\ SAMVAD
Phalgun Krishna 6, Vik. Samvat 2080, Yugabda 5125:1 March 2024: SM 5023 (For Private Circulation Only)
1. FESTIVALS: HOLI (March 25 this
year) is a festival celebrated as the Festival of Colours. The day signifies the
triumph of good over evil, and commemorates the victory of Bhagwan Vishnu as
Narasimha over Hiranyakashipu. Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and the end
of winter and is also an invocation for a good spring harvest season. It lasts
for a night and a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima in the Hindu month
of Phalguna. The night before Holi, bonfires are lit in a ceremony known as
Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi. The main day of the celebration is known as ‘Holi’,
‘Rangwali Holi’ and ‘Phagwa’.
2. PROGRAMS OF RSS SARSANGHCHALAK DR. MOHAN BHAGWAT:
In
an endorsement of Bharat’s traditional agricultural practices, Dr. Mohan Bhagwat,
the Sarsanghchalak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), extolled the virtues of
Bharatiya organic farming as a beacon for the world. His remarks came during the
conclusion of the ‘All India Rural Development’ seminar held at Shri Kshetra
Sarla Bet. He also underscored the significance of Bharat’s agrarian heritage in
addressing global agricultural challenges. The seminar, which convened 350
participants from across 45 Bharatiya states, served as a platform to deliberate
on various facets of rural development.
3. PM MODI PERFORMS UNDERWATER PUJA IN SUBMERGED DWARKA:
On February 25, Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi dived into the Arabian Sea off the
coast of Gujarat to perform an underwater puja in the remains of the ancient
submerged city of Dwarka.
4.
VHP CENTRAL BOARD MEETING IN AYODHYA:
The three-day
meeting of the Central Board of Trustees and the Governing Council of Vishva
Hindu Parishad (VHP) concluded on February 27 at Karsevakpuram in the holy city
of Ayodhya. During the meeting, senior advocate Alok Kumar was elected as the
president of VHP and CA Bajrang Lal Bagra was elected as its general secretary.
After deliberating the current state of the nation, VHP has decided to expand
its organisation in its 60th year to meet the challenges facing the Hindu
society.
The meeting also passed two resolutions on the construction of the Ram Mandir
and 100% voting in the Lok Sabha elections.
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5. RASHTRA SEVIKA SAMITI PRATINIDHI MANDAL BAITHAK:
The
two-day Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini and Pratinidhi Mandal baithak of Rashtra
Sevika Samiti was conducted on February 24-25 in Varansai. Pramukh Sanchalika
Shantakka and Pramukh Karyavahika Seeta Gayatri participated in the baithak held
at the Atulananda Convent School campus in Shivpur. 115 delegates from 35 prants
attended the baithak. According to the statistics collected for the baithak,
there are more than 3700 shakhas in 38 prants of Bharat.
6. PM MODI INAUGURATES SUDARSHAN SETU:
On February 25,
Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sudarshan Setu, a four-lane
cable-stayed bridge connecting Okha to Beyt Dwarka island in Gujarat. According
to an official statement from the Devbhumi Dwarka administration, the bridge
spans 2.32 kilometres, with a central double-span cable-stayed portion covering
900 metres, accompanied by a 2.45-kilometre-long approach road.
Beyt Dwarka, located near Okha port approximately 30 kilometres from Dwarka, is
home to the Dwarkadhish mandir of Bhagwan Krishna. With the completion of the
bridge, officials anticipate round-the-clock accessibility to the mandir.
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7. HSS USA ‘HEALTH FOR HUMANITY YOGATHON’:
Hindu
Swayamsevak Sangh HSS USA wrapped up its 17th annual ‘Surya Namaskar Yajna’,
widely known as the ‘Health for Humanity Yogathon’ on January 2. The 16-day
public health awareness initiative commenced on January 13, introducing
participants to the rejuvenating practice of Surya Namaskar.
The Yogathon unfolded across the nation in a relay format, blending virtual and
in-person events from the East Coast to the West Coast. Over 15,585 participants
from 36 states collectively completed nearly 925,051 repetitions of the Surya
Namaskar sequence. Notably, 4,640 teachers and students from 35 schools
contributed close to 50,000 repetitions, underscoring the program’s educational
impact. Mandirs, community centers, and marathon events further enriched the
initiative, with enthusiasts completing over 100 sets per person at various
locations.
