Four day HSSF successfully acquainted the people with the huge network of service activities carried out by various religious and voluntary organisations
Pramod Kumar
The first Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair (HSSF) in Haryana proved to be a big hit not only in arousing the service feeling among the people who visited, but also acquainting the people with the sewa activities conducted by various voluntary organisations and the rich cultural heritage of the country. Apart from generating the patriotic fervor through the activities like Paramvir Vandan, the four-day event was instrumental in reviving some of the traditional art, entertainment and handicraft forms. About four lakh people joined the event.
“The overall objective of the four day event was to apprise the people of the service activities being conducted by various religious and other organisations and motivate them to extend a helping hand to the needy people in their vicinity. In that endeavour we have been successful. We hope more sewa projects would start in Haryana now,” said Smt Renu Pathak, joint secretary of the Rashtriya Sewa Bharati and one of the key
persons behind the event. “The biggest outcome of this event, in my opinion, is that a good number of women of the State have come forward to spare their free time for the society. We have received requests from scores of women who are willing to join any of the sewa activity,” added Smt Pathak.
About 300 organisations dedicated to different sewa activities in various states including Haryana, J&K, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, joined the Fair. There were activities for all sections of the society—children, parents,
teachers, students, women, etc. Apart from apprising them of different sewa activities they were also instilled some good samskars. “Every activity in the Fair had some objective. Acharya Vandan aimed at generating respect to the teachers; Matri-Pitri Vandan exhorted the children to show respect to their parents; Kanya Vandan was to display reverence to the girls. Even the entertainment activities too had some healthy message for all to imbibe,” added Smt Renu Pathak who specifically looked after the arrangement of all the Vandan Programmes.
Sadbhavana Sammelan
The Sadbhavana Sammelan organised on last day of the Fair i.e. on February 5, helped in bringing all sections of the society together and motivate them to shun the differences if any for betterment of the society and the nation. Many senior saints while joining the discussions stressed on social unity to foil the game plans of the destructive forces active in the country. The speakers stressed on organising such Sammelans at village level. RSS Kshetra Karyavah Shri Sitaram Vyas said if untouchablity is not a sin, nothing is sin in this world. He said the feeling of social harmony needs to be followed in practice, only then the organisation of such events will be fruitful.
Mahamandaleshwar Mahant Naval Kishore Das said untouchability is against eternal Indian culture and has proved very harmful to the society. Swami Sharnanand stressed the need to organise such Sammelans at village level too so that the people feeling
discriminated can live a dignified life. Shri Surender Singh Dahiya who represented Dahiya community at the Sammelan, stressed the need to be careful from the elements, which are bent upon destablising peace in the society. He said development is not possible without social harmony. Swami Paramanand Maharaj, Shri Ravi Shah from Gannaur, retired IAS officer Shri SC Chaudhary, Shri Satish Vishwakarma of Somani Group and Geeta Manishi Swami Gyananand Maharaj hoped that the Sadbhavana Sammelan would prove to be a milestone in restoring harmony in the society.
Reviving the Vanishing traditional Art
The four day event also provided a platform to artists who are struggling to preserve some of the vanishing
traditional art forms. Shri Jagdish, who came from Churu District of Rajasthan, pointed out that once ‘Ravana’ was the popular art of Rajasthan in which the stories of
various kings and their families were narrated to the people in an interesting manner. “Now the music has almost disappeared. But this Fair has revived that tradition by inviting the artists to perform. The way people are taking interest in it shows that good days are ahead for this disappearing Indian folk art form of entertainment and
education,” added Shri Jagdish. “The puppets are not only the form of
entertainment, but they are the best medium of educating people about some good habits. It is a time-tested method. This Fair has contributed greatly in propagating this ancient form of entertainment,” said Shri Mohan Bhatt, a puppet artist from Seekar, Rajasthan.
Enthusiasm among
the Visitors
The public response to the Fair was very enthusiastic as even the Divyangs reached the Fair on wheelchairs. The Youtube fame girl students of Dr Swarup Singh Government Model Sanskriti School at Sandhi Village under Rohtak District, who have received huge applause through a folk song, Mera Yaar Sudama also visited the Fair. What impressed hugely to these girls—Muskan, Rinku, Vidhi, Manisha, Isha and Sheetal—was the display of various forms of Indian culture. “At the time when our age old customs and rich traditions are disappearing, such events are very much necessary to revive and promote them,” said Shri Somesh Jangada, the music teacher of the popular girls.
Encouraged over the success of the Fair the organisers have now decided to organise it every year so that people see their culture, traditions closely. “Apart from the sewa activities, the future events will also present the
scientific, social and religious work before the people,” said Shri Rakesh Agrawal, Chairman of the Reception Committee of the Fair.
