Phalgun Krishna 5, Vik.Samvat 2073,Yugabda 5118: 16 February 2017
1. FESTIVALS: Thousands celebrate Hindu Thaipusam festival in Malaysia: Hindu devotees in Bharat and across the world celebrated Thaipusam, a festival dedicated to the deity Lord Murugan. The festival is held on the full moon day in the month of Thai (Pausha) of the Hindu calendar which corresponded to February 9 this year.In Malaysia, massive crowds descended on the stunning Sri Subramaniar Swami Devasthanam Temple complex at Batu Caves on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur to participate in the festival.
Thaipusam represents a time of self-sacrifice and penance and as a gratitude for boons fulfilled. Armed with gifts including milk pots and coconuts which are eventually smashed as offerings, worshippers walked barefoot up 272 steps to reach the temple. Many displayed their fervour by carrying heavy ornate metal structures called kavadis, affixed to their bodies with sharp metal spikes that are hammered into the skin. People from various faiths and races as well as foreign tourists also witnessed the religious rituals. -goTop
2. ISRO CREATES HISTORY, LAUNCHES 104 SATELLITES IN ONE GO: Bharat scripted a new chapter in the history of space exploration on 15th February with the successful launch of a record 104 satellites by ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in a single mission. PSLV-C37 carrying the 104 satellites lifted off in its 39th flight from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Seventeen minutes later, the rocket started placing the satellites into the orbit, one by one with a time-frame of about 11 minutes. Out of the total 104 satellites placed in orbit, 101 satellites belonged to six foreign countries. They included 96 from the US and one each from Israel, the UAE, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Kazakhstan.
Russian Space Agency held a record of launching 37 satellites in one go during its mission in June 2014. Bharat previously launched 23 satellites in a single mission in June 2015.
"The Prime Minister has conveyed his congratulations," said ISRO chairman A S Kiran Kumar while congratulating the team. -goTop
3. Bhagwat calls for social unity and harmony for strong, vibrant Bharat: Addressing the mammoth Hindu Sammelan at Betul in Madhya Pradesh on February 8, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghachalak Dr Mohanrao Bhagwat gave a clarion call to the Hindu society to achieve unity and harmony to make our country strong and a vibrant nation in the world.
"It is necessary for us to get organized in order to achieve sound health for the Hindu society. For this, we will have to give up all our differences, and honour diversities of all kinds. This was the teaching of our ancestors. Bharat will become Vishwaguru only when the Hindus get organized", he said in his fervent appeal.
Stressing on service to the society, Bhagwat urged people to take care of those poor, neglected and weaker sections of the society and make them strong and capable.
He also paid a visit to Betul jail where second Sarsanghachalak of RSS, M S Golwalkar alias Sri Guruji was incarcerated during the ban on RSS following the murder of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. -goTop
4. Health for Humanity Yogathon was embraced all over USA: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh USA, Inc. (HSS) concluded its 10th annual Health for Humanity Yogathon on January 29th.
During the two-week Yogathon, over 11,600 participants from close to 357 locations across the US, participated in the yoga routine known as the Sun Salutation, or Surya Namaskar.
HSS launched the Health for Humanity Yogathon as an annual event in 2007 to create awareness about yoga and its advantages in achieving a healthy body, mind and spirit. HSS conducts the Yogathon, or Surya Namaskar Yajna, at this time of year to coincide with the traditional Makar Sankranti festival, which falls on January 14.
Since its inception, participants from 40 states actively took part in this unique program via various Yoga Centers, community organizations, schools and colleges regardless of individual faiths and beliefs, and have participated and collectively performed over 4 million Surya Namaskars. Community leaders and many elected officials across the nation have appreciated this initiative and encouraged their residents to participate and gain the benefits of an overall healthy life style.
Some of the highlights of this year are, SNY started with 3 hours nationwide Leher (Continuous Yogathon) where 2546 participants performed 98200 Surya Namaskar from 95 locations; about 81 Schools, 47 Yoga Studios, and 63 Temples from over 200 cities participated in SNY; over 200 cities and 30 States reached out during the 2 weeks SNY event period and over 11800 participants performed more than 710,000 Surya Namaskars. -goTop
5. "Vikas of Jan, Jameen, Jal, Jangal and Janwar is Bharat's Vikas": Mohan Bhagwat: While addressing a silver jubilee function of the Bhausahab Bhuskute Public Trust in Hoshangabad near Bhopal on February 9, RSS Sarsanghchalak Dr. Mohan Bhagwat said that a country is comprised of people, water resources, forests, land and animals. When a country prospers, all these things prosper as well. But real development and prosperity would come about if a nation grows in accordance with its nature and culture.
