Highlights:  (click on a link to go to that section) Pujya Swamiji with the PRESIDENT OF INDIA Pujya Swamiji with the Home Minister of India Pujya Swami Ramdevji comes to Parmarth, Veerpur Pujya Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji comes to Parmarth, Veerpur   Mundan puja for Ishaan Popat  Tsunami Relief Update - Opening of part of home of orphans and widowed/abandoned ladies Pujya Swamiji at Pujya Swami Ramdevji's Patanjali Yoga Peeth opening Pujya Swamiji receives the "Diamond of Uttranchal" Award H.H. Pujya Shankaracharyaji, Kanchi Kaam Koti atParmarth Divine Marriage of Shri R.S. Toliaji's daughter at Parmarth Sacred Ganga Saree puja Dr. K.L.Seshagiri Rao is given Vishwa Hindu Award Pujya Swamiji's upcoming itinerary

March 16 -- Delhi
On the 16th of March, Pujya Swamiji traveled to Delhi for meetings with His Excellency the President of India, Shri ABJ Kalam and the Honorable Home Minister, Shri Shivraj Patil. Also present were Pujya Swami Hansrajji, Pujya Acharya Balkrishanji, Pujya Sadhvi Ritambharaji, Shri Ashok Singhalji and many other saints and social leaders.

	Pujya Swamiji discusses IHRF's work with His Excellency the President

Pujya Swamiji shows His Excellency the President images of our work in Mansarovar and other areas

Pujya Swamiji and the other saints sit with His Excellency the President

At the meeting with the Honorable Home Minister, Pujya Swamiji discussed issues of the flow of Ganga, how to keep Ganga clean, as well as our divine projects in Mansarovar and the tsunami relief areas. The Honorable Home Minister graciously agreed to be present at the official opening of our home for orphans and widowed/abandoned ladies in Cuddalore. 

	Pujya Swamiji discusses IHRF's innumerable projects including work in Mansarovar and the tsunami affected areas.     The Honorable Home Minister expressed his great appreciation.

Pujya Swamiji, Pujya Swami Hansdasji and Pujya Acharya Balkrishanji with the Hon. Home Minister
 

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March -- Rishikesh
At a function organized by the Dhyan Mandir Trust in Rishikesh, Pujya Swamiji was a Chief Guest along with Pujya Swami Ramdevji.

Following the function, Pujya Swami Ramdevji and Pujya Swami Hans Dasji came with Pujya Swamiji to our beautiful land in Veerpur. A beautiful afternoon was spent on the banks of Mother Ganga, in the peaceful and serene environment, with the divine rishikumars of the Parmarth Gurukul.

	Pujya Swamiji with Pujya Swami Ramdevji and Pujya Swami Hansdasji at Veerpur

Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Swami Ramdevji on the roof of Parmarth's Gurukul at Veerpur

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March -- Veerpur, Rishikesh
Pujya Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji was in Rishikesh in March for a teacher's training program. During his time there, he came to see the divine land in Veerpur with some of his devotees. He, too, loved the land and said it is so peaceful, beautiful and serene.

They enjoyed a beautiful walk on the roof of the gurukul, overlooking the beautiful gardens and the divine flow of Mother Ganga. 

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March  -- Rishikesh
During the International Yoga Festival (see www.parmarth.com/updates/yogafestival2006) the Princess of Morocco came for the divine Ganga Aarti and to have Pujya Swamiji's darshan. She was on a special trip to India, and came especially to Rishikesh for the Aarti and to meet Pujya Swamiji.

	Princess of Morocco performing Ganga Aarti

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March 27 -- Rishikesh
Sujal and Hema Popat of New Jersey traveled to India for the sacred mundan ceremony of their son, Ishaan.

A beautiful puja was performed on the banks of Mother Ganga.

Pujya Swamiji is always so impressed to see the piety and devotion of people who travel to India to the holy places to perform the sacred sanskaras (mundan, sacred thread, wedding, etc.)

	the haircutting is performed and then dear Ishaan is bathed in Ganga

	At the holy feet of Lord Shiva, dear Ishaan receives divine blessings, and also the love of his older brother Shyam.

	Final, divine blessings bestowed by Pujya Swamiji

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March -- Rishikesh
An Osho Meditation camp was held at Vanprasth Ashram in Rishikesh, led by Osho's brother and others leaders. Pujya Swamiji was requested to come and give a talk to the devotees.

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April 2 -- Tsunami Affected Areas
Pujya Swamiji traveled back down to the tsunami affected areas where Project Hope is -- with the generosity of donors -- rebuilding the villages of Pannithittu and Pattincheri in Pondicherry and constructing a home for orphans and widowed/abandoned ladies (see www.projecthope-tsunami.com).

