Inauguration of Sanskritik Vidwat Kumbh with Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, Shri Keshari Nath Tripathiji, former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Hon’ble Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhanji, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji and a galaxy of other eminent dignitaries
Prayagraj: The Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, Shri Keshari Nath Tripathiji & former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Hon’ble Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the first day of the Sanskritik Vidwat Kumbh at Parmarth Niketan with the blessings of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan. The three-day event is being organized by Sanskar Bharti and Parmarth Niketan and will be bringing together scholars, artists, filmmakers, writers and many other eminent dignitaries together for a Kumbh of Thoughts and Human Values.
Some of the eminent dignitaries who will be featured on the panels include Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, President of the Divine Shakti Foundation, top Bollywood film directors, producers, artists, singers and/or actors, such as Dr. Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, Shir Shubhash Ghai, Shri Vivek Agnihotri, Shri Roopkumar Rathod, Smt Malini Awasthi, Smt Pratibha Prahlad, Shri Madhur Bhandarkar, Shri Kamlesh Pandey, Shri Vinod Anupam, Shri Rajeshwar Acharya, and Shri Yatindra Mishra.
The Sanskritik Vidwat Kumbh on the banks of the Sangam has a theme of a Sangam of thoughts and ideas centered on the importance of Indian culture, thought, and traditions. Those in attendance utilized their energy, talents, and thoughts to brainstorm on ways to rekindle, reinvigorate and uphold Indian culture through film, music, and literature. Sessions focused on the world of music and the role of cinema in society, on media, women’s empowerment, and the rich literary traditions of India.
On the occasion the Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, Shri Keshari Nath Tripathiji said, “This Kumbh Mela is truly unique and magical. The administration has done an incredible job to ensure a smooth and successful Kumbh. We don’t just come to the Kumbh to wash away our sins but rather to purify our hearts. The hardships of the yatra on the physical body allows us to drop the attachment to our body and then finally drop into our mind. The purification of the mind is the true liberation. This is the transformation that the Kumbh Mela offers.”
Hon’ble Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhanji said, “I am so glad that this Sanskritik Vidwat Kumbh is following our tradition started in the Simhastha Kumbh in Ujjain of the grand Vicharik Kumbh. It is a coincidence that today when I am on the banks of the Sangam it is also Narmada Jayanti, a most auspicious occasion. The rivers are the flow of our civilization and of our traditions. Kumbh is not only a festival of Snan (bathing) but one of finding and solving the solutions of our society. This is the churning of the ocean of our consciousness that the Kumbh Mela refers to. It’s a time when people come from many parts of the world, eat together, exchange thoughts and the nectar taken from that time together is what is given to the world.”
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji shared, “Our young people have started wearing jeans. I am not worried about our young people wearing jeans they should not forget their genes, their roots or their values. These are the values that the Kumbh Mela shares with all of humanity. Kumbh Mela is not an exhibition but an experience. It is a testament of our rich heritage which has always spoken about the oneness of all beings. I think the next thing that we need to call for from the banks of the Sangam is for World Oneness Day – what the world needs the most is oneness, all-ness and togetherness.”
Amrit (nectar) of culture, wisdom & truth emerged from the @SANSKARBHARTII Sanskriti Vidwat Kumbh @ParmarthNiketan camp in #KumbhMela2019 . Led by #AmirChand ji & @friendsofrss , blessed by @PujyaSwamiji & attended by great leaders..Here is my talk from aarti.. #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/0KIn9zwIW4
— Sadhvi Bhagawati (@SadhviBhagawati) February 18, 2019
There was a special tribute to Shri Anil Madhav Dave, Former Minister of Environment and Forests, Government of India who was behind the Vaicharik Kumbh in Simhastha Kumbh, Ujjain.
Malini Awasthi, famous folk artist, shared, “Kumbh is a tradition of giving. It is also the most disciplined gathering of the world that comes without any invitation. Kumbh is symbolized by a pitcher but this pitcher is not just water but the pitcher of thoughts and ideas. These three days we will be talking about and sharing on various different and diverse topics of spirituality, folk music, cinema, and many other topics.”
Madhur Bandarikar, Indian film director, script writer, and producer, “This is my very first Mela and I am so glad to be here today. I recommend the Kumbh Experience to everyone.”
At the conclusion of the inaugural session the dignitaries took part in a special pledge to protect our sacred rivers by the holding up of trees and performing a water blessing ceremony.
There were also two sessions today, and the first entitled “World of Music”, included Smt Malini Awasthi, Smt Hemalatha, Smt Pratibha Prahalad, Shri Rajeshwar Acharya, Shri Yatindra Mishra. The second one followed the beautiful Sangam Aarti at Parmarth Niketan and was entitled “Cinema and Society”, with Dr. Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, Shri Shubhash Ghai, Shri Vivek Agnihotri Ji, Shri Madhur Bhandarkar, Shri Kamlesh Pandey, and Shri Vinod Anupam.