Vishwa Mangal Gou Gram Yatra reached Dehradun on October 10 and was extended warm welcome by thousands of people. The Yatra reached Parade Ground where it was welcomed by many eminent citizens and saints of the state. Earlier, the Yatra was welcomed at Dak Kali temple by hundreds of workers.
Addressing the gathering at Parade Ground, Gokarna Peethadhishwar Shri Raghaveshwar Bharati Swamiji said there is no existence of the world without cow. He said the cow is not an animal but the soul of this world. He said the cow dung has the power to save us even from the nuclear radiation. “Whatever progress the world may make, it can not survive without the cow”, he said.
Swami Akhileshwaranand said the only solution to the present problems of the farmers is to return to the cow-based farming. He described the cow and farmer as two eyes of the country and said without their protection the nation cannot be happy. Film star Shri Suresh Oberoi, Acharya Shivprasad Mamgai, Acharya Ashish Semwal, Acharya Sitasharan, state convenor of the Yatra Samiti Shri Dayanand Chandola also spoke on the occasion at Parade Ground. Mayor of Dehradun Shri Vinod Chamoli and many other prominent citizens of the state were also present.
After receiving the grand welcome in Dehradun, the Yatra reached Haridwar where it was extended a touching welcome by saints and people. Then the Yatra reached Roorkie. Addressing a massive gathering in Roorkie, the leading saint and founder of Bharat Mata Mandir, Haridwar, Swami Satyamitranand Giri described the Yatra as a unique initiative for cow protection. “Our govansh is on the verge of extinction today. The prime reason of this is that we have abandoned the habit of herding the cows. If we have honesty to protect the cow and her progeny, we must ensure that each one should herd at least one cow,” he emphasised.
Swami Atul Krishna Maharaj said by organising the Go Gram Yatra Swami Raghaveshwar Bharati Swamiji has taken a very important initiative for cow protection. He said India is the country where there is a special quality of unity in diversity and this quality should be used for cow protection. He further said there is no harm in living the modern life but it is unfortunate to forget our own traditional culture to become modern.
Shri Raghaveshwar Bharati Swamiji said in Roorkie that those who really understand the sufferings of the cow are like Gods. He cautioned the people that today the cattle wealth of the country is on the verge of extinction and in coming days the country is going to face a acute shortage of govansh. He said that to make the countrymen aware of its disastrous effects this Yatra has been organised. He informed today’s modern medical science has accepted the unique curing power of the cow but despite this fact and usefulness of the cow no steps has been taken to protect this divine gift of the God. “It is unfortunate that we are still fighting for a strict law for cow protection in the country. Time has come when the people would have to come forward themselves and they should not depend on the government for it,” he said appealing to the farmers not to sell their cows to butchers at any cost.
By Ravindra Saini
