Global Handwashing Day Celebrated at Parmarth Niketan

United We Stand in Global Hand Hygiene with a Beautiful Awareness Raising Handwashing Day Programme to Engage School Children and Faculty, Faith and Political Leaders, Educators and Academists in the lap of the Himalayas in a programme organised by the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, with the technical support of UNICEF India and in partnership with Divine Shakti Foundation, Ganga Action Parivar, Religions for Peace and others.

Hon’ble Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishankji,” HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji  & Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawatiji join Faith Leaders for a Day of Advocacy for Global Handwashing Day at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, on the holy banks of Mother Ganga, in the lap of the Himalayas

A special Global Handwashing Day Eve Programme began the night before with Eminent Faith Leader Pujya Bhaishriji RameshBhai Ozaji speaking in the Parmarth Ganga Aarti about the significance of Handwashing to kick-start the day long advocacy campaign

“Global Handwashing Day is a day to come together…together in the name of health, hygiene and for a healthy, happy society. On the banks of Mother Ganga it is not just a day of hand washing but also heart washing. “ HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji

15 OCTOBER 2022, RISHIKESH, INDIA: The 15th October is Global Handwashing Day, a global advocacy day dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding about the importance of handwashing with soap as an effective and affordable way to prevent diseases and save lives. Unite for Universal Hand Hygiene is the theme for this year. No matter your role, you can celebrate Global Handwashing Day!

Every year the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA) comes together with our interfaith leaders, development partners such as UNICEF and others to raise awareness about the simple and effective practice of hand washing which is already part of every faith tradition. Each year on this day, school children and faculty, interfaith, social and civic leaders, educators and academists, and stakeholders come to the holy banks of the Ganga River to celebrate Global Handwashing Day!

Annually we create a large campaign, including media and social media pushes to raise awareness of the critical importance of handwashing in healthy bodies and healthy societies. Additionally, each year we engage on the grass roots level – working with students and teachers in schools to inspire positive behaviour changes.

According to the WHO/UNICEF State of the World’s Hand Hygiene | UNICEF report, despite the life-saving benefits of hand hygiene, three out of ten people globally still lack a facility with water and soap available to wash their hands at home.

Param Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji have carried the message of improved sanitation and proper hygiene across the planet since 2013, when GIWA was launched at the UNICEF Headquarters. But, despite the changes, their commitment and dedication to the cause of health and wellness is a beautiful tribute to their efforts to change behaviours and thinking around sanitation and hygiene.

Joining the celebrations this year were Chief Guest Dr Ramesh Nishank Pohriyalji, Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Former Union Education Minister, alongside Jagadguru Uttarakhand Swami Krishnacharya ji Maharaj, President Krishnapunj Ashram, Pujya MM Dayaram Das Ji Maharaj, Ram Tapashtali Brahmpuri, Pujya Swami Ajayram ji, Peethadhishwar, Pujya Mahant Raviparannacharya, Tulsi Manas Mandir, Sanjay Rai ji, Secretary of the Harijan Sevak Sangh; Acharya Kinley ji,  Representative of Drikung Kagyu Institute; Hemkunt Gurudwara, Rishikesh Head, Sardar Darshan Singh ji, Principal Gurudwara Public School Piara Singh ji, Ganga Nandiniji, GIWA’s Director of Programme Implementation and Communication; and others – all of whom took part in the day long activities on the Ganga Ghat and at Parmarth Niketan.

Young children started arriving at the Ganga Ghat by 8am and were immediately engaged in beautiful planned activities that included Handwashing and Water School Experiments, fun Games, a Poster Making Competition, soap-making demonstration and Handwashing Day Quiz. All of these activities were led by the dedicated team from Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, Divine Shakti Foundation, Ganga Action Parivar and were designed to raise awareness of both handwashing and the importance of using eco-friendly cleaning alternatives to ensure that our planet is treated with the same respect as our hands and our body!

