A beautiful clean-up and awareness rally was organized for a Swachh Bharat and Clean Ganga in which students from Prakash Bharti, SVN Pashulok, SV Chandreshwar, Chandreshwar Public School and Parmarth Gurukul, Rishikesh participated. The event celebrated an entire week of celebrations dedicated to Earth Day with the spirit and theme that every day should really be dedicated to the preservation and protection of our Mother Nature and Mother Earth.
The rally started from Parmarth Niketan and went through Swargashram, Rishikesh to the Rajaji National Park with the chanting of inspiring slogans by the students as well as street drama, banners and flags with theme and message of the rally.
A unique and special Ganga Rakhi was tied by every child on the banks of Maa Ganga symbolizing a pledge and an oath to protect and preserve Mother Ganga and all Her tributaries from pollution.
Students also participated in painting and slogan writing competition. Prizes were distributed to the students and schools performing best in this competition.
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji – Muniji appraised the students about the importance of clean water and adequate sanitation. He said: “If Ganga dies, India dies but if Ganga thrives then only India thrives. We need to understand that the Earth does not need us but we need the Earth. It is estimated that by 2030, the groundwater level less then half of what it is today. Many parts of India are seeing drastically decreasing ground water tables and soon many regions of our nation will be thirsting and fighting for water. We must be the change! You are not only the next generation but the now generation — the agents through which the much needed change the world must happen today.”
Pujya Swamiji urged the students to plant trees, on every occasion, i.e. weddings, birthdays or any special occasion and to celebrate every occasion as World Earth Day.
Global Interfaith WASH Alliance’s beautiful Water Blessing Ceremony for water conservation and improved WASH concluded the day with the blessings of Pujya Swamiji, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji and joined by GIWA Director of Programmes, Projects and Partnerships Swamini Adityananda Saraswati, Waste Management Experts Rajneesh Mehra, members of the Uttarakhand Peyjal Department: Er RK Singh, Er RK Kishan, Mamta Tiwari, Ravindra as well as Nandini Tripathi, Samuel, Vandana Sharma, Jams Toppo and Vishal Bhatt of GIWA. Enthusiastic students and teachers of these schools left Pujya Swamiji’s hut by chanting slogans and with a renewed commitment in their hearts to remain stewards of their environment.
The students also enjoyed a sattvic, vegetarian lunch at the ashram.
