A beautiful and large scale clean up took place in Swargashram, Rishikesh where more than 300 participants from the Swaminarayan Sadhana Shivir, led by Pujya Madhavpriya Swamiji, taking place in Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh), were inspired and encouraged by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji to bring spirituality and sadhana (devotional practice) into action.
They were encouraged to have the name of the lord, Jai Swaminarayan, on their lips and the work of the lord, serving selflessly for a Swachh Bharat (Clean India), in their hands. It was beautifully explained that just as spiritual practice helps purify our internal environment so too the physical act of cleaning our outside environment helps purify the external environment, hence bridging the gap between our external and internal spaces so that they may be truly reflect the Divine.
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Secretary General Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, led participants and volunteers from across the world to join in these efforts. She was also joined by Sue Perkins, English comedian, broadcaster, actress and writer, Victoria, Fred and their crew from BBC doing a documentary along the River Ganga. The massive clean up concluded with a refreshing and rejuvenating Ganga Snan (bath in the sacred River Ganga).