Thereafter a special stage programme brought together eminent dignitaries and leaders for a beautiful inaugural session, featuring the traditional lamp lighting ceremony, inspiring words from eminent faith leaders and dignitaries, more than 700 students, teachers and principals from over twenty local schools came together for a special Bhandara/Langar. The event concluded with a special water-blessing ceremony,

Pujya Swamiji, Co-Founder and Chair of GIWA and President of Parmarth Niketan offered His closing remarks by saying, “This is a day to come together…together in the name of health, hygiene and for a healthy, happy society. On the banks of Mother Ganga Handwashing Day is also Heart Washing Day. As we wash our hands, commit to keeping our outer environment clean, so to should we ensure to washing our hearts and our minds and keeping our inner environment clean. This is what our Faith Leaders inspire us to do and why we are here together to share this message with you.”

Dr Ramesh Nishank Pokhriyalji, Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Former Union Education Minister shared, “It is heartening to the consistent and dedicated service activities under the able leadership of Pujya Swamiji. Parmarth has always been a leader of inspiring social change, advocacy and awareness. This is the same Ghat where we first launched the Sparsh Ganga movement and today on Global Handwashing Day I am so glad to be with all of you children as you were the key to make the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a people’s movement and you continue to make me very proud. I am sure that if you pledge to keep your hands and your minds clean the nation will have an even brighter future.”

Pujya Sadhviji, the Secretary-General of GIWA, stated that, “This year, we are excited about the opportunity to promote even healthier hand washing practices with eco-friendly soap solutions that support both our waterways and communities. Commonly available, often harmful chemical soap and its typically single-use plastic packaging often ends up contaminating our ground-water and rivers, leading to unnecessary illness for people, animals and the earth. Yet natural, organic and eco-friendly soaps exist that are frequently made locally by women’s self-help groups (SHGs). These can be a powerful tool to expand our mission of health to include not only the health of our body’s but also the health of our waterways. This in turn supports Atmanirbharbharat and Being Vocal for Local.”

WATCH THE LIVE STREAM OF THE GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY (15th OCTOBER) PROGRAMME:

Param Pujya Bhaishriji gave an inspiring speech last evening to kick start the Global Handwashing Day sharing, “Aab Hume Haath Dokar Haath Donake Ke Peeche Lagna Hoga. Now it is time that we all focus and commit on Handwashing as one of the most powerful, simple and easy ways we can keep our bodies healthy and in turn ensure the health of our communities and our planets.”

He added, “If purity is the soul, then cleaniness is the body. Without a body we are not even able to experience consciousness therefore we must ensure that purity and cleaniness must go hand in hand. Without washing our hands in our religious tradition one can’t even sit down for worship or to eat and in our prayers and pujas handwashing is a critical prerequisite. Therefore, let us work to ensure access to clean water, organic eco-friendly soap and basic facilities to ensure everyone everywhere can wash their hands.”

WATCH THE LIVE STREAM OF THE KICKSTART OF GLOBAL HANDWASHING DAY (14th OCTOBER) DURING PARMARTH’S GANGA AARTI:

Also speaking to the students in addition to the saints and dignitaries were Ms Sultanaji, the Principal of Government Public School 1; Sanjay Gaurji, Collector Co-ordinator Head of Schools; Kalpana Sharma ji, Principal of the Red Fort International School; Dr Bhavna Sharma Dixit Ji, Teacher at Punjab Sindh Kshetra; and Srimati Punita Jhadiyalji, all of whom do such exemplary work in their respective schools!

Today’s commemoration of Global Handwashing Day was a festive way to celebrate the accomplishments of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance and UNICEF in promoting, providing and ensuring accessible and enhanced sanitation and hygiene for everyone. But, it also focused attention on the need to ensure that the sanitizers and cleaners that we use are eco-friendly so that the environment and our planet are clean and healthy, as well.

