To celebrate Pujya Swamiji’s 60th birthday on June 3rd, members of Ganga Action and Pujya Swamiji travelled to Gangotri, the source of Ma Ganga. But of course, as one of Ganga Action’s main principles is that everyone keeps on giving and giving like Ganga, which provides for everyone without ever ceasing, the trip was filled with all sorts of meetings and events to help clean up and restore Ganga and Her tributaries!
On the morning of June 3rd in Uttarkashi, on the way up to Gangotri, Ganga Action members stopped to plant our first trees in Uttarkashi. A handful of trees were planted along the banks of Ma Ganga, the start of a much larger plantation program which will soon launch in the Upper Ganga region. The day ended in Gangotri with a beautiful Aarti ceremony held on the banks of Bhagirathi, bringing together all in celebration of Ma Ganga and educating all about the need to keep Her clean, pristine, and free-flowing.
On the 4th of June in Gangotri, Ganga Action went out and picked up the trash along the banks of Bhagirathi. Ashram residents and pilgrims joined in the effort, collecting trash from along all of Bhagirathi’s main bathing ghats and the streets surrounding the Gangotri Temple. Ganga Action sevaks then continued on to another area of Gangotri where a massive tree plantation will take place, planting a trees then as a preview for the soon-to-come 11,000 trees which will be planted in Gangotri!
On the 5th of June, on the way back down from Gangotri, the Ganga Action team once again stopped in Uttarkashi to ceremoniously start the major tree plantation which will happen in and around this city, in which a total of another 11,000 trees will be planted! These trees will help clean up the air and the environment, holding the soil in place which is currently eroding into Bhagirathi and creating a true haven of greenery for all to enjoy.
While in Uttarkashi and Gangotri, Pujya Swamiji also met with many government officials and leaders in the area. Pujya Swamiji met with the DFO (Divisional Forest Officer) to discuss and plan the upcoiming tree plantations in Uttarkashi as well as steps to improve and beautify the Char Dham, especially the yatra route up to Gangotri. Pujya Swamiji also met with local pandits in Gangotri to learn about what their needs are and to discuss how they too can contribute to the renovation, improvement and cleaning-up of Gangotri.
Click here to view photos from the clean-up, along with all of GAP’s clean-ups >>
Click here to view photos from the tree plantations >>
Click here to view photos from the Aarti on Bhagirathi’s banks >>
Read press clippings about all GAP tree plantations >>