|
|
PARMARTH
HOME PAGE
December
23-24--
Udaipur
Shahra family reunion
Pujya Swamiji was a special guest
at the Shahra family reunion in Udaipur. The family
came together in a beautiful, serene "Heritage Resort" to
return to their own heritage! Pujya Swamiji was full of
praise for the way they gathered together for satsang,
prayer, meditation and also to go for special darshan at the
Ek Ling Mahadeva temple outside of Udaipur. "I wish every family would
re-unite like this!" He said.
December 27-28--
Haridwar and
Rishikesh
Hinduja Family
Centenary Celebration
The Hinduja brothers - Srichandji,
Gopiji, Prakashji and Ashokji -- and their immediate and
extended families and friends all gathered together in
Rishikesh for a 3 day celebration in honor of the Centenary
of Smt. Jamuna Hinduja, the divine Mother of the family.
On the 27th, there was a special puja in
Haridwar on Har-ki-pauri, followed by a glorious musical
concert by Anuradha Paudwal and Anup Jalota.
On the 28th, the family gathered together
at Parmarth Niketan for special cow-puja, tree plantation
ceremonies, and the official "Centenary Celebration"
followed by a musical evening by Nitin Mukesh.
It was wonderful to see the entire family
come together from India, UK, Europe and USA, along with
friends, colleagues and associates from all over the world
to celebrate the life of their beautiful Mother, Smt. Jamuna
Hinduja.
|
|
|
|
Puja on the banks of Mother
Ganga |
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
Clockwise
from top: Parmarth Niketan is specially lit for
the celebrations, Pujya Swamiji plants trees
with all of the youngest generation of Hindujas,
Pujya Swamiji blesses Shri S.P. Hindujaji
|
|
|
| |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
Shri R.S. Toliaji, the
Honorable Chief Secretary of Uttranchal also came for the
special function and took part in the sacred puja for Mother
Cow. Shri Toliaji is a great asset to the State, as he is a
dedicated and committed Government Official.
One of the cows at the Parmarth Gaushala
had just given birth, and everyone was very eager to see,
pet and perform puja for the newborn calf, whom Shri Ashok
Hindujaji carried lovingly and gingerly from the stable so
all the children could pet her.
December 30
- January 17
--
South Indian
Tsunami Affected Areas
TSUNAMI RELIEF WORK
BEGINS!!
On the 30th December,
Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji of Parmarth Niketan,
Rishikesh, the famous actor Vivek Oberoi, Shri Suresh Oberoi,
Yashodhara Oberoi, Sadhvi Bhagwati and rishikumars from
Parmarth’s Gurukul went down to Tamil Nadu in South India to
the tsunami affected areas, planning to adopt 500 orphans
and to build an orphanage. Further, we were planning to
spend New Year’s with the tsunami victims to offer them hope
and peace. However, upon seeing the devastation wrought on
the village, we decided to stay conduct extensive relief
operations including construction of houses, community
kitchens, medical care, distribution of relief supplies and
much more.
Please see
www.projecthope-tsunami.com for complete details and
photos of this extensive relief operation.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
The majority of the village
was decimated. Nearly every home within 500
meters of the coast was destroyed, boats were
lost or damaged, and possessions disappeared
|
.JPG) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
But the light has been brought
back! |
|
PROJECTS
UNDERTAKEN IN DEVANAMPATTINAM
|
|
|
|
| |
1. Building
and provision of more than 500 new, temporary
homes (huts and tents) for those whose homes
were destroyed in the tsunami (this has already
been completed). |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The first 100 temporary homes |
|
2. Plantation of 3000 trees in honor of victims of tsunami
from every country. (this is already completed)
3. Replacement of lost/destroyed fishing nets for all the
fisherman, including those with catamarans (this is in
process)
4. Repair of damaged boats (this is in process).
|
|
|
|
Pujya Swamiji and the
rishikumars on the first repaired boat! |
|
|
|
|
|
Surveying damaged
motors and planning the next action...
|
6. Repair of those homes
and buildings which were damaged but repairable (this has
already begun)
7. Construction of new shops for those who lost their shop
in the tsunami. (some are already completed; others are
underway)
8. Community Kitchens where all 3000 families were fed hot
meals 3 times a day - 7 Kitchens were already set up and we
also provided milk for babies and children.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Clockwise
from top: Pujya Swamiji, Vivek Oberoi and the
Rishikumars feed the villagers in the first
community kitchen; the kitchen as it was running
for weeks
|
.JPG) |
|
| |
 |
.JPG) |
|
|
|
|
|
9. A play ground for the children, with sports equipment,
including swings, slide, merry-go-round, jungle-gym, etc.