विश्व हैंडवाशिंग डे
परमार्थ निकेतन में धर्मगुरूओं, प्राचार्यों, शिक्षकों और विद्यार्थियों के साथ मनाया वर्ल्ड हैंडवाशिंग डे
महामंडलेश्वर स्वामी असंगानन्द सरस्वती जी महाराज के अवतरण दिवस पर समर्पित की आज की गंगा आरती
माँ गंगा के पावन तट पर विद्यालयों के बच्चों के साथ मनाया पूर्व राष्ट्रपति भारत रत्न ए पी जे अब्दुल कलाम साहब का जन्मदिन
स्वस्थ हाथ स्वस्थ प्लानेट
कैमिकलयुक्त नहीं बल्कि जैविक सोप में समाहित है स्वच्छता
स्वामी चिदानन्द सरस्वती

परमार्थ निकेतन के अध्यक्ष स्वामी चिदानन्द सरस्वती जी, जीवा की अन्तर्राष्ट्रीय महासचिव साध्वी भगवती सरस्वती जी, श्री रमेश पोखरियाल “निशंक जी, परमाध्यक्ष कृष्णपुंज धाम, जगद्गुरू स्वामी कृष्णाचार्य जी, राम तपस्थली, महामण्लेश्वर दयाराम दास जी, रामटेक पीठाधीश्वर स्वामी अजयराम जी, तुलसी मानस मन्दिर, महन्त रविपरपन्नाचार्य जी, आचार्य किनले जी ड्रिकुंग काग्यू संस्थान, हरिजन सेवक संघ के संजय राय जी, बीके आरती जी ब्रह्मा कुमारी, ऋषिकेश, स्वामी दया राम दास जी महाराज, स्वामी ईश्वर दास जी, श्री रवि शास्त्री जी, स्वामी गोपालाचार्य जी महाराज, प्रमुख गुरूद्वारा हेमकुण्ड साहिब, ऋषिकेश श्री दर्शन सिंह जी, प्राचार्य श्री पियारे सिंह जी और अन्य धर्मगुरूओं ने सहभाग कर साबुन के साथ हाथों को स्वच्छता से धोने का संदेश दिया

हैंड वाशिंग दिवस के अवसर पर विद्यालय के बच्चों को जैविक साबुन बनाना, हैंड वाशिंग की 7 स्टेप्स, हाथों की स्वच्छता के प्रति जागरूक करने हेतु पोस्टर प्रतियोगिता, पेंटिंग, स्वच्छता प्रश्नोत्तरी आदि विभिन्न गतिविधियों का आयोजन किया

ऋषिकेश, 15 अक्टूबर। परमार्थ निकेतन में प्रतिवर्ष ग्लोबल इंटरफेथ वाश एलायंस (जीवा) विभिन्न विद्यालयों को आमंत्रित कर हाथ धोने की सरल और प्रभावी तरीके के बारे में जागरूकता बढ़ाने के लिए विभिन्न धर्मो के धर्मगुरूओं और यूनिसेफ के विशेषज्ञों के साथ मिलकर हाथ धोने के प्रति जागरूक करने हेतु वृहद स्तर पर जन जागरूकता अभियान का आयोजन धार्मिक परिपेक्ष्य के आधार पर करता है।

आज वर्ल्ड हैंड वाशिंग डे के अवसर पर स्वामी चिदानन्द सरस्वती जी के पावन सान्निध्य में विभिन्न धर्मो के धर्मगुरूओं ने सहभाग कर स्वच्छता के धार्मिक महत्व के विषय में सभी को अवगत कराया तथा इस बारे में जागरूकता बढ़ाने के लिए सोशल मीडिया प्लेटफार्म के माध्यम से अभियान चलाया जा रहा है ताकि जमीनी स्तर पर सकारात्मक परिवर्तन किया जा सके।

