the foreign tourists were hordes of ISKCON followers dressed in 'Ramnami' sartorials.

UNI