The display of sewa activities by about 400 Hindu spiritual organisations
in 8th Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair organised in Chennai from August 2 to 8
connects the dots between the spirituality and modern challenges
The 8th Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair (HSSF) concluded on August 8 at AM
Jain College Ground. Inaugurated by noted yoga guru Baba Ramdev on August 2 in
the presence of many Sikh and Buddhist scholars the six-day Fair attracted over
10 lakh visitors from all walks of life. About 400 spiritual organisations
showcased the services rendered by them.
The theme of the Fair this year was to spread the message conserving forest and
protecting wildlife, preserving ecology, sustaining environment, inculcating
family and human values, fostering women’s honour and instilling patriotism.
The Fair was jointly organised by Initiative for Moral and Cultural Training
Foundation (IMCTF) and Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation (HSSF).
“Since service is in our blood, we do not need to learn it from anyone
else. No matter to which religion people belong, we always support and respect
everyone, and this is what Hinduism is. Hinduism is all about co-existence.
Hinduism is not a narrow religion. The ethos, tenets and culture of Hinduism
are a way of life in India. India owed its secularism to Hinduism. There are
those who serve but also compel people to convert but this is not the kind of
sewa preached in Hinduism. The doors here are open for all,” said Baba Ramdev.
He further said we do not discriminate in the society. We have scriptures
that dates back to thousands of years and have answers to almost everything. Students
should learn modern and Vedic education side by side, he urged. Elaborating on
the benefits of yoga, he said, “Yoga helps one to live a stress-free, drug-free
and violence-free life. He said yoga could prevent and heal many ailments. To
the utter surprise of everybody who gathered there, Baba Ramdev enthralled
audience with his gravity-defying asanas like Sirasasana.
Ghese Nawang Samten, a Buddhist scholar, Giani Iqbal Singh, a Sikh scholar,
and Dr Veerendra Heggade, the noted philanthropist also took part in the
inaugural function.
Chief organiser Shri S Gurumurthy said about 400 organisations had
registered to setup stalls, and six themes had been selected, one for each day.
“Today, many do not know the practice of Acharya Vandanam or Matru, Pitru Vandanam.
We want to manifest the spiritual values through these themes. We are confident
the Fair will be held in all states by 2019,” he said.
Prior to the inauguration function, over 2,000 women carried Kalasams
(pots) with Ganga-Cauvery water in procession to press for the linking of these
two major perennial sacred rivers. Before the inaugural function, the
dignitaries were taken in procession in horse driven well decorated chariots to
the venue. During the six-day Fair, each day theme based items were organised.
On the first-day preservation environment, second day acharya, parents
Vandanam, on third day worshipping and
honouring the womanhood, Svavashini pooja where married elderly ladies
were given new dresses. In the kanya vandanam, young girls below 12 years were
given new dresses, glass bangles, kumkum, note books, etc.
A replica of Kailash with Shiva
sitting on it was the cynosure of attraction
By TS Venkatesan
Courtesy: Organiser
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