The Speaker of lok Sabha, Sumitra Mahajan participated in Ganga Arti ceremony at Rishikesh during her two day stay at Rishikesh. The Speaker was on a personal visit to the holy town located on the banks of Ganga where she stayed at Parmarth Niketan.
The president of Parmarth Niketan, Chidanand Saraswati accompanied the speaker during the Ganga Arti. Mahajan also took the pledge to protect environment along with other devotees. Heaping praises on the Speaker, Chidanand said that her life is an example for others to follow.
“By coming to our Himalayan state, which is the origin of the sacred National River Ganga, she has shown the crucial importance of protecting our sacred river bodies and pilgrimage sites situated in nature. It is time when leaders of all faiths, political leaders, parliamentarians and every citizen work together, hand in hand and heart in heart, to ensure a Clean and Green India, Clean and Green Ganga for all,’’ he said.
Mahajan was here to attend the Shrimad Bhagawat Katha by Govind Giri at the Parmarth Ganga Ghat.
The speaker was gifted a sapling of Rudraksha by Chidanand. She in turn symbolically offered 75 Rudraksha plants to the young Parmarth Gurukul students and asked them to plant them in the upcoming monsoon season. Incidentally Thursday was 75th birthday of speaker