As the culture of Bharat is woven with water and forests and our roots are in villages, so development of water resources, forests and villages is the core to development of the country.
Talking about the need for growth in agriculture we would have to observe five principles; cleanliness, contentment, right action, "swadhyaya" and "tap", he observed. -goTop
6. Hinduism is Nepal's identity: Adhikari: Senior communist leader Mohan Chandra Adhikari has said that internal conflict as a result of the foreign intervention was creating complexities in national politics.
At a gathering organized by the Central Committee of Unified Nationalist Force Formation Campaign in the Capital city on 9th February, he said that unity among Nepalis is needed as the country was forced towards disintegration by creating conflict in the Nepali society.
"Nepal's identity is Hinduism. The political parties accepting majority should declare Nepal the Hindu nation as it is the demand of the majority of people," he underscored.Coordinator of the Campaign, Keshar Bahadur Bista said that federalism should not be implemented to keep intact social harmony in Nepal. -goTop
7. INFORMAL GET-TOGETHER OF SWAYAMSEVAK FAMILIES: RSS Chennai unit organized an informal get-together of swayamsevak families at 'Sakthi Karyalaya' on February 5. A total of 1,587 people, including women and children from 671 families, had a chit-chat with the RSS national, prant and zonal adhikaris.
Akhil Bharatiya Kutumba Prabodhan Pramukh Subramanya Bhatt inaugurated the event and stressed on insisted on the practice of family values and highlighted the importance of Bharatiya languages to be practiced at home and society.
Display and demo by young students on the concept of Hinduism, games, quiz, Samskrit sambhashana, music and bhajans made the environment pleasant. At the end, Swami Swatmananda of Vellimalai ashram, appealed to the swayamsevaks to keep meeting each other and get motivated. -goTop
8. RSS inspired SEVA BHARATI helps 510 Endosulfan victims in Karnataka: Vinayak Rao's disability, illness and the resulting helplessness can only be understood by somebody who has experienced similar anguish.
Rao of Kanyady village in Beltangady Taluk of Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka was only 26 when he got electrocuted, and the injury in his spinal cord left him immobile from waist down.
But he did not let his disability become his weakness and today he is helping many others like him whether they are victims of endosulfan (a toxic pesticide) poisoning; people with physical and visual disabilities; poor farmers or students. His organisation, Seva Bharati, has helped 510 endosulfan victims up to the age of 65 years in receiving cashless health insurance coverage with a reimbursement ceiling of up to Rs 2 lakh at the first camp organized in November.
Under this facility, an endosulfan victim could avail treatment at any hospital. "The patient is not burdened as expenses incurred never crosses the Rs 2 lakh ceiling," says beneficiary Sreedhar Gowda of Kokkada Endo Virodhi Horata Samithi.
An endosulfan victim pays Rs 100 as annual premium and Seva Bharati contributes remaining Rs 255 to the insurance firm, New India Assurance Company. "Victims up to 18 years old, who were left out in the first camp, will receive health insurance in the second health camp in February," he says.
On learning about Rao's initiatives for the differently-abled, Bengaluru-based Association for People with Disability (APD) tied up with Seva Bharati to give wheelchairs to 10 poor elderly citizens. The wheelchairs were distributed during a programme at Kanyady School in his village in November.
Starting with campaigns to revive local traditional events, he gradually organised camps to create awareness on blood donation, cancer detection, building toilets, and rebuilding Hindu crematoriums among others.
With a longing to help the needy, Rao launched a farmers' forum, Dharithri Krishi Sangha, to encourage practices such as rain water harvesting and zero budget natural farming. Due to his efforts, 640 members joined hands to launch Dharini Coconut Growers Federation.
"Under our Jnana Bharati programme, libraries in 21 schools get good books, six schools get note books worth `20,000 and toilets are made in five schools, every year," he says adding that most of the money for these works comes from donations.