(this is already completed)
10. Medical Relief Centers at each of these community
centers
|
|
|
|
Villagers line up for
medicines and supplies at Project Hope
headquarters |
|
11. Distribution of necessities such as food, water,
clothing, candles, stoves, cooking supplies, shoes, sheets,
etc. (this has already been completed in two huge scale
distributions to more than 4000 people each time)
|
|
|
|
| |
12. Free Eye
Camp and Cataract Operation Camp: more than 600
villagers were examined, nearly 100 new pairs of
glasses were distributed and nearly 40 free
cataract operations were performed on site.
(Completed on January 9) |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
13. Two large tree plantation ceremonies in memory of all
those who lost their lives in the tragedy and also as a
physical barrier against any future tidal waves. Eventually,
we will plant 2,51,000 trees, one for every person whose
life was lost in the tsunami.
14. Purchase of prosthetic limbs for anyone who needs them
and we are also organizing specialized medical camps.
|
|
|
|
| |
15. Drinking
water tanks in many places throughout the
village (this was completed)
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
16. Gardens in the housing complex (in progress)
17. Counseling for the village people (this is ongoing and
underway)
18. Seven Bal Vadies schools to be repaired and supplies
given.
19. Temple renovation and repair.
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
The faces of the children and the village people
have become filled with light and hope |
|
|
|
|
|
Musical Healing: On the 15th January
a special musical concert was organized,
where Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji's
devotee, the world famous drummer Sivamani
came with his entire orchestra and gave
a wonderful drumming concert for the entire
village. Spirits soared and hope was renewed
through the sound of music. Thousands and
thousands of villagers came out to hear
the uplifting sound of Sivamani's drums.
New Projects:
ORPHANAGE IN
CUDDALORE
We are adopting a dilapidated and run-down service center in
which 200 impoverished girls/ladies live. They have no
dining facilities (they sleep, eat and study in the same
hall) and all other facilities are sparse or worse. On the
adjacent land, we will build an orphanage for all children
orphaned by the tsunami. We will also build a full dining
hall, a computer center, a typing center, a vocational
training center and other facilities for the girls/ladies in
the social service center, as well as renovate and repair
the existing women’s service center. We will create a place
where both the children and also the girls/women will
benefit greatly.
|
|
|
|
200 young ladies live, eat,
sleep and study in this one hall... we will
build proper dining facilities as well as
renovate the existing facilities |
|
The foundation laying ceremony for this project took place
on the 16 February by the hands of the Honorable Governor of
Tamil Nadu with the Honorable Governor of Uttranchal and the
Honorable Lt. Governor of Pondicherry and other dignitaries.
|
|
|
|
Left to
right: Vivek Oberoi, Pujya Swamiji,
Honorable Governor of Uttranchal Shri
Sudarshan Agarwal, Honorable Governor of
Tamil Nadu Shri S.S. Barnala, Honorable Lt.
Governor of Pondicherry
Lt. General M.M.
Lakhera, Relief Commissioner Smt. C.K.
Gariyali,
District Collector of Cuddalore
Gagandeep Singh Bedi |
|
The
foundation laying ceremony for this project
took place on the 16 February by the hands
of the Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu with
the Honorable Governor of Uttranchal and the
Honorable Lt. Governor of Pondicherry and
other dignitaries
MODEL VILLAGE
IN PONDICHERRY
We have also undertaken the project of constructing 450 new
homes in Patancheri in Karaikkal, the largest village of
Pondicherry Territory which was the most devastated by the
tsunami, for the victims of the tsunami.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
.jpg)
|
Meeting with the Honorable
Lt. Governor of Pondicherry, Lt. General M.M.
