U'khand: Homage ceremonies from US to India

California, July 16: It has been a month since one of the worst natural calamity hit the holy site of Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, on June 16 that took at least 5,000 lives.

In the memories of those who lost their lives, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh and Founder of Ganga Action Parivar, has organised a
Shradhanjali (homage) ceremony in Haridwar.

Shradhanjali (homage) ceremony in Haridwar

Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji has been leading shradhanjali ceremonies in Hollywood California and on the banks of the Pacific Ocean.

From Kedarnath to California

From Kedarnath to California, from Haridwar to Hollywood, the world is coming together in honour of those who lost their lives in the devastating Himalayan tsunami.

Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji has been leading shradhanjali ceremonies in Hollywood California and on the banks of the Pacific Ocean.

Pujya Swami Chidanandji said, "From Kedarnath to California, from Haridwar to Hollywood, the world is coming together in honour of those who lost their lives in the devastating Himalayan tsunami. We offer our homage and shradhanjali to those souls, and offer our deepest gratitude and prayers to all of the members of the army who risked and sacrificed their lives in the service of others. Our philosophy is Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam, the world is one family, and people from across the world are gathering together for their brothers and sisters of the Himalayas."

Since flash-floods caused devastation in Uttarakhand, Ganga Action Parivar, Parmarth, Rishikesh is working both to ameliorate the impact of this tragedy and also to prevent future tragedies through innumerable programmes and projects including widescale tree plantation.

Says Pujya Swamiji, "The trees grip our precious soil. Every tree gives us oxygen, removes carbon dioxide, helps prevent global warming and the melting of the glaciers, and holds our sacred, holy, life-giving Himalayan earth in place, preventing landslides and avalanches. Let Kedarnath be a ‘Green Kedarnath,' with no new construction, only plantation of trees in memory of those who lost their lives. Ganga Action Parivar invites and encourages everyone who travels to the holy area of Haridwar for the asthi visarjan puja (ash immersion) to also plant a tree in their loved one's memory."

Ganga Action Parivar is working with TERI, headed by Nobel Laureate Dr. RK Pachauri to prepare a Green Document for Green Development and Green Rehabilitation --- development and rehabilitation which benefits all stakeholders: the yatris, the local villagers and Mother Nature Herself.

Pujya Swami Chidanandji said: "Let us create not Marine Drives with hotels and buildings on the banks of our holy rivers, but rather let us create Meditation Drives where the river's banks are free of any obstructing and precarious construction and where people can come and meditate. Nature reminds us, ‘Come to Nature and Change Your Nature.' Let us, in the wake of this horrible tragedy, take the message to heart and change our own natures to be more in concert with Mother Nature."

One India News