स्वामी जी ने कहा कि स्वस्थ शरीर और स्वस्थ समाज के निर्माण में हाथ धोने की महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका है। सही तरीके से हाथ धोना जीवन बचाने का एक प्रभावी कदम है। हमें हैल्थी हैैंड ही नहीं बल्कि हैल्थी प्लानेट का भी ध्यान रखना होगा और इसके लिये कैमिकलयुक्त सोप नहीं बल्कि नीम, तुलसी, गुलाब की पंखुडियों से बनी आर्गेनिक सोप का उपयोग करना होगा तभी हम अपने जल स्रोतों और पृथ्वी को स्वच्छ और स्वस्थ रख सकते हैं।

स्वामी जी ने कहा कि ऋग्वेद में ‘अप्सु अन्तः अमृतं, अप्सु भेषजं’के रूप में जल के विशिष्ट गुणों का दिव्य वर्णन किया गया है। जल में अमृत है, जल में औषधि-गुण विद्यमान हैं अतः जल की शुद्धता-स्वच्छता को बनाए रखना परम आवश्यक है। जल में न केवल प्राणी बल्कि सम्पूर्ण मानवता का अस्तित्व समाहित है।

अथर्ववेदीय पृथ्वीसूक्त में कहा गया है ‘शुद्धा न आपस्तन्वे क्षरन्तु’। जल की शुद्धता स्वस्थ जीवन के लिए नितान्त आवश्यक है। जल के कारण ही पृथ्वी पर हरियाली बनी रहती है एवं सभी प्राणियों का जीवन स्वस्थ और आनन्दमय बना रहता हैं इसलिये जरूरी है हम आर्गेनिक सोप का उपयोग करें जैविक; आर्गेनिक साबुन का उपयोग करने पर हम माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी जी द्वारा दिये मंत्र लोकल से वोकल की यात्रा से भी जुड़ सकते हैं।

साध्वी भगवती सरस्वती जी ने ग्लोबल हैंड वाशिंग डे के अवसर पर आर्गेनिक सोप का उपयोग करने का संदेश देते हुये कहा कि आर्गेनिक सोप छोटे-छोटे सेल्फ हैल्प ग्रुप्स की महिलाओं द्वारा बनायी गयी होती है। आर्गेनिक सोप का उपयोग कर हम किसी को जीवन और जीविका भी प्रदान कर सकते हैं। आईये संकल्प करे कि हम हाथ धोने की आदत को अपनाये, साथ ही जैविक; आर्गेनिक साबुन का उपयोग कर देश की स्वच्छता, स्वास्थ्य और समृद्धि में योगदान करें।

स्वामी चिदानन्द सरस्वती जी, साध्वी भगवती सरस्वती जी और सभी पूज्य संतों ने पेंटिंग, प्रश्नोत्तरी प्रतियोगिता जैसी विभिन्न गतिविधियों में सहभाग करने वाले छात्रों को पुरस्कृत किया।

इस अवसर पर परमार्थ विद्या मंदिर – चंद्रेश्वर नगर, पीएनएसके – देहरादून रोड, पीएनएसके – गंगा नगर, जीजेएचएस – देहरादून, पीएनएसके – चंद्रेश्वर नगर, जीआईसी लक्ष्मण झूला, जीपीएस और जीजेएचएस नाबाहाउस, जीपीएस – 9 मायाकुंड, जीपीएस खारस्रोत, जीजेएचएस मनीराम मार्ग, जीआईसी तपोवन, जीपीएस चंद्रेश्वर नगर, जीपीएस बापूग्राम, जीपीएस ढलवाला, जीजेएचएस विद्या निकेतन, पंजाब सिंध क्षेत्र के विद्यार्थियों, गुरुद्वारा के छात्रों और परमार्थ निकेतन के ऋषिकुमारों ने सहभाग किया।

About GIWA

GIWA is the globe’s first organization to bring together the leaders of all faiths and people from across India and around the world to inspire a planet where everyone, everywhere can have access to sustainable and healthy water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).

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