"The expenses on logistics are reduced to minimum with women members of SHGs volunteering to work, cook and share profits from their economical activities," says Rao, who has 1,000 rubber trees spread in a sprawling area of 20 acres.
Recollecting the tragic accident, Rao says, "I could not come out of depression for the next five years after the accident in 1996." At that time, a word of advice from an elderly activist, Krishna Bhat, helped me. "Bhat told me to stop thinking about myself and start thinking about society," he says. And there was no looking back for him. "I am alive because of the activities of Seva Bharati," he says as his bespectacled chubby face beams. (The New Indian Express, 4th February 2017) -goTop
9. RSS Centenary Pathsanchalan in BHU: RSS swayamsevaks in new Sangh uniform on February 1 took out an impressive pathsanchalan in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) to commemorate 101 years of the University. The swayamsevaks marched behind the huge pictures of RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, second Sarsanghachalak Shri Guruji and Bharat Ratna Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of BHU. People welcomed the route march at many places by showering flower petals.
Addressing the gathering at Krishi Maidan, eminent scholar and former Vice Chancellor of Lucknow University and Kshetra Sanghachalak Prof Devendra Pratap Singh said every blood cell of Malaviyaji had the Hindutva spirit and he had blessed the Sangh work by meeting the RSS founder Dr Hedgewar on April 20, 1929 in Nagpur. The first Sangh shakha outside Maharashtra was organised in BHU and the RSS second Sarsanghachalak Shri Guruji became a swayamsevak in the BHU only. When Dr Hedgewar visited Kashi in 1937, an impressive pathsanchalan with ghosh was taken out in the University, in his honour. -goTop
10. BHARAT successfully test fires a two layered Ballistic Missile Defence system: Bharat successfully test-fired its maiden interceptor missile on 11th February, achieving a significant milestone in the direction of developing a two-layered Ballistic Missile Defense system. The mission termed as 'PDV mission' is for engaging the targets in the exo-atmosphere region at an altitude of 120 km of earth's atmosphere.
In an automated operation, radar-based detection and tracking system detected and tracked the enemy's ballistic missile. The computer network with the help of data received from radars predicted the trajectory of the incoming Ballistic Missile.PDV that was kept fully ready took off once the computer system gave the necessary command for lift-off. The interceptor guided by high accuracy Inertial Navigation System (INS) supported by a Redundant Micro Navigation System moved towards the estimated point of the interception. With the help of Inertial Guidance and IR Seeker, the Missile moved for the interception. The mission was completed and the interception parameters were achieved. -goTop
11. Hindu refugees from Pakistan start receiving Aadhaar cards: The Delhi government has now started to provide aadhaar cards to Hindu refugees from Pakistan who had fled the country after being threatened by militant groups. Many of the 600 Hindu refugees, making up 120 families, need permanent citizenship to stay in Bharat and make a living. Now, with the new identity, they could open bank accounts and steer a steady life in 'Hindusthan'.
The situation of the fled Hindus bettered after the BJP government mentioned that Bharat is a home to Hindus, and all persecuted Hindus are welcome to reside here. -goTop
12. LAWSUIT FILED CHALLENGING CALIFORNIA PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM'S DEPICTION OF HINDUISM: California Parents for the Equalization of Educational Materials (CAPEEM), a Hindu-American advocacy organization, and three community members have filed a civil rights lawsuit in federal court against public school officials at the California Department of Education, State Board of Education, and several school districts throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The case challenges the discriminatory treatment of Hinduism in California's history-social science curriculum and the official endorsement of other religions, based upon the U.S. Constitution.
The curriculum framework adopted by the State Board of Education last summer devotes almost half the discussion of Hinduism to the caste system, which it portrays as a supposed Hindu religious belief. For every other religion, the SBE followed its policy of refusing negative examples that would instill prejudice -- there is no mention of negative interpretations of Christianity that supported slavery or condemned same-sex relationships. -goTop
13. GRAND OPENING OF GANESHA TEMPLE IN SANTA CLARITA: Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Temple where the main deity is Lord Ganesha, had its grand opening on the evening of February 9 in Valencia neighbourhood of Santa Clarita USA. The mission of Sri Siddhi Vinayaka Temple, a non-profit organisation, is "to serve Santa Clarita community by offering a place to worship, practice spirituality, celebrate festivals and cultural activities". It plans to have a Ganesha Puja (worship) and other services every Saturday, besides various activities/programs for everyone round the year, including programs for children and charity food donations. -goTop
14. THE GRAND STORY OF BASTAR SCIENCE EXPERIMENT: The Bastar district in Chattisgarh recently stood witness to a magnificent Science Fair, where 44,000 students from 637 government schools presented more than 35,000 scientific experiments. While the science fair was a one-day event, the Bastar Science Experiment that made the feat possible, was a long-term process which was carefully carried out by the hundreds of people involved in it.
