Five-Day National Workshop Begins at Parmarth Niketan
Priests from Five Ganga-Riparian States and the Greater Ganga Basin Perform World Peace Yagna in the Divine Presence of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji
Organised jointly by Parmarth Niketan, Namami Gange, Arth Ganga and the Ministry of Jal Shakti
Mother Ganga is not merely a river — she is the lifeline of Indian civilization. She is the source of culture, the foundation of spirituality and the economic backbone for nearly 40% of India’s population. She is a national artery, and her protection is not just the duty of governments — it is the sacred responsibility of every citizen, every priest, every youth, every family.
Today, Parmarth Niketan inaugurated a five-day awareness and Aarti-training workshop dedicated to Maa Ganga, attended by priests, ritual practitioners and young trainees from across the Ganga belt — including Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, alongside participants from the wider Ganga Basin.
The workshop commenced with the divine presence and blessings of Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj.
Following the inauguration, the priests participated in a World Peace Yagna, taking a collective resolve for upliftment, compassion and national welfare.
Pujya Swami Ji delivered a powerful message, “This is not the time to receive donations — this is the time to repay our debt to the rivers.”
For centuries, rivers have given us water, life, culture, faith, economy and identity. Now, protecting them is the highest dharma.
He urged the priest-community not to limit themselves to ritual performance but to lead water conservation, cleanliness, plastic-free riverbanks, environmental protection and public awareness.
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji explained the essence of the word “Purohit”: Puro = Ahead, Hit = Welfare. Meaning — one who stands ahead of society and opens the path of welfare is the true Purohit.
He added, “If Mother Ganga is not safe, the breath of humanity cannot be safe. A Purohit is not merely a conduit for rituals — he is a leader of social transformation.”
He stressed that the tradition of Aarti must evolve beyond emotional ritual into an environmental movement and a campaign of civic responsibility.
This workshop is not just ritual-training — it is character-building, behavioural transformation and stewardship for Mother Earth.
Focus areas include:
- purity in Aarti, Havan and mantra chanting
- water conservation and waste management
- scientific, social and spiritual dimensions of Ganga protection
- plastic-free worship and responsible handling of ritual waste
Experts highlighted the present threats to Ganga — chemical effluents, sewage, plastic waste, unscientific construction and ritual waste, urging systemic correction and leadership from riverfront communities.
Pujya Swami Ji emphasized, “At every Ganga ghat, the first point of contact for the public is the Purohit. If he speaks — society will awaken, ghats will transform, the river will be saved.”
This is Dharma. This is Environment. This is Nation-Service.
Every Priest — a Leader of Change
Every Citizen — a Guardian of Ganga
Every Youth — a Warrior for the Environment
If Ganga survives — the future survives.
Let us resolve today — we will not wait for Ganga to change, we will change ourselves.