Lakheraji in Raj Bhavan, Pondicherry |
|
|
|
|
|
Along with the 450 new
homes, we will also construct a school, gardens, community
center, vocational training center, medical center, etc.
With the gracious assistance and support of the entire
government of Pondicherry, we will truly create a model
village for these people.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
A house in Patancheri....the
water was so strong and deadly that it shot up
through the brick and concrete FLOOR of the
house, tearing apart the entire floor as well as
the inside of the house.... the villagers were
truly washed away, from the inside out. |
|
|
|
|
|
January 18
--
Rishikesh
A very special ceremony was held in honor
of the passing of the Great Saint, the one who brought Sikh
Dharma to the west and who turned thousands of westerners
off of drugs/alcohol and onto spirituality - Siri Singh
Sahib Yogi Bhajan. Pujya Yogiji entered mahasamadhi in
October, and in January a huge yatra of devotees from across
the world brought his sacred ashes to India. The yatra came
to Rishikesh on the 18 January for the divine puja and final
rites ceremony.
January 24 -
30 -
Rishikesh
We had a special medical camp in honor of
the anniversary of the passing of Mahatma Gandhi (January
30). Gandhiji's message was selflessness, giving and
sacrifice. In honor of this beautiful message, a team of
doctors and dentists came from Canada and USA and from Escorts Heart Institute New Delhi to provide selfless
service to the needy people of the Himalayan region.
The Canadian Dental team consisted of 5
dentists, 5 dental hygienists, 3 nurses as well as
assistants. They came led by Dr. Rajiv Naik and the Kindness
in Action group. They saw over 325 patients, filled cavities
in 60% of the patients and extracted teeth in 40% of the
patients. Everyone received a full and thorough hygienic
cleaning.
The Escorts huge team came fully equipped
with all of their heart monitoring instruments, and gave
screening, testing, diagnosis and treatment to hundreds of
patients.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Doctors,
hygienists and nurses
examined and treated over 325
patients during the course of 5 days.
|
 |
|
| |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
They even examined all of our rishikumars |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
January
26
--
Dehradun
On the special day of India's Republic
Day, Pujya Swamiji was invited to the Governor's for a
special Republic Day program with His Excellency the
Governor of Uttranchal Shri Sudarshan Agarwal and His
Excellency the Chief Minister of Uttranchal Shri Narayan
Dutt Tiwariji.
|
|
|
|
Pujya Swamiji sits between the
Honorable Chief Minister (left)
and the Honorable Governor (right) |
|
While there, he shared with the Honorable
Governor all of the details of the work in the tsunami
affected areas and the Honorable Governor was so touched
that he said, "I wish I had wings to fly there right now and
help those people. " On February 15, the Governor did come
down, surveyed the situation, and pledged his support and
assistance.
|
|
|
|
The Honorable Governor shows
Pujya Swamiji the articles he has written on the
tsunami and its effects. |
|
January
27
--
Rishikesh
A divine couple sanctified their wedding
vows, here on the holy banks of Mother Ganga. Prithviraj
Oberoi (brother of Vivek Oberoi) and Alpa Parmar had their
sacred wedding performed here, in the middle of the waters
of Mother Ganga, in the lap of the Himalayas.
|
|
|
|
Puja in Mother Ganga....at the
feet of Lord Shiva |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Clockwise
from top: Pujya Swamiji blesses the groom and
family just before the wedding; the
wedding ceremony
|
.jpg) |
|
| |
|
.JPG)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vivek dances with the youngest
rishikumar |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
What a beautiful gift - to be
married in such a divine atmosphere, in the
midst of the rushing waters of Mother Ganga, in
the holy presence of Pujya Swamiji, in the lap
of the Himalayas....at the holy feet of Shankar
Bhagwan... |
|
|
|
|
|
In the evening, the Honorable Governor of
Uttranchal, Shri Sudarshan Agarwalji came for a special
aarti!
|
|
|
|
| |
Lamp is lit by (left to right): Suresh Oberoi,
Mrs. Sudarshan Agarwal, Vivek Oberoi, Pujya
Swamiji, Honorable Shri Sudarshan Agarwal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
January
28-30
--
Rishikesh
|
.JPG)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
