His Excellency Haris Silajdžić, Former President and Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina and his wife Selma Silajdžić, who is also a Yoga Teacher, came home to Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh) to meet with HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji. They had been so touched and inspired by their meeting with Pujya Swamiji in Delhi at the two day Sach Bharat conference that they immediately accepted Pujya Swamiji’s warm invitation to come home to Parmarth, on the banks of Mother Ganga in the lap of the Himalayas, for a few days.
While here they took part in the divine evening Ganga Aarti ceremony and were especially blessed and felicitated by Pujya Swamiji with a special Rudraksha sapling. They led a special pledge for world peace and universal brotherhood.
His Excellency Haris Silajdžić said, “The land of India has given birth to great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and so many others, who have taught the world how to lead a world of ahimsa (non-violence). I strongly believe that there can not be anything more relevant or needed in this world then to an end to terrorism and violence, which are tearing apart countries, communities and families. Let us preserve and protect as well as share this sacred culture of India, which is largely touched and inspired by the banks of Mother Ganga, to touch and transform the world into the peaceful future we would want to give to our future generations.”
Pujya Swamiji blessed and inspired everyone by sharing, “India has always shared that the world is one family. Our sacred culture and traditions, such as the Ganga Aarti, are a testament to this ancient and timeless Santan Dharma. Let us revive these values and share them with each other and let us recognize that we must act now to not only protect humanity but the very planet that they inhabit. Because, as I always say, that there can be a Plan A and Plan B but there can NOT be a planet B. There is only one planet and one humanity and we all must collectively work every moment and every minute to be these Peace Ambassadors, dousing all flames of discord with our holy waters of serenity, peace and love.”
During their stay, they shared about ways that the countries of India, Bosnia and Herzegovina could work together to promote world peace and environmental preservation.
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Director of International Yoga Festival, President of Divine Shakti Foundation spoke about the upcoming International Yoga Festival at Parmarth Niketan from the 1-7th March and they collectively agreed that the practice of Yoga could be a great means by which we could create and sustain a more peaceful world for all.