Mahamandaleshwar of Juna Akhada Swami Avadheshananda Giri has described the western consumerism as more dangerous than terrorism and said only Indian spiritualism can bring peace, security and unity in the world. He was inaugurating the three-day Bal Sangam organised by the Vidya Bharati at Parade Ground in Allahabad on February 24. More than 25,000 children between the age group of 7 and 14 years and belonging to the Ekal Vidyalayas being run in economically backward areas of 48 districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, participated in the Sangam. More than 6,000 parents of children and over 1,000 saints were also present on the occasion.
Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya, vice chancellor of a university for physically challenged students and the Akhil Bharatiya Sewa Pramukh of the RSS, Shri Premchand Goel, were also present on the occasion. Scores of the Vidya Bharati and the Sangh adhikaris like Shri Yatindraji, Shri Vijay Agrawal, Shri Bhayamanayakji, Shri Ashok Beri, Dr Amar Singh, Shri Ramashish, Shri Ramnayakar, Shri Shiv Prasad, Dr Devendra Pratap Singh, Shri Shiv Narayan, Shri Ram Kumar Verma, Shri Brahmdev Sharma ?Bhaiji?, Shri Ramesh Shah, Smt. Sarala Devi, Shri R.P. Singh Khetan, Shri P. Madhvan, Shri Shiv Kumar, Shri Sampat Singh and Shri Chintamani Singh were also present on the occasion.
Swami Avadheshananda Giri further said the whole world is afraid of terrorism and consumerism. The unrestraint consumerism of the west has caused many problems resulting in its becoming the bigger problem than terrorism today. He said the Indian thinking is totally different from that of the west and India recognises the whole world as a family. He said spirituality is the main identity and soul of India, which can bring change in the world. ?There is no other way to bring peace, security and unity in the world than Indian spiritualism,? he added.
Speaking at the concluding ceremony RSS Sarkaryavah, Shri Mohan Bhagwat said by organising this Bal Sangam, the Vidya Bharati has presented a unique example of protecting the nation, dharma and the culture. He said only value-added education can protect the humanity. He appealed to the people to help in building a harmonious society.
VHP president, Shri Ashok Singhal described the so-called untouchables as freedom fighters and demanded land for their livelihood.
Swami Rambhadracharya said even after six decades of political independence, India is still to achieve cultural Independence. He said the politicians are dividing the country for votes. ?The country needs youth like Chandrashekhar Azad who can launch a fight against cultural pollution,? he said calling upon the audience to boycott the television channels that spread cultural pollution. He said Guru Vashishtha became great by imparting education to both Ram and Nishad together.
All the 25,000 children who participated in the Bal Sangam performed four types of yogas and three types of Surya Namaskars. Childrens also participated in various other cultural activities.
A huge platform was erected which had pictures of Gautam Buddha, Baba Kinaram, Guru Gorakhnath, Sant Tukaram, Sant Ravidas, Rani Laxmibai, Sant Namdev, Maharishi Valmiki, Awantibai, Sant Kabir, Guru Nanakdev, Eklavya, Birsa Munda, Swami Ramtirtha, Nishadraj and Adi Shankaracharya. A total of 23 tent-cities were created in the Sangam, which were named after the great personalities.
Earlier, the Sangam began with the inauguration of an exhibition on the War of Independence of 1857. The exhibition was inaugurated by Shri Brahmdev Sharma ?Bhaiji?, national organising secretary of the Vidya Bharati, on February 23. Bhaiji in his speech said the Vidya Bharati has been working with the objective of all-round development of India. He pointed out that besides running schools, the organisation is running Saraswati Sanskar Kendras for the children who, due to some reasons, could not go to schools and has been imparting free education in such Kendras. He said India would not become prosperous till all sections of the society are not uplifted.
On the second day of the Bal Sangam, nine processions were taken out in the city, which were welcomed by the people by showering flowers. The beginning and concluding places of all the processions were different and every procession covered about four km distance.
(By Loknath in Varanasi)
