Parmarth Niketan’s two-week music concert culminated on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Bharatratna Ustad Bismillah Khan Sahib, the world famous shehnai (a subcontinental wind instrument of the oboe class) player and World Forest Day.
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, President,Parmarth Niketan, recalled Bismillah Khan and said that he spread joy and happiness in the universe with the music of the shehnai, his magic charm.
Bismillah Khan Sahib, the ultimate devotee of Mother Ganga, used to practice for hours on the banks of Ganga. On his remembrance Pujya Swamiji said “Let us all help to ensure that the music of health, hygiene and harmony must always ring in our nation. At the very foundation of health and hygiene is the protection and preservation of our environment. Without the forests there can be no rivers upon which we can be inspired to play, create music and or meditate. Forests are like mothers for our rivers. When we protect our forests, we not only protect our air and our soil, but we also protect and conserve our rivers, our music and our lives! ”
Watch Pujya Swamiji’s inspiring message on water, forests and trees.
Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswatiji also urged everyone, on behalf of Pujya Swamiji, to adopt a green and environmentally friendly lifestyle and encouraged everyone to plant trees on the occasion of every birthday, anniversary and every celebrations.
She shared during satsang, “In the lush forest of our minds lies the true nature of our being. On World Forest Day, let’s pledge to live our lives in harmony with Mother Nature and always remember our true and divine nature as a co-creator and inherent part of this sacred creation.”
Pujya Swamiji especially honoured Kiran a eminent singer and artist from Israel during the Ganga Aarti ceremony for her dedication and commitment to Hindustani music. Kiran enchanted everyone by singing Vande Mataram, special Krishna Bhajan and a divine Sufi Qawali song.
All participants of the festival were inspired to raise their hands and pledge to strive to make their music with a message for the protection of the environment and the promotion of the 3H’s: Health, Hygiene and Harmony.