The Green Pilgrimage Network (India) Hindu cities and sites meeting was held at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh on November 23rd and 24th. The meeting was hosted by the Bhumi Project, ARC and the Ganga Action Parivar. Pujya Swami Chidandand Saraswati opened the meeting of religious representatives, conservationists and civil authorities, including the mayor of Benares and Chairman of Rishikesh, by calling on all participants to take action to green their holy sites during times of pilgrimage.
Waste, pollution, traffic, high energy use and large crowds of people inside nature reserves are some of the threats posed by pilgrimage that were addressed at the meeting. Delegates pledged to develop green pilgrimage action plans for their holy cities and towns. Pujya Swamiji declared that Parmarth would become a model green ashram.
After the commencement of a two day Green Pilgrimage workshop, the city of Rishikesh, under the able leadership of Municipal Commissioner, Shri Deep Sharmaji, joined the eco-network. By planting a tree outside the civic centre the workshop participants along with city members declared that they commited to a cleaner and greener Rishikesh.
