On the eve of the new millenium, H.H. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji organized and led a function on Dashashwamed Ghat in Varanasi, graced by the presence of H.H. the Dalai Lama, Pujya Dada Vasvani and many other revered saints, dignitaries and celebrities, including Anuradha Paudwal. The theme of the event was to herald in a new year, a new century and a new millenium in which there were malas in one hand and brooms in the other! Pujya Swamiji emphasized the need to clean, protect and preserve the waters and the banks of Mother Ganga. The next morning on January 1st, 2000, Pujya Swamiji led a massive clean-up program on the ghats of Varanasi. In further effort to prevent people from using the banks of Mother Ganga as their toilets and trash can, Pujya Swamiji inspired the people of Varanasi to organize daily aarti ceremonies on Dashashwamed Ghat. He formed the “Ganga Seva Nidhi” and continued to sponsor it for many years. It is now self-sufficient, and continues to hold aarti ceremonies every day in Varanasi.
View photos from this Sangam Aarti, and other Aartis GAP has conducted >>
View photos from the clean-up, and all of GAP’s clean-ups >>