Educators hailed the program’s merits, recognizing its potential to foster
mental tranquility and physical strength among students. A school administrator
reflected on her experiences, “In morning I got to do the sun salutations with
some experts here at PV and I have to say it was very invigorating. I feel both
rested and ready to start my day and if I can do it, I think anybody can do it.
Thank you so much for the instructors”.
The Yogathon stands as a testament to HSS’s commitment to community service and
the cultivation of a vibrant Hindu-American identity rooted in civic duty and
volunteerism.
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8. HSS JAPAN ‘DESH PREM DIWAS’:
On the evening of
January 20, Desh Prem Diwas was hosted by Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Japan.
More than 300 people attended the event at Kawasaki City Education and Culture
Center. The event served as a poignant homage to the indomitable spirits of
Bharatiya freedom fighters Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Raas Behari Bose.
9. HSS THAILAND BLOOD DONATION CAMP:
On February 11,
Seva Prakalp of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh HSS Thailand, in collaboration with
Vachira Hospital nominated by Thai Red Cross, organized a blood donation camp
and distribution of plants at Bharat Mata Mandir (Sangh Karyalay).
10. SEWA ACTIVITIES:
On February 20, the High
Commission of Bharat, in collaboration with Sewa International TT, organized a
workshop on ‘Healthcare For All’ with doctors from Bharat and local influencers.
The discussion focused on healthcare market, equipment, involvement of doctors
and networking among various stakeholders.
11. LAUNCH OF 1300 HOUSES IN SRI LANKA'S PLANTATION
ESTATES: On February 19, High Commissioner of Bharat Santosh Jha joined
President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo for the virtual launch
of the construction of 1300 houses under Phase IV of ‘Indian Housing Project’.
The houses would be constructed in 45 plantation estates across 10 Districts of
Sri Lanka. Under this Phase of IHP, Government of Bharat has committed to
construct 10,000 houses spread across Sri Lanka's six different provinces for
plantation workers who are Bharatiya Origin Tamils.
Government of Bharat's total commitment under the IHP currently stands at 60,000
houses. In first two phases, 46,000 houses were covered in Northern and Eastern
Provinces.
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12. BHARAT'S FIRST SEPTIC TANK CLEANING ROBOT:
Bharat's
first septic tank cleaning robot, offering an end-to-end solution to eliminate
manual scavenging, is strengthening the Swachhata Abhiyan in different corners
of the country. The technology called ‘Homosep Atom’ solves manual cleaning
methods and transforms them into robotic cleaning methods.
13. HOLY RELICS OF BHAGWAN BUDDHA ENSHRINED IN BANGKOK:
The holy relics of Bhagwan Buddha have been enshrined at the Royal ground Sanam
Luang in Bangkok on February 23. Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin,
along with the Governor of Bihar Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Union Minister
of Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar, were present at the ceremony. 
These relics are part of a special exhibition organized by the Ministry of
External Affairs, Bharatiya Embassy in Thailand, International Buddhist
Confederation, National Museum, and the State Government of Madhya Pradesh. This
marks the first time these relics will be showcased together, adding to the
historic significance of the event.
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14. JAGANNATH MANDIR INAUGURATED IN GHANA:
The
pran-pratishtha of Bhagwan Jagannath, Bhagwan Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra and
inauguration of the Jagannath Mandir, constructed by Utkala Ghana Association,
has been completed in Accra, Ghana. The ceremony was a nine-day programme held
from January 27 to February 4. The mandir was inaugurated by the High
Commissioner of Bharat to Ghana, Manish Gupta and was witnessed by 1,200
devotees. 
The mandir complex boasts a shrine resembling the Puri Srikhetra. It includes
the main Srimandira, as well as mandirs dedicated to Bhagwan Shiva, Bhagwan
Ganesh, Maa Bimala, Maa Laxmi, and Bhagwan Hanuman.
“We are extremely delighted with the successful completion of the mandir and the
idols’ pran pratishtha,” said Tapan Kumar Panda, joint secretary, Utkala Ghana
Association. “With the inauguration of the mandir and pran pratishtha, I am also
happy that our children are learning our culture and traditions,” he added.
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15. ATTUKAL PONGALA IN KERALA:
Lakhs of women from all
over the state, other states and also from abroad offered Pongala on February 25
around the famous and ancient Attukal Bhagavathi Mandir, Thiruvananthapuram
city, Kerala. 
