|
|
VISHWA
DHARMA PRASAAR YATRA -
WORLD PEACE PILGRIMAGE
PACIFIC
AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA LEG
 |
|
|
|
| |
In August 2000, hundreds of the
world�s spiritual and religious leaders gathered at the
United Nations in New York for the Millennium World Peace
Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders.
At the Summit, it became clear that
peace, harmony and universal brotherhood could only be
brought to the world by the spiritual leaders of all
traditions uniting in a spirit of love and harmony. Neither
political leaders nor social leaders alone could accomplish
this feat.
Pujya
Swamiji speaking at the UN
|
|
|
 |
|
|
From this realization of the
importance of the world�s spiritual leaders coming
together to spread a message of universal love and peace,
the concept of the Vishwa Dharma Prasaar Yaatra took birth.
Sponsored by the Vishwa Pravasi Bharati Leaders Forum, the
Yaatra has traveled through USA, the Caribbean, Europe,
Russia and Africa, bringing the wisdom and insight of Dharma
Gurus to hundreds of thousands of people across the globe.
The Yaatra completed its Pacific and
South East Asia leg from September 20 - October 8, visiting
Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bali, Sydney, Fiji, Auckland
and Hong Kong.
The Yatra was blessed by the presence
and wisdom of His Holiness Shankaracharya Swami
Divyanand Teerthji (Bhanpura Peeth), His Holiness Swami
Chidanand Saraswatiji, Her Holiness Sadhvi Ritambharaji, His
Holiness Ven. Lama Lobsang, His Holiness Ven. Sudamalankar
Theroji, and His Holiness Dr. Manjit Singhji.
The Yatra was led by Shri Mohanlal
Mittal, President of Vishwa Pravasi Bharati Leaders Forum,
and Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Modi, Trustee of VPBLF and the VC of
the Maha Bodhi Society.
The theme of the yaatra is Vasudhaiv
Kutumbhakam �The World is One Family,� and in support of
this theme, the Dharma Gurus include leaders of a variety of
spiritual traditions, all of whom share and emphasize the
message that �The truth is one, but the paths are many.�
The revered spiritual leaders gave
messages of unity, peace and one-ness amongst all peoples
across the world. They also shared inspiring wisdom on how
to live lives of peace and how to achieve the ultimate goal
of God realization.
In addition to the Dharmagurus, in
each function other speakers also included Shri Mohanlal
Mittalji who shared the vision of the Vishwa Pravasi Bharati
Leader's forum and also the prestigious Hindu Vibhushan
award, which was awarded to an outstanding leader in each
city. Dr. Bhupendra Kumar Modiji shared the
history of the yatra and the importance of the role played
by India's Dharmagurus in bringing peace to the world.
In addition to the main function in
each city, there were also youth sessions, women's sessions
and inter-faith sessions in nearly all of the cities, where
participants had the opportunity to interact in a smaller
group setting with the Dharma Gurus and yatra leaders.
The itinerary was as
follows:
September 20-21:
Bangkok
September 22-24: Kuala Lumpur
September 25-27: Jakarta
September 28 - 30: Bali
October 1 - 2: Sydney
October 3 - 4: Fiji
October 5 -6: Auckland
October 7 - 8: Hong Kong
September
20 - 21
-- Bangkok
September
22-24
-- Kuala
Lumpur
We
reached Kuala Lumpur on the 22nd and the main function was
the same night. Held at the huge Badminton Stadium, the
crowd was in the many thousands. Local spiritual leaders
from South India also joined the Yatra's Dharmagurus.
In
addition to the Dharmagurus and the leaders of the yatra
Shri Mohanlal Mittalji and Shri Bhupendra Kumar Modiji,
other notable guests at the function included the Honorable
Dato Seri Dr. Samy Vellu, the Minister of Works, Malaysia
and President of the Malaysian Indian Congress and also
Mother Mangalam who received the Hindu Vibhushan
Award.
|
|
|
|
The Dharma Gurus in Kuala
Lumpur
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Interfaith
meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Local Christian, Sikh,
Hindu and Buddhist leaders came together.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Malaysia team of
organizers with H.H. Sri Shankaracharyaji and
Pujya Swamiji
|
|
September
28-30
-- Bali
In Bali, the two day program was a
beautiful exhibition of Balinese piety, culture and
devotion. The island is nearly 90% Hindu although there are
very few Indians. So, no one spoke Hindi and only a few
spoke English. It has been 1000 years since the Balinese
Hindus left India! The culture and the land are divine in
their natural simplicity, elegance and beauty.
