Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
The reproduced below is a Travelogue by Sri Vaidhya Lingam and his travel experiences through the Holy Land - Rishikesh. Enjoy reading........
This is a special Thursday message to inform the experiences and exposures journey to Rishikesh which we found will be of immense use for the readers to understand the marvelous changes taking place in the practical aspects of our culture all over the world and particularly in North India. Our visit was for attending an international Ayurveda Seminar held in Rishikesh and also for visiting Haridwar and various locations in and around Ganga river banks we found the following facts.
Hundreds of foreigners attended the Ayurveda and Yoga seminar held in Rishikesh, Paramaarth Nikethan ashram, from 25 countries organized by Punarnava, Coimbatore. This showed that world over Ayurveda and Yoga are being spread very fast. Thousands of foreigners are attending yoga classes in hundreds of ashrams in these places particularly Haridwar and Rishikesh.
From the discussion we could understand that the Ayurveda is being accepted and approved in many developed countries, particularly in Europe, UK and slowly spreading to other countries.
All the foreign delegates were present at the Ganga Maha Arati held in Rishikesh, Haridwar and in other locations.
In all the five days Havans (fire sacrifices) and pooja were held as in other days and majority of the foreign delegates participated in these. Showing that the Ayurveda should be taught with the relevant spiritual knowledge and practice by integrating science and spirituality. It is to be specifically mentioned that the Havans and poojas were held at 5.00 am in a scorching cold and the powerful Gangetic wind. Veda mantra chanting was part of everyday prayer and explanations of the subjects.
Senior Swamijis also delivered lectures in the seminar which was attended in full quorum by the delegates. All the delegates including all the foreigners took part in Ganga bath in spite of the fact that the temperature of Ganga water was very low.
THE PILGRIMAGE PART OF THE VISIT:
Hundreds of foreigners attended the Ayurveda and Yoga seminar held in Rishikesh, Paramaarth Nikethan ashram, from 25 countries organized by Punarnava, Coimbatore. This showed that world over Ayurveda and Yoga are being spread very fast. Thousands of foreigners are attending yoga classes in hundreds of ashrams in these places particularly Haridwar and Rishikesh.
From the discussion we could understand that the Ayurveda is being accepted and approved in many developed countries, particularly in Europe, UK and slowly spreading to other countries.
All the foreign delegates were present at the Ganga Maha Arati held in Rishikesh, Haridwar and in other locations.
In all the five days Havans (fire sacrifices) and pooja were held as in other days and majority of the foreign delegates participated in these. Showing that the Ayurveda should be taught with the relevant spiritual knowledge and practice by integrating science and spirituality. It is to be specifically mentioned that the Havans and poojas were held at 5.00 am in a scorching cold and the powerful Gangetic wind. Veda mantra chanting was part of everyday prayer and explanations of the subjects.
Senior Swamijis also delivered lectures in the seminar which was attended in full quorum by the delegates. All the delegates including all the foreigners took part in Ganga bath in spite of the fact that the temperature of Ganga water was very low.
THE PILGRIMAGE PART OF THE VISIT:
Our personal experiences during these days were Haridwar and Rishikesh are places terribly crowded with pilgrims right from 3.00 am till 11.00 pm. Most of them are youths and youngsters. Continuous and systematic cleaning of every marbled Ghats and people also maintain high level of neatness and hygiene.
After the 2010 March Kumbhamela the location has been maintained as one of the cleanest centers and it is maintained at all level.
More than 80 million people attended the last year Kumbhamela without any negatives . Absolutely the locality was free from beggars and of course few Sanyasins were waiting for help without asking for that.
The food, tea, hotels, road side sales counters were highly hygienic and the cost was so affordable in spite of the place being the most crowded pilgrim centre.
Purchase of luxury /ancient / handicrafts items can be done without any problem, including a provision for bargaining. Hundreds of small cars/ autos with trustworthy/ good drivers take 8 – 10 passengers at the same fare as the government vehicle and it ranges from Rs.1.00 to 1.50 – per km with a minimum of Rs. 5.00 . The vehicles / autos are available from 3.30 am till 11.pm with high frequency which are also in good condition.
Hundreds of clean and neat ashrams, good lodges, good yoga teaching centers, highly hygienic in nature and friendly people and assistants everywhere is the pleasant experience.
The foreigners get the feeling that they are more at home than in their own places. The national highways and other roads are excellent except for few meters at some places. Ganga waters are clean in Haridwar and Rishikesh even to the level of carrying to home as holy water/ theertha.
Plastic bags are banned in many places and please do not dump useless things which makes the Holy river Ganga polluted . From Haridhwar to Badrinath (350 kms long road) Pilgrims / visitors can take holy dip at any location without any fear. Meditation can be done in banks of Ganga at any place and perhaps the safe place for the same.
We thought our experiences should be shared as an important observation to one and all through the Thursday message so that every Indian will visit these pilgrim centers at least once in his/her life. Millions of foreigners are coming for this pilgrimage in the true spiritual spirit every year and why not we Indians make it as a must in our life. Enough trains and flights are available even for round the trip tour with affordable fare. There are many tour operators organizing excellent tour programs . From Delhi and these two centers to other locations which are very near. The Pilgrim centers like Prayaga, Rudra Prayaga, Gangotri, Yamunotri and hundreds of holy centers can be reached through these parts of the north India. Please check the maps of UP, Uttaranchal and Haryana for more additional information.
Jai Sriman Narayana !!
Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!
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