On the holy Sangam, in the middle of the water, at the sacred confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji led a divine “shradhanjali” puja and ceremony with actress Preity Zinta, famous drummer Sivamani, Sanjay Hinduja, Prakash Chhabria and several other yatris, along with the rishikumars of Parmarth Gurukul, priests and acharyas. As soon as the news was received this morning of the terrible accident in the Allahabad train station, which killed numerous pilgrims of the Kumbh Mela, at the Ganga Action Parivar camp, Pujya Swamiji spoke with Preity and others and suggested that a sacred shradhanjali puja should be performed. Preity immediately said “absolutely.” So, in the morning hours, sacred prayers and mantras were chanted and puja performed that the departed souls should attain peace in the Divine Abode, and that their loved ones should find solace, comfort, peace and understanding.
Said Pujya Swamiji, “Yesterday, on such a holy, sacred day, a terrible tragedy took place. For that, their shradhanjali puja should be performed immediately and at the most holy place — right in the middle of the water at the sacred Sangam. Mother Ganga came onto Earth to bring divine liberation to the sons of King Sagara. Here we have not only the divinity, purity and moksha-delivering blessings of Mother Ganga, but also Mother Yamuna and Mother Saraswati.”
Preity also spoke to the media about her sadness at seeing so much trash and pollution in the holy waters. She said that coming here to the Kumbha was such a sacred and beautiful experience but that the condition of the holy waters made her sad to see. She pledged herself to become part of the Ganga Action Parivar and to do whatever she is able to for the protection and preservation of Mother Ganga. She said, “As we all work to keep our own homes clean, so we must all realize that Mother Ganga IS our home and therefore we need to also work to keep these flowing waters, which are depended upon by so many, clean and pollution free.”