The first day's program took place at
one of the most holy temples in Bali and was attended by
hundreds of the Balinese priests and other
religious/spiritual leaders. The second day's program was
also attended by several political dignitaries including the
Village Collector (like the Chief Minister in India). The
Governor of Bali also hosted a beautiful dinner and
reception at his home.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
At the
Mother Temple, Baisakhi.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A special puja arranged at the
Mother Temple, Baisakhi
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Pujya
Swamiji with the Village Collector and his
wife
|
Dharmagurus
and Shri ML Mittalji with the Governor of Bali
|
|
H.H. Sri Shankaracharyaji invested the
children with their sash of �prefect� and they took
solemn oaths over the holy Deepak flames.
|
|
|
|
| |
After the main
function on the Bangali ground, the Village
Collector took all the Dharmagurus and yatris to
see a "model typical village." We
walked through the simple yet beautiful street
which, although sparse, was immaculately clean.
Pujya Swamiji was very impressed to hear the
mandatory clean up scheme of all the villages:
every week, one member of each household comes
together and cleans the streets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
October
1 -- Sydney
The programs in Sydney took place at Homebush Stadium, the
home of the Olympic Games. First there was a youth
conference, women's meeting and business leaders meeting,
followed by the main function. The function was graced by
the presence of several local spiritual/religious leaders
and social dignitaries. These included: M. Ganapathi, Consul General, Consulate General of India,
Gary Hardgrave, Federal Minister, A. Manickam, Minister and Deputy High Commissioner,
Imam Hilali representing Islam, Josie Lacie representing
Judaism, and Bishop Manning, representing
Christianity.
|
|
|
|
Interfaith
gathering in Sydney with representatives of
Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity and
Indigenous traditions
|
|
October
3-4 --
Fiji:
The main event in Fiji took
place in their outdoor stadium and it was the largest event
in the history of Lautoka, Fiji. The local officials
exclaimed incredulously, "This is more people than come
for rugby!!" Approximately 15,000 came to the function
which included the inspiring and uplifting lectures as well
as music by Anup Jalotaji. The Chairman of the Great Council
of Chiefs was the main guest, and the function was also
attended by several high ranking ministers including Shri
I.S. Chauhan, High Commissioner from India, and Hon. George Shiu Raj,
Minister for Multi Ethnic Affairs.
Other
events included a large meeting of all the priests, purohits
and brahmins with Pujya Swamiji in which He explained what
their true, deep responsibilities are to the community, and
also a smaller, interactive session with Pujya Swamiji,
Pujya Shri Shankaracharyaji and Pujya Sudammalankar Theroji.
|
|
|
|
(left
to right): Ashok Pandeyji, Anup Jalotaji, Sadhvi
Ritambharaji, Chairman - Great Council of
Chiefs, Swami Divyanand Teerthji, Swami
Chidanand Saraswatiji, Shri ML Mittalji.
|
|
October
5-6 --
Auckland,
New Zealand:
The yatra in New Zealand began
with a beautiful, music welcome in traditional Maori style
at the airport. For over an hour the Maori youth troupe
performed traditional Maori songs and dances. It was a truly
touching and beautiful welcome. The main program in Auckland
was graced by Mr. David Lange, the former Prime Minister of
New Zealand (who was also the recipient of the Hindu
Vibhushan Award), Sir Edmund Hilary and Mr. Phil Goff,
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Justice. The function had
approximately 7000 participants in one of the largest tents
ever constructed! And everyone was fed hot meals due to the
generosity and cooperation of several organizations and
devotees.
