Go Green, Go Organic Pact Signed by Buddhist and Hindu Leaders

A historic interfaith pact was signed on 02.06.2018 by HH Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche and HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji in presence of the Hon’ble Minister of State for HRD and Ganga Rejuvenation, Dr Satyapal Singh.

The agreement, which will bring together interfaith forces to inspire and lead programmes in indigenous herbal cultivation, water saving agriculture and tree plantations, was signed by HH Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche, the 37th throne holder of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan and Founder of Ganga Action Parivar and the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA).

Recently, the State of Uttarakhand signalled its intentions to become completely organic, which will help to protect water resources, improve soil and improve family incomes in the hilly state. The pact will pay special attention to propagating indigenous medicinal herbs, trees and crops that can help benefit the health and well-being of people across Uttarakhand and around the world through the Go Green Go Organic Movement and GIWA’s Ganga River Institute for Sustainable Development.

On the occasion HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji – Muniji​ said, “On this eve of World Environment Day, let us all come together and stay together so that our beautiful rivers may run clean and our soils may nourish countless future generations with life-sustaining bounties. The answer for a healthier world is to go green and go organic. When we sign this Memorandum of Understanding today it is a signature for Nature and a commitment to work together for our future.”

Also discussed on eco-friendly crematoriums, which saves more than 60% wood as compared to traditional cremations, the Mokshda Green Crematorium System, while still enabling families to conduct full rituals. The ashes can be planted with new tree saplings, to enable last living tributes to loved ones. Another technology for eco-friendly crematorium technology that uses no wood at all but rather cow dung, the Vasudha technology, coming up as a pilot plan in Varanasi was also discussed.

Dr Satyapal Singh earlier this year on the issue, “I appeal to everyone, ashes must be buried in ground and saplings should be planted on it, so even the coming generations can remember (the deceased). I urge all priests, associated with rituals, to create awareness among people over it.”

After the signing of the pact, a beautiful documentary, “Baca by the River” by filmmaker Robin Gordon was screened in order to educate and inspire the masses for clean and free-flowing rivers.

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