India’s Hon’ble Vice President, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu, joined forces with the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, Harijan Sevak Sangh, and revered spiritual leaders of India’s many faiths, to inspire 3,000 Gandhian and tribal representatives from across India to become trailblazers for a clean and sustainable world.
The high-level 2-day event was followed by a valedictory session with India’s President HE Ram Nath Kovind at the Presidential Mansion, during which GIWA Founder, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati, was presented with a prestigious award by the President.
Inspiration was palpable in the massive event, as rousing speeches led the crowd towards collectively pledging for taking Mahatma Gandhi’s vision for a clean India into mission mode.
The next day, in the celebrated grounds of the Presidential Mansion, President Kovind congratulated all assembled for their unity. By the hands of the President, HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Co-Founder and Chairman of GIWA, was presented with the Mahatma Gandhi Lifetime Peace and Service Award from the Harijan Sevak Sangh for his unparalleled work for interfaith harmony and service for all of humanity, with no discrimination, no expectation, no hesitation and no vacation.
Afterwards, a sapling cultivated from the original Bodhi tree (under which the Buddha became enlightened) was planted by HE the President with Pujya Swamiji, GIWA Secretary-General, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji and the collected leaders to send an important message on environmental conservation and preservation.
The President emphasized in his speech how Pujya Swamiji is renowned for bringing saplings from Rishikesh as gifts, to bring the green message to the masses
The Summit was jointly organized by the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance and the Harijan Sevak Sangh (founded by Mahatma Gandhi).