As the orphaned children have been living in temporary government facilities for over a year, everyone was eager to move them into the new facility. The dormitory rooms were still being constructed but the huge, beautiful dining room had been completed. Therefore, we had the official "opening" of the dining hall and moved all the orphans there on the temporary basis until the dormitory facilities are completed. The full project, including school rooms, computer center, medical clinic, vocational training center, etc. is being generously sponsored by Smt. Bellaben and Shri Yogeshbhai Patel of Tampa, Florida, USA and Drs. Kiranbhai and Pallaviben Patel (through the Patel Foundation) of Tampa, Florida, USA.

Pujya Swamiji and Shri Gagandeep Singh Bediji, the District Collector of Cuddalore open the new dining hall

	Children in the beautiful hall; Pujya Swamiji lights the lamp with the young orphan girls

	Orphan children praying; The District Collector gives Pujya Swamiji a shawl

Pujya Swamiji and Shri Gagandeep Singh Bediji, the District Collector of Cuddalore pose with some of the orphan children

April 4-6 -- Haridwar
 
Pujya Swamiji was one of the chief guests at the opening of the Patanjali Yoga Peeth Ayurvedic hospital in Haridwar. This is probably the largest Ayurvedic Hospital in the world with OPD facilities for 5000-10,000 patients per day and beds for up to 3000 inpatients. Patients will receive ayurvedic treatment as well as yoga and pranayama. This is the divine project of Pujya Swami Ramdevji.

	Pujya Swamiji sitting with Pujya Swami Ramdevji

	Pujya Swamiji with Pujya Swami Ramdevji and Pujya Brahmachari Brahmaswarupji.

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April 16 -- Dehradun
Pujya Swamiji was given the award of "Uttaranchal Ratan", the "Diamond of Uttranchal" award for his great, peerless service in the realm of spiritual teaching. The award was given by His Excellency the Honorable Governor of Uttranchal, Shri Sudarshan Agarwalji.

	The Honorable Governor hands the award to Pujya Swamiji

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April 29-30 -- Rishikesh
H.H. Pujya Sri Shankaracharyaji Maharaj, Swami Jayendra Saraswatiji, Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kaam Koti came to Parmarth Niketan. He has always been very close to Pujya Swamiji and, hence when he was coming to Haridwar for a function, he came and stayed for the night at Parmarth Niketan.

Pujya Sri Shankaracharayji is taken down to the Ganga Ghat at Parmarth Niketan

	Pujya Sri Shankaracharyaji with Pujya Swamiji and Pujya M.M. Swami Asanganandji

	Pujya Sri Shankaracharyaji graces the Ganga Aarti with his presence.

April 29 -- Rishikesh
The divine wedding between the daughter of Shri R.S. Toliaji, the former Chief Secretary of Uttranchal and current Chief Information Commissioner, Nidhi and Karan took place at Parmarth Niketan. It was a divine and beautiful occasion, to have the two young souls wed on the holy banks of Mother Ganga, in the holy presence of Pujya Sri Shankaracharyaji, Pujya Swamiji and Pujya M.M. Swami Asanganandji.

The Honorable Chief Minister of Uttranchal, Shri Narayan Dutt Tiwariji and so many government officials also came for the auspicious occasion. 

The bride and her mother with Pujya Swamiji and the Honorable Chief Minister

	the Bride and Groom receive blessings from Pujya Sri Shankaracharyaji and Pujya Swamiji and also perform divine Ganga Yagna

	Pujya Swamiji and the Hon. Chief Minister; Pujya Swamiji with the newlyweds

	The bride and groom and their families perform sacred Ganga Aarti.

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May 1 -- Haridwar
While His Holiness Pujya Sri Shankaracharyaji was in Haridwar and Rishikesh, He graced the occasion of the first Dandi Swami Sammellan with His presence.

Also present were Pujya Swami Satyamitranandji, Pujya Swami Avdeshanandji, Pujya Brahmachari Brahmaswarupji and many other revered saints

	Pujya Swamiji with Pujya Swami Avdeshanandji, Pujya Brahmachariji and other saints

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May 21 -- Rishikesh
The divine puja of Gunga Chundani (putting a saree on Mother Ganga) was organized and sponsored by Shri Atulbhai and Smt. Ninaben Pandya of Ahmedabad.  It was a beautiful occasion in which all of the rishikumars went into the waters of Mother Ganga, carrying the sarees -- 108 tied together -- and held the beautiful sarees on Her divine waters. Then, the sarees were passed, hand by hand, back to the ghat where they were draped carefully onto the beautiful murti of Ganga Mata.

	The sarees are carried into the waters of Mother Ganga and held by the rishikumars and devotees

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May 21 -- Mysore
Dr. K.L. Seshagiri Rao, the Chief Editor of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism, was given the prestigious award of Vishwa Hindu by Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji and the board of Avadhoota Datta Peetham, Mysore. The award was given for Dr. Rao's lifetime commitment and contribution to Hinduism through his role as the Chief Editor of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism (see www.ihrf.com), his role as an esteemed professor of Hinduism and also through various other literary, pedantic and editorial roles for the world Hindu community.

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