Shri Ravi Shankar Prasadji, Hon’ble Law & Justice and IT Minister comes home to Parmarth Niketan (Rishikesh), and welcomed by Pujya Swamiji.

The Hon’ble Minister graced the month-long “Shri Rama Katha” taking place at Parmarth Niketan, which is dedicated to the preservation and protection of the environment and conservation of the River Ganga. During the event, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji shared a copy of the National Ganga Rights Act with Hon’ble Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Shri Ravi Shankar Prasadji, saying, “The time has come for law and love to come together for protecting our National River Ganga. Today a comprehensive Ganga Rights Act must be implemented to protect the sacred lifeline for the more than 500 million people who live on Ganga’s banks and directly depend upon her water not only for moksha but for their very lives and livelihoods.”

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasadji shared that he unfortunately would not be able to make it for the upcoming 3-4th June celebrations*, on the auspicious occasion of Pujya Swamiji’s 65th Birthday and Ganga Dusshera.

He shared, “It is a great honour and joy to come home to #ParmarthNiketan and seek the divine blessings of Pujya Swamiji. Pujya Swamiji and I have a relationship that goes back many years. His great vision and service to spread the message of Sanatan Dharma, to protect our environment and Mother Ganga is truly extraordinary. I pray that He, by God’s Grace, continues to guide and bless us for at least another 65 years.”

Shri Ravi Shankar Prasadji also spoke effusively and enthusiastically about the 11-volume “Encyclopedia of Hinduism” project, conceived and led by Pujya Swamiji, and he praised Sadhvi Bhagawatiji’s great dedication and pivotal role in the completion of the momentous project which involved more than 1000 scholars from around the world and was completed and presented to the Hon’ble President of India in June 2013. He also mentioned how Pujya Swamiji’s tireless dedication to cleaning up the River Ganga and towards a Clean India must have been the divine seed that has brought forth the great mission of these initiatives under Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji’s leadership.

*Eminent experts, environmentalists, faith leaders, captains of industry, cine stars and representatives from global bodies including the United Nations (UN) will be taking part in a special two day high level summit titled “You are the Solution” for rejuvenating and protecting the waters of holy river Ganga being organised on the banks of Ganga at Parmarth Niketan, #Rishikesh on June 3 & 4, 2017.

The two day summit on the River Ganga and Green India is being organised by Global Interfaith WASH Alliance (GIWA), the world’s first initiative that is engaging the planet’s many faiths as allies in efforts to create a world where every human being has access to safe drinking water, improved #sanitation and proper #hygiene.

Global Leaders attending the summit will discuss current challenges being faced by the holy river and suggest ways to protect and maintain aviral (free-flowing) and nirmal (unpolluted) state of river Ganga and find workable solutions to the problems of pollution and obstruction.

The Summit will start on the morning of 3rd June with a Swachh Uttarakhand, Swachh Bharat Workshop, which will be followed in the afternoon by a mega high-level, interfaith Summit with the theme of: “You Are the Change” during which individuals and institutions doing incredible work in the field of river conservation will be honoured and awarded. The Summit will continue on the 4th June with focused discussions with an eye on solutions and conclude with another large evening event with eminent leaders from many religions and many sectors and more awards.