During the Vigyan Mela (Science Fair) that took place in January, all the installations were either created out of household objects or were sourced from the local markets. The event was organized simultaneously in 119 educational clusters that involved 697 teachers in the district.
The experiments that were presented by the students cover different concepts like how the lightning is formed, the human physiology, working of windmills, identifying acids and bases, working of vacuum cleaner and many others from Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics. -goTop
15. US SIKH TEMPLES SHELTER HUNDREDS OF DAM EVACUEES: Gurudwaras in California are offering shelter to thousands of evacuees of Yuba City, where a sizeable chunk of Bharatiya-Americans live, following fears of Oroville dam collapsing.
Security guards, teachers, farmers and other members of the Central Valley's large Sikh community poured into the two-storey Gurudwara Sahib Sikh temple in West Sacramento while fleeing potential flooding along the Highway 70 corridor south of Oroville.
The West Sacramento temple complex is believed to be the largest evacuation shelter while the Sacramento Sikh Temple in Rio Linda reported taking in 50 to 60 families fleeing the flood zone. "We have all races black, white, Asian and Hispanic. There is no tobacco or alcohol, and all our meals are vegetarian," said spokesman Darshan Singh Mundy. -goTop
16. GRAMMY GLORY FOR TWO BHARATIYA TABLA ARTISTES: The 59th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles on 12th February warranted a special drum roll for Bharat, with two Bharatiya tabla artistes featuring in the list of final honours. Leading tabla exponent Sandeep Das snapped up a stunning solo trophy in the World Music category for his collaboration with acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble. The second Bharatiya connect came with the album 'White Sun II' winning an award in the New Age Music category, in which Hyderabad-born Abhiman Kaushal is the featured percussionist. -goTop
17. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SRI AUROBINDO AT HINDU UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA : The Mahatma Gandhi Center for Non-Violence, Human Rights and World Peace at the Hindu University of America at Orlando, Florida is organizing an international conference titled "Relevance of Sri Aurobindo and the Grand Visions of the Ancient Bharatiya Wisdom" on May 4 and 5, 2017.
The conference aims to focus on Sri Aurobindo's philosophy and ancient Bharatiya wisdom and their applicability to contemporary problems confronting the human society and the world. It is interested to engage scholars from academia, media, corporate sector, policymaking, non-governmental sectors, and grass-roots activism for an elaborate inquiry on the relevance of Sri Aurobindo's philosophy. For further details about the conference please see wp.hua.edu -goTop
18. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Visitors: Khanderao Kand, Karnail singh - USA
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Although an act of help done timely, might be small in nature, it is truly larger than the world itself - Thirukkural -goTop
JAI SHREE RAM
HSSF: REVIVING THE ‘ART OF GIVING’
Pramod Kumar
The first Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair (HSSF) in Haryana proved to be a big hit not only in arousing the service feeling among the people who visited, but also acquainting the people with the sewa activities conducted by various voluntary organisations and the rich cultural heritage of the country. Apart from generating the patriotic fervor through the activities like Paramvir Vandan, the four-day event was instrumental in reviving some of the traditional art, entertainment and handicraft forms. About four lakh people joined the event.
"The overall objective of the four day event was to apprise the people of the service activities being conducted by various religious and other organisations and motivate them to extend a helping hand to the needy people in their vicinity. In that endeavour we have been successful. We hope more sewa projects would start in Haryana now," said Smt Renu Pathak, joint secretary of the Rashtriya Sewa Bharati and one of the key persons behind the event. "The biggest outcome of this event, in my opinion, is that a good number of women of the State have come forward to spare their free time for the society. We have received requests from scores of women who are willing to join any of the sewa activity," added Smt Pathak.