Participation of 300
organisations
About 300 voluntary organisations displayed their service activities. Shri Naresh Goel of Bhai Kanhaiya Ashram, Sirsa, said they are trying to empower the destitute and mentally retarded people to the level that they can live a respectable and dignified life. Gurugram-based ‘Eco Live’ displayed how the people can keep their surroundings clean and how
cleanliness can become a mass movement in the country. “We motivate people how to live in
harmony with the nature,” said Vinod Kumari, a volunteer of the organisation. Jind-based Youth Education Society educates the people through entertainment. “We educate the people against social evils through the folk songs, street plays, etc,” said Kiran Gil. Shri Narendra Batra of Saksham revealed that they are working to eradicate blindlessness from Haryana and empower the Divynags to the extent that they are self-reliant. Various activities of Sewa Bharati were also displayed. Moksh Samiti of Bahadurgarh works for
betterment of the mentally retarded children and also ensures proper cremation of the unclaimed dead
bodies as per the Hindu rituals. Gaurang Institute for Education works for generating spirituality by
popularising Bhagwad Gita. ‘Jio Geeta’ is also dedicated to the propagation of Gita. Shiv Netra Sanstha focuses how the parents can have children with good values since birth. Arogya Bharati works for
educating people to live a healthy lifestyle. Ramkrishna Mission and Akhil Vishwa Gayatri Parivar also had stalls at the Fair.
‘Voice of Unity’ by 51,000 students
The preparations for the event had begun long back. Many activities were organised to motivate people to join the event. As part of the preparation activities, 51,000 students from 400 schools of Gurugram and surrounding areas recited group Vande mataram at the Voice of Unity event on January 31. Haryana Chief Minister Shri Manoharlal also joined the event organised by Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation. The band performance of Bollywood singer and musician Dr Palash Sen was wonderful.
Shri Manoharlal said for him all 2.5 crore people of the State are his own family members. But some destructive elements are trying to destablise peace in the State. He called upon the participants to work for betterment of the nation. He also administered an oath to the participants wherein they pledged to protect the trees, wild lives, cows, Ganga, environment, values of life, etc.
Inauguration with Prakrati Pujan
The Fair began with Prakrati Pujan on February 2 at Lazervally Park of Gurugram by Swami Gyananand Maharaj. He said the environment can be cleaned only through respecting the nature. Hundreds of women also
traditionally worshipped the nature. RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sah Sewa Pramukh Shri Gunwant Singh Kothari and patron of the Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation Shri Pawan Jindal were also present on the occasion.
In the evening Governor of Himachal Pradesh Acharya Devvratt formally inaugurated the Fair. He stressed on
protecting the Indian values because they are needed for the entire world. He said the Fair would prove to be a milestone in this endeavour.
RSS Sah Sarkaryavah Shri Suresh Soni said the degradation in family values and disrespect to the nature are the result of degradation in social values. “Until we strengthen the social values the results in other fields will not be as we all desire,” he said. Shri Gunwant Singh Kothari said the organisation of such events is direly needed today because the world needs the Bharatiya values the most. The Fair also impressed the foreign tourists who not only enjoyed the cultural activities, but also practically watched various Indian traditions closely.
Kanyapujan of 2,100 Girls
On second day, Kanyapujan was the prime attraction. A total of 2,100 girls were worshipped by the people. Addressing the gathering, Sadhvi Shweta Bharati of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan stressed the need that women should recognise their strength. Swami Dayananda Saraswati from Murthal, Shri Gunwant Singh Kothari and many other eminent personalities were also present on the occasion.
140 painters from 15 states
The painting competition organised on the occasion attracted 140 painters from 15 states. Majority of the
paintings focussed on nature
conservation and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
Guru Maa Anandmurth on this occasion said good number of foreigners are adopting the Indian
culture but unfortunately the Indians are blindly getting attracted to the rejected western culture. She hoped that the Fair would prove to be instrumental in reviving the age old rich Indian values.
Acharya and Matri-Pitri Vandan
On third day, Acharya Vandan was the prime attraction. About 3,000 students paid respect to their teachers and
parents. Swami Raghvanand from Delhi also blessed them. He said the events like Acharya Vandan sow the seeds of respect to the teachers. RSS Sah Kshetra Pracharak Shri Banvir said a teacher plays a key role in character building of the students. Mahamandaleshwar Mahant Vishveshwaranand was the key speaker at the Matri-Pitri Vandan. Some renowned poets also educated the people their poems. On the last day, Paramvir Chakra winner Capt. Bana Singh was felicitated. Five ex-servicemen were also felicitated. Addressing the
gathering Didi Maa Sadhvi Ritambhara expressed concern that many of the children today know the names of film stars, but do not remember the super stars, who sacrificed their lives for the nation. Gen GD Bakshi said if Pakistan tries to snatch Kashmir, may be Pakistan itself would be eliminated from the world map.
The four day HSSF was indeed successful in acquainting the people with the huge network of the service activities being carried out by various Hindu religious and voluntary
organisations.
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