Today was a historical day at the Kumbha Mela. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, founder of Ganga Action Parivar and President of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, Rishikesh presented special tree saplings to Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasiji, the President of All India Imams Association. The saplings were neem, rudraksh and kalpa vreksh at the Ganga Action Parivar camp before Imam Sahib departed. They joined hands symbolizing the union of the religions to work together for peace, unity and for protection and preservation of the natural environment, particularly the waters of Mother Ganga.
Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Imam Sahib declared that they will unite the temples and the mosques of India in the service of safeguarding the natural environment of India and the river Ganga. They will unite the Hindus and the Muslims together in a joint effort toward a “Clean & Green Ganga, Clean & Green India, Clean & Green World, and Clean & Green Century.”
Said Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji: “We are here on the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati , and in this basket is a confluence of three sacred trees symbolizing the confluence of our love, our union and our commitment for each other and for our Mother Earth. Our natural environment and our Mother Ganga give and give to all with no discrimination. So protection and preservation is the responsibility of all.”
Said Imam Umer Ahmed Iliasiji: “I will bring all the imams of all the mosques of India together to join Ganga Action Parivar and Swami Chidanandji in this great effort. I will plant these 3 sacred trees at our mosque in Delhi and they will grow to stand as wonderful symbols of the sacredness of our union. Trees given to me by my brother of heart, Swami Chidanandji, at the Kumbha Mela, at the Sangam of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, grow at our holy mosque in Delhi.”
Imam Sahib arrived in the Kumbha Mela last night, 3rd February, and took part in the “Innovation in Spirituality” program at the Ganga Action Parivar camp in Sector 13, Arail and stayed the night in the camp. Today he attended the launch of the Global Citizens Forum organized by Dr. B.K. Modi, Chairman of Spicecorp Global.
Click here to watch Pujya Swamiji and Imam Ilyasiji’s message from Sangam >>