About 300 organisations dedicated to different sewa activities in various states including Haryana, J&K, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, joined the Fair. There were activities for all sections of the society-children, parents, teachers, students, women, etc. Apart from apprising them of different sewa activities they were also instilled some good samskars. "Every activity in the Fair had some objective. Acharya Vandan aimed at generating respect to the teachers; Matri-Pitri Vandan exhorted the children to show respect to their parents; Kanya Vandan was to display reverence to the girls. Even the entertainment activities too had some healthy message for all to imbibe," added Smt Renu Pathak who specifically looked after the arrangement of all the Vandan Programmes.
Sadbhavana Sammelan
The Sadbhavana Sammelan organised on last day of the Fair i.e. on February 5, helped in bringing all sections of the society together and motivate them to shun the differences if any for betterment of the society and the nation. Many senior saints while joining the discussions stressed on social unity to foil the game plans of the destructive forces active in the country. The speakers stressed on organising such Sammelans at village level. RSS Kshetra Karyavah Shri Sitaram Vyas said if untouchablity is not a sin, nothing is sin in this world. He said the feeling of social harmony needs to be followed in practice, only then the organisation of such events will be fruitful.
Mahamandaleshwar Mahant Naval Kishore Das said untouchability is against eternal Indian culture and has proved very harmful to the society. Swami Sharnanand stressed the need to organise such Sammelans at village level too so that the people feeling discriminated can live a dignified life. Shri Surender Singh Dahiya who represented Dahiya community at the Sammelan, stressed the need to be careful from the elements, which are bent upon destablising peace in the society. He said development is not possible without social harmony. Swami Paramanand Maharaj, Shri Ravi Shah from Gannaur, retired IAS officer Shri SC Chaudhary, Shri Satish Vishwakarma of Somani Group and Geeta Manishi Swami Gyananand Maharaj hoped that the Sadbhavana Sammelan would prove to be a milestone in restoring harmony in the society.
Reviving the Vanishing traditional Art
The four day event also provided a platform to artists who are struggling to preserve some of the vanishing traditional art forms. Shri Jagdish, who came from Churu District of Rajasthan, pointed out that once 'Ravana' was the popular art of Rajasthan in which the stories of various kings and their families were narrated to the people in an interesting manner. "Now the music has almost disappeared. But this Fair has revived that tradition by inviting the artists to perform. The way people are taking interest in it shows that good days are ahead for this disappearing Indian folk art form of entertainment and education," added Shri Jagdish. "The puppets are not only the form of entertainment, but they are the best medium of educating people about some good habits. It is a time-tested method. This Fair has contributed greatly in propagating this ancient form of entertainment," said Shri Mohan Bhatt, a puppet artist from Seekar, Rajasthan.
Enthusiasm among the Visitors
The public response to the Fair was very enthusiastic as even the Divyangs reached the Fair on wheelchairs. The Youtube fame girl students of Dr Swarup Singh Government Model Sanskriti School at Sandhi Village under Rohtak District, who have received huge applause through a folk song, Mera Yaar Sudama also visited the Fair. What impressed hugely to these girls-Muskan, Rinku, Vidhi, Manisha, Isha and Sheetal-was the display of various forms of Indian culture. "At the time when our age old customs and rich traditions are disappearing, such events are very much necessary to revive and promote them," said Shri Somesh Jangada, the music teacher of the popular girls.
Encouraged over the success of the Fair the organisers have now decided to organise it every year so that people see their culture, traditions closely. "Apart from the sewa activities, the future events will also present the scientific, social and religious work before the people," said Shri Rakesh Agrawal, Chairman of the Reception Committee of the Fair.
Participation of 300 organisations
About 300 voluntary organisations displayed their service activities. Shri Naresh Goel of Bhai Kanhaiya Ashram, Sirsa, said they are trying to empower the destitute and mentally retarded people to the level that they can live a respectable and dignified life. Gurugram-based 'Eco Live' displayed how the people can keep their surroundings clean and how cleanliness can become a mass movement in the country. "We motivate people how to live in harmony with the nature," said Vinod Kumari, a volunteer of the organisation. Jind-based Youth Education Society educates the people through entertainment. "We educate the people against social evils through the folk songs, street plays, etc," said Kiran Gil. Shri Narendra Batra of Saksham revealed that they are working to eradicate blindlessness from Haryana and empower the Divynags to the extent that they are self-reliant. Various activities of Sewa Bharati were also displayed. Moksh Samiti of Bahadurgarh works for betterment of the mentally retarded children and also ensures proper cremation of the unclaimed dead bodies as per the Hindu rituals. Gaurang Institute for Education works for generating spirituality by popularising Bhagwad Gita. 'Jio Geeta' is also dedicated to the propagation of Gita. Shiv Netra Sanstha focuses how the parents can have children with good values since birth. Arogya Bharati works for educating people to live a healthy lifestyle. Ramkrishna Mission and Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Parivar also had stalls at the Fair.