This world-famous festival got a place in Guinness World Records which described
the festival as the ‘largest religious gathering of women on a single day’. In
2009, the total number of women who attended the ‘Pongala’ ritual was 2.5
million.
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16. GUYANA: GHDS 50TH ANNIVERSARY:
On January 21, the
Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) commemorated its 50th anniversary at the
Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud Dharmic Sanskritik Kendra on Ganges Street in Prashad
Nagar, Georgetown. On this occasion, President of Guyana Dr Irfaan Ali noted
that, as an organization, GHDS plays a pivotal role in producing well-rounded
leaders and driving positivity within society. He also noted that the GHDS has
shown that its existence is secure for decades to come, because of the
investment it has made and continues to make in young people and children,
producing some of the finest professionals in various fields.
17. GEETA BATRA BECOMES FIRST WOMAN DIRECTOR OF WORLD
BANK’S GEF: Geeta Batra, a Bharatiya economist, has been named as the new
Director at the Independent Evaluation Office of World Bank’s Global Environment
Facility. Batra, 57, is currently the Chief Evaluator & Deputy Director for
Evaluation at the GEF’s Independent Evaluation Office, affiliated to the World
Bank.
18. DUBAI INTRODUCES 5-YEAR VISA FOR BHARATIYAS:
In a
bid to promote economic collaborations and encourage tourism and business ties,
Dubai has introduced a five-year multiple-entry visa for Bharatiya tourists.
According to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the visa issued
within two to five working days allows a 90-day stay, extendable once for a
similar period, with a total stay not exceeding 180 days in a year. Through this
initiative, tourists can leverage multiple entries and exits, providing
operational flexibility for business engagements, leisure travel, and seamless
connectivity. According to DET, Dubai experienced a surge in tourism from
Bharat, welcoming 2.46 million overnight visitors in 2023.
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19. SEVERAL BHARATIYAS DISCHARGED FROM RUSSIAN ARMY
FOLLOWING BHARAT'S DEMAND: MEA: Several Bharatiyas who worked as support
staff to the Russian army were discharged following Bharat's demand, the
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on February 26.
According to media reports, several Bharatiyas have been working as security
helpers in the Russian military and they were forced to even fight with Russian
soldiers in certain areas along Russia's border with Ukraine.
"Each and every such case brought to the attention of the Indian embassy in
Moscow has been strongly taken up with the Russian authorities and those brought
to the attention of the Ministry have been taken up with the Russian embassy in
New Delhi," the MEA said.
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20. MADHYA PRADESH: WORLD’S FIRST VEDIC CLOCK INSTALLED IN
UJJAIN: The world’s first Vedic clock - which will display time according to
ancient Bharatiya traditional panchang - has been prepared and installed in
Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain district and will be unveiled on March 1.
Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the Vedic clock installed
on an 85-foot high tower constructed at Jantar Mantar in Ujjain. The clock will
display information about Vedic Hindu Panchang, planetary positions, muhurat,
astrological calculation, predictions, etc. It will also show the Indian
Standard Time (IST) and the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). 
21. GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED:
Satellite
INSAT-3DS on launch vehicle GSLV-F14, was successfully launched by the ISRO from
the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. INSAT-3DS will
augment the country’s meteorological (weather, climate, and ocean related)
services with the presently operational INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR in-orbit
satellites.
22. SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN: Pravas: Vishwa Vibhag Samyojak
Saumitra Gokhale and Sah-Samyojaks Dr. Ram Vaidya and Anil Vartak will be
travelling to Bharat for ABPS. Sewa International Global Coordinator Shyam
Parande is travelling to Australia and New Zealand.
Visitors: Parvesh Hurdeen - South Africa, Vivek Singh - USA
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: "The Sangh will uplift the nation just like Manu's
fish": Veer Savarkar at Guru Purnima Utsav, Pune in 1939.
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JAI SHRI RAM
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TEMPLE FOR VIKSIT BHARAT
RAM MADHAV
What the world witnessed on January 22 was not just the
consecration of a temple but the rebirth of a nation and the reassertion of its
national soul. In Ramayana, Ram’s return after exile and war was celebrated by
citizens as Diwali. It signified the commencement of what famously came to be
called Ram Rajya — a statecraft of justice, prosperity and happiness. Ram
represented a value system that became the ideal for mankind. Sage Valmiki, the
author of the epic Ramayana, described him variously as “Maryada Purushottam”,
the epitome of virtue, and “Vigrahvaan Dharmah,” the most definitive example of
Dharma, the universal value system.
