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
TS Venkatesan
Chennai: 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.
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