'Voice of Unity' by 51,000 students
The preparations for the event had begun long back. Many activities were organised to motivate people to join the event. As part of the preparation activities, 51,000 students from 400 schools of Gurugram and surrounding areas recited group Vande mataram at the Voice of Unity event on January 31. Haryana Chief Minister Shri Manoharlal also joined the event organised by Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation. The band performance of Bollywood singer and musician Dr Palash Sen was wonderful.
Shri Manoharlal said for him all 2.5 crore people of the State are his own family members. But some destructive elements are trying to destablise peace in the State. He called upon the participants to work for betterment of the nation. He also administered an oath to the participants wherein they pledged to protect the trees, wild lives, cows, Ganga, environment, values of life, etc.
Inauguration with Prakrati Pujan
The Fair began with Prakrati Pujan on February 2 at Lazervally Park of Gurugram by Swami Gyananand Maharaj. He said the environment can be cleaned only through respecting the nature. Hundreds of women also traditionally worshipped the nature. RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sah Sewa Pramukh Shri Gunwant Singh Kothari and patron of the Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation Shri Pawan Jindal were also present on the occasion.
In the evening Governor of Himachal Pradesh Acharya Devvratt formally inaugurated the Fair. He stressed on protecting the Indian values because they are needed for the entire world. He said the Fair would prove to be a milestone in this endeavour.
RSS Sah Sarkaryavah Shri Suresh Soni said the degradation in family values and disrespect to the nature are the result of degradation in social values. "Until we strengthen the social values the results in other fields will not be as we all desire," he said. Shri Gunwant Singh Kothari said the organisation of such events is direly needed today because the world needs the Bharatiya values the most. The Fair also impressed the foreign tourists who not only enjoyed the cultural activities, but also practically watched various Indian traditions closely.
Kanyapujan of 2,100 Girls
On second day, Kanyapujan was the prime attraction. A total of 2,100 girls were worshipped by the people. Addressing the gathering, Sadhvi Shweta Bharati of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan stressed the need that women should recognise their strength. Swami Dayananda Saraswati from Murthal, Shri Gunwant Singh Kothari and many other eminent personalities were also present on the occasion.
140 painters from 15 states
The painting competition organised on the occasion attracted 140 painters from 15 states. Majority of the paintings focussed on nature conservation and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
Guru Maa Anandmurth on this occasion said good number of foreigners are adopting the Indian culture but unfortunately the Indians are blindly getting attracted to the rejected western culture. She hoped that the Fair would prove to be instrumental in reviving the age old rich Indian values.
Acharya and Matri-Pitri Vandan
On third day, Acharya Vandan was the prime attraction. About 3,000 students paid respect to their teachers and parents. Swami Raghvanand from Delhi also blessed them. He said the events like Acharya Vandan sow the seeds of respect to the teachers. RSS Sah Kshetra Pracharak Shri Banvir said a teacher plays a key role in character building of the students. Mahamandaleshwar Mahant Vishveshwaranand was the key speaker at the Matri-Pitri Vandan. Some renowned poets also educated the people their poems. On the last day, Paramvir Chakra winner Capt. Bana Singh was felicitated. Five ex-servicemen were also felicitated. Addressing the gathering Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara expressed concern that many of the children today know the names of film stars, but do not remember the super stars, who sacrificed their lives for the nation. Gen GD Bakshi said if Pakistan tries to snatch Kashmir, may be Pakistan itself would be eliminated from the world map.
The four day HSSF was indeed successful in acquainting the people with the huge network of the service activities being carried out by various Hindu religious and voluntary organisations. (Organizer Weekly, February 19, 2017) -goTop
SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN vishwav@bol.net.in www.shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com