There were
also very well attended youth sessions, women's sessions and
interfaith gatherings.
|
|
|
|
| |
Here Shri Mohanlal Mittalji
presents the Hindu Vibhushan award to Mr. David
Lange, the Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
for his long time love and support of Indians
and Hindus both in New Zealand and abroad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
October
7-8 --
Hong
Kong:
|
|
|
|
| |
|
The Sheraton Hotel Ballroom
with a capacity of 800 people, had an audience
exceeding 1400 people (with hundreds of devotees
sitting on the floor in the aisles or standing
around the walls)! The event began with a
procession of the Dharmagurus led by Pujya Swami
Chidanand Saraswatiji. Pujya Swamiji, Pujya
Sadhvi Ritambharaji and Pujya Siri Singh Sahib,
Dr. Manjit Singhji were joined in Hong Kong by
Pujya Acharya Sudanshuji Maharaj.
|
|
|
|
Acharya
Sudanshuji Maharaj, Pujya Swamiji and Sadhvi
Ritambharaji fill the
sacred kalash with soil from Hong Kong
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pujya Swamiji, Pujya Sudanshuji and Shri ML
Mittalji give the Hindu Vibhushan award to Shri
Harililaji and his brothers.
|
|
OTHER NEWS:
September
18 --
Delhi
INTERNATIONAL VEDIC CONVENTION
Pujya Swamiji and Hon.
Cabinet Minister Shri Murli Manohar Joshiji were the Chief
Guests at the Inauguration of the International Vedic
Convention. The Conference was organized by Dr. B.B Puri,
world renowned Vastu expert and it included sessions on
various aspects of Vedas, Vastu and the application of
ayurveda/yoga for our health and wellbeing.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Pujya
Swamiji presents Shri Murli Manohar Joshiji
with Mansarovar water and a special Mansarovar
duppata (scarf)
|
|
October
10 --
Rishikesh
Inauguration of Computer Center
at Parmarth Niketan. By the generosity of Smt. Bellaben
and Shri Yogeshbhai Patel of Florida, USA a first
class computer center is being built at the Parmarth
Gurukul/orphanage. It has been a vision of Pujya Swamiji's
that the boys should learn this important skill which
will be a great asset in helping them succeed in whatever
field they choose.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Pujya
Swamiji, Smt. Bellaben, and Shri Yogeshbhai perform the inauguration of the
Computer Centre
|
|
|
|
|
|
Smt.
Bellaben and, Shri Yogeshbhai with the
rishikumars
|
|
October
11 --
Rishikesh
October
12 --
Rishikesh
A special puja and yagna were held in honor and
memory of those who lost their lives in the Bali bombings.
When we traveled to Bali on the Vishwa Dharma Prasaar Yatra,
Pujya Swamiji promised the people of Bali (and also the
people of Australia who made up the majority of deaths) that
we would hold a special puja on October 12, the anniversary
of the bombings.
|
|
|
|
Rishikumars from Parmarth's
Gurukul say a special peace prayer
on the banks of Mother Ganga
|
|
Prayers were said that the
departed souls may attain peace, that their loved ones may
attain solace and comfort and that the world may move into a
peaceful, harmonious future.
October
14 --
Delhi
|
|
|
|
| |
A beautiful book on
the Divine life of Respected Shri Narendra
Mohanji was released by the hands of the
honorable Prime Minister. Pujya Swamiji, Shri
L.K. Advaniji, Shri Murli Manohar Joshiji, Dr.
L.M. Singhviji, Shri ND Tiwariji (Chief Minister
of Uttranchal) and several other top ministers
and dignitaries graced the function with their
presence.
|
|
|
|
|
Pujya
Swamiji with Shri Murli Manohar Joshi, Dr. L.M.
Singhvi, Nalini-Kamalini (famous dancers) and
Shri Yogendra Mohan
|
|
October
13-21 --
Rishikesh
World Leadership Jam.
35 youth from 20
countries, including Pakistan, Iran, Israel, Palestine and
Tibet as well as USA, Canada and Europe came together in a World Leadership conference
organized by Youth for Environmental Sanity. The goal was to
empower youth to help lead the world toward a peaceful,
positive and conscious future. The participants are all
leaders of various fields -- political, social,
environmental, spiritual -- in their respective countries
and they are all dedicated to using their skills and energy
to help make the world a better place.
His Holiness Samdhong Rimpoche, the former Primer Minister of Tibet was a special
guest speaker. We showed him the video from the
Mansarovar-Kailash yatra and his eyes filled with tears as
he folded his hands in prayer to the sacred mountain on the
screen.
|
|
|
|
Pujya Swamiji offers him
water from holy lake Mansarovar
|
|
|
|
