- Saturday, April 27, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN president Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday (28) visited the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand where he set foot in Parmarth Niketan Ashram. Kovind, who was accompanied by his wife and first lady Savita Kovind and their daughter Swati Kovind, were given a warm welcome by His Holiness (HH) Swami Chidanand Saraswati (Pujya Swamiji).
The Indian president and his family attended the Ganga Aarti ceremony in the Ashram located in Hrishikesh, Uttarakhand, on Sunday evening. They were welcomed with the Ashram’s traditional rituals of tilak and shower of flower petals by Parmarth Rishikumars while conch shells were blown in the background.
Kovind became only the second Indian president to visit the Ashram after Dr Rajendra Prasad, who visited it in 1953-54.
In the evening, Kovind and his family reached the banks of the Ganges river at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram with Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati where they offered prayers to the holy river and performed ‘purnahuti’ – a yajna ceremony dedicated to world peace and health.
The high-profile guests were formally welcomed by HH Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswatiji after the ceremony which was marked by vedic chanting, bhajans and sankirtan (songs praising the god).
In her welcome address, Pujya Sadhvi Saraswatiji said, “Hon’ble President Ramnath Kovindji’s stellar leadership of India is truly historic. It is a testament to the vision, mission and commitment of a man who, in his youth, had to walk eight kilometres each way in order to go to school. That dedicated young man grew up to serve as a torchbearer for justice, equality and integrity for people of every race, religion, colour and caste.
“His leadership – as an advocate for the Supreme Court, as Governor of Bihar and as President of India – is one rooted in dedication to the welfare of all – sarve bhut hite ratah. And that is also the motto, mantra and mission here at Parmarth Niketan.”
HH Pujya Swamiji said, “Our Hon’ble President of India is a beautiful embodiment of the dreams and aspirations of every citizen – how one can rise through dedication, humility and sincerity from a simple background into the First Citizen of the nation.
“His life is a divine example of how tenacity, hard-work and selflessness can blossom into the ultimate success. His life journey is one from “I” to “We,” from diversity to unity and today he is a great symbol and leader of oneness and unity in the nation, and he carries this message with him across the world. He is an inspiration to every youth of India and it is a great joy to welcome him and his family.”
HH Pujya Swamiji also recalled his past meetings with Kovind and revealed the latter’s interest in and commitment to keeping India’s sacred rivers free from pollution and over-exploitation.
In tune with the spirit of protecting and preserving the Ganges river, all water bodies and the overall natural environment, a new River Ganges anthem inspired by HH Pujya Swamiji and written by Grammy Award nominee devotional singer Snatam Kaur and sung by Snatam with other Grammy Award nominees Deva Premal and Miten Krishna Das, C C White and other artistes was presented during the Ganga Aarti ceremony.
The first couple appreciated the efforts of HH Pujya Swamiji, Pujya Sadhvi Saraswatiji and the artistes who presented the song and all the sevaks and volunteers.
President Kovind received a sacred rudraksha sapling and sandalwood mala from HH Pujya Swamiji and presented a keynote address.
“It was my wish to attend the Ganga Aarti at Parmarth, today it has come true. India is incomplete without Ganga and Ganga is incomplete without India. Both are complementary to each other. The programme had been postponed because of Covid-19 pandemic, but I am glad that my unaccomplished work has been accomplished today,” he said.
Kovind also honoured Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji’s journey to India and her commitment and dedication to spreading and sharing India’s spiritual-cultural heritage with the world.
The president and his family then enjoyed the Ganga Arti ceremony and released oil lamps in the river water. The ceremony concluded with the rendition of India’s national anthem. The president and his family then retreated to the Ashram amid earthen lamps lit to commemorate the visit.
On Monday (29), Kovind took part in high-level talks that covered various programmes and initiatives inspired by HH Pujya Swamiji and implemented by Parmarth Niketan, the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance and the Divine Shakti Foundation.
During the discussions, HH Pujya Swamiji shared solutions and innovations for a variety of topics from faecal sludge management, sustainable solid waste management, development of Rudraksha Van (forest of rudraksha trees) and Kedar Smriti Van (forest in the memory of those who lost their lives in the 2013 Kedarnath floods) and many other initiatives in the service of the nation.
The president and family were presented with a sacred sapling of the rudraksh tree to plan at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the president’s official residence. It is the Ashram’s signature gift.
HH Pujya Swamiji said on the occasion, “I am so glad to be able to share these new innovative technologies with our Hon’ble President who is so dedicated and committed to protection of our water, our air and our natural environment. With his leadership, I know Bharat will continue to become more and more green and eco-friendly. I really love our green and serene President!”
Kovind also interacted with a group of teachers and students of the Divine Shakti Foundation’s free schools and women’s empowerment programmes as well as youth leaders from the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance’s LifeSkills Programme, besides to the team of ‘sevaks‘ (volunteers) who work at the Ashram.
The president was presented a copy of Pujya Sadhvi Saraswatiji’s newly released best-selling memoir, ‘Hollywood to the Himalayas: A Journey of Healing and Transformation‘.
In presenting the book, Pujya Sadhvi Saraswatiji said, “It is such an honor and blessing to be able to present this book, my new memoir, to the Hon’ble President. Having lived the last 25 years here at Parmarth Niketan, I am so glad to have the opportunity to share the power of Bharatiya Sanskriti to heal and transform us with the world.”
As president Kovind and his family bid adieu, HH Pujya Swamiji invited Kovind to the 2022 International Yoga Festival to be held between March 8 and 14.
