Day 1: Green Shri Ram Katha by Pujya Bapuji at Parmarth

The first day of the beautiful Shri Ram Katha at Parmarth Niketan by Pujya Sant Shri Morari Bapuji began with a divine start. With only eight days after confirmation of the Katha, nonetheless, pulled by the call of Mother Ganga and the Divine call of Bhagawan Rama, thousands of people poured in from around the world and from across India to Parmarth, to the holy banks of Ganga. By the Grace of God, the scorching heat was subdued with light rain just a day before the Katha and a cooling breeze set in to welcome all Parmarth’s guests, yatris and pilgrims.

Pujya Swamiji warmly welcomed Pujya Morari Bapuji to Devbhoomi Rishikesh and lovingly introduced the nine day Green Katha, which would be dedicated to Mother Nature, Mother Earth and the environment, with a strong emphasis and appeal to preserve and serve our planet, and it will be also dedicated to the memory of the thousands who lost their lives in the Uttarakhand floods as well as to their families and communities who are still recovering from this tremendous loss. The final day of the katha, June 21, also coincides with the first annual International Yoga Day, so a very special programme has been planned to celebrate this historic event in the birthplace of yoga, in the lap of the Himalayas, on the banks of Mother Ganga.

Both Pujya Morari Bapuji and Pujya Swamiji shared how they had been trying for many years to have the divine Shri Ram Katha by Pujya Bapuji at Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh), on the banks of Mother Ganga, and that after many, many years the most auspicious occasion had finally come. He deeply appreciated Pujya Swamiji for cancelling His plans to be in USA, at the United Nations in New York for International Yoga Day and instead to celebrate the special day here in Rishikesh, culminating in the final day of the Katha. Pujya Bapuji expressed his great joy at being at Parmarth and said that today he truly felt heaven was here at Parmarth. He also shared that the focus of the nine day katha would be Manas Parmarth and would like to have a open, interactive dialogue about the mention and reference of Parmarth in the Ram Charit Manas.

Also gracing the inaugural day was eminent Yog Guru Pujya Swami Ramdevji who warmly and lovingly offered his oblation to Pujya Morari Bapuji and sharing that Pujya Bapuji had always and still remains a great source of inspiration to him. He shared his happiness that International Yoga Day would be celebrated by millions of people from all across India and that in Rishikesh, Pujya Bapuji and Pujya Swamiji would be leading a very special and deeply inspiring programme.
Also gracing the inaugural day was eminent Yog Guru Pujya Swami Ramdevji who warmly and lovingly offered his respects to Pujya Morari Bapuji and Pujya Swamiji. Pujya Swami Ramdevji emphasized how Pujya Bapuji has been a great source of inspiration to him since the early 1990s when he heard Bapuji’s katha in Gangotri. He shared his happiness that International Yoga Day would be celebrated by millions of people from all across India and that in Rishikesh, Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Bapuji would be leading a very special and deeply inspiring programme.

After the katha there was divine Ganga Aarti with Hon’ble Cabinet Minister for Textiles and Handlooms, Smt Snehangini Churia from Government of Odisha joining for the beautiful ceremony.

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