As we complete 74 years as a Republic and enter into the Amrit Varsh, we must
recall that the same spirit motivated the leaders of our Independence movement
to establish a national creed based on the genius of this millennia-old
civilisation. Gandhi called it Ram Rajya, adding that we should build, not a
theocratic state, but a just state “where the weakest shall have as much power
as the strongest”. Jawahar Lal Nehru, too, expressed similar sentiments. “As I
stand here… my mind goes back to the great past of India, to the 5,000 years of
India’s history, from the very dawn of that history which might be considered
almost the dawn of human history, till today. All that past crowds around me and
exhilarates me,” said Nehru on December 13, 1946, delivering his maiden address
to the Constituent Assembly. But then, Nehru admitted that he was “trembled” and
“overwhelmed” by “this mighty task”. Standing on “this sword’s edge of the
present between this mighty past and the mightier future”, Nehru was worried
about whether he was “worthy of that past”. Confounded, he opted for the easier
way out — discard this great heritage and take shelter in the new fad of the
times, the untested European ideas.
Seventy-five years later, the resurrection at Ayodhya signifies the end of that
Nehruvian dilemma. Modi was neither trembled nor overwhelmed by the mighty task.
Instead, he exhorted in his address that “January 22, 2024, is not a mere date
on the calendar, it is the origin of a new kaal chakra — wheel of time”.
Modi’s address was full of confidence and optimism about the glorious future
that lay ahead for this nation. He talked not about a century, but a millennium.
Dev (divine) to desh (country) and Ram to rashtra (nation) were the euphemisms
he used to exhort countrymen that the time has come for them to move ahead from
the temple and build a “strong, capable, grand and divine India”. He insisted
that the country will reach the goal of prosperity by following the path of
purity as well as the pursuit of modernity. “This grand Ram temple will become a
witness to the rise of Viksit Bharat (developed Bharat),” he confidently
exclaimed.
As Modi was pronouncing his dream of Viksit Bharat from the ramparts of the
Ayodhya temple came the news that the stock market had scaled up to overtake the
Hong Kong stock exchange and become the world’s number four. A day later, the
HSBC survey projected the Indian economy to be on a very strong footing. Another
report concluded that “Indian equity markets generate strong returns across time
periods” and “India’s growth story remains strong — expected to be the third
largest economy by FY2028”.
For some critics, January 22 marks the arrival of Hindu supremacy. This flawed
view existed even at the time of our Independence. Consecrating the temple at
Somnath on May 11, 1951, Rajendra Prasad, then President of India, clarified
that the restoration shouldn’t be seen only as an attempt at rectifying history.
“Our only aim here is to proclaim anew our attachment to the faith, convictions
and values on which our religion has rested since immemorial ages,” he
explained, a sentiment that aptly reflects today’s situation. He also reminded
the nation that the great truth that Sanatan Dharma proclaims is that every
individual should have full independence and opportunities for rising to the
highest glory of life.
Whether it was Rajendra babu then or Narendra Modi now, the emphasis was on
using the sacred symbol of the restored historic temple to infuse “new life into
the Temple of Prosperity of our people”. Building a prosperous Bharat requires
humongous effort and tremendous unity. A $5 trillion economy may make Bharat the
third largest in the world, yet not the most prosperous. To become truly viksit
requires a much bigger economic clout, which the Prime Minister wants the nation
to achieve by its centenary.
There cannot be a better way to explain Modi’s Viksit Bharat dream than turning
once again to Rajendra babu’s words of wisdom seven decades ago: “In my view,
the restoration of this temple of Somnath would be complete, not on the day when
a fine building would have been constructed on these foundations, but when we
raise the level of our culture to such a degree that if a modern Al Biruni sees
our country, he would express himself about our culture in the same eloquent
terms in which, a thousand years ago, Al Biruni had expressed himself about the
India of his day”.
https://www.rammadhav.in/articles/a-temple-to-progress/
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SHRI VISHWA NIKETAN vishwav@bol.net.in http://shrivishwaniketan.blogspot.com https://svn.epapers.in
