Uttarakhand Governor Baby Rani Mauryaji visits Parmarth Niketan
Republic of Women: Summit of Grace
The Hon’ble Governor of Uttarakhand, Shri Baby Rani Mauryaji, visited the Parmarth Niketan, Ganga Action Parivar, ‘Green Kumbh’ camp. Greeted by Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President of Parmarth Niketan, and Dr Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji, Secretary General of Global Interfaith WASH Alliance, along with pilgrims from fifteen countries, was briefed on the upcoming Republic of Women: Summit of Grace Event being held at the camp from 27 January through 29 January.
Hon’ble Governor said: “We need for women to be educated and to have equal opportunities, and most important to have skills that complement their education. Through a combination of education and skills these women become self-sustaining and culturally they are no longer seen as a burden and therefore greater opportunities exist. The need for child marriage ends as we have women who are seen and honoured as whole and valuable.”
The Hon’ble Governor was so pleased to be at the camp that she intends to return in February for the KIVA Kumbh Mela, a gathering of tribal leaders from South America and different parts of India. The KIVA Kumbh Mela is a 4-day exchange program of cultures and spirituality that includes traditionally fire ceremonies and prayers.
During her visit she took a snan in the sangam, met with a group of young women (rishi kanyas) being educated in the vedic mantras. The Hon’ble Governor also made an offering to the beautiful Vishwa Shanti Yagna in Parmarth’s Yagyashala and had a moment of meditation to Maa Ganga, honouring the beauty and vibrancy of India’s nature and her waters, significant in this sacred space of the sangam at Kumbh Mela.
Pujya Swamiji said: “Our beloved Governor of Uttarakhand is committed to leading India to be a ‘green India’ – clean water, safe water; clean air, healthy air; healthy people, thriving people! India has a spiritual culture that is the foundation for all that is the greatness of India! Our nature is key to our culture and so we MUST do all that we can do to protect, preserve, restore, and rejuvenate our rivers, our trees, our land. This is our future. No nature, no future. With our nature, a strong future and a thriving culture.”
Sadhvi Bhagawati said: “We are one family. I am more hopeful now than ever before, in my almost 23 years in India, that the infrastructure needed for India to not just survive, but to thrive is coming into place. Our beloved Governor inspires and leads the people of the state of Uttarakhand to love Mother Ganga, to serve Mother Nature, to bless the Divine Mother in all of creation. She is Shakti in all her power and all of her grace. Now is the time for all of us to come together – to love, to serve, to bless – to be love, to be in service, to be the blessing of the Divine – in how we act, what we do, how we pray and in what we say.”