Page 56 - Mann ki Baat June 2022 - English
P. 56
INDIAN PILGRIMAGES
DIVINE JOURNEYS OF CULTURAL EXPLORATION
India is the land of mystics and
As a society, we have
sages, sacred rivers and holy
always moved ahead by
trees, celestial mountains and
accepting new ideas and
divine forests and to top it all, it
changes. Our cultural mobility
is a spiritual cauldron of different
and travels have contributed a cultures, religions and emotions.
lot in this. That is why our sages India is energy in motion! To begin
and saints had entrusted us with, India is the birthplace of
with spiritual responsibilities like four great religions – Hinduism,
pilgrimage. All of us go on varied Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.
pilgrimages. Its rich history and diversity make
it the epicentre of spirituality in
-Prime Minister Narendra Modi the world. India’s opulent religious
(in his 'Mann ki Baat' address) heritage has gifted the people of
the country with a treasure trove
of places that embodies the
connection of the inner self with
the reckoning force that drives this
universe – God. The unity of India’s
diversity can be found at these
centres of faith where people from
“What the Prime Minister spoke different walks of life, be it rich or
about Sabarimala was quite poor, affluent or impoverished,
young or old, from one culture
important and has captured
or the other, come together as
the attention of people. So
one to celebrate the spiritual and
many people listen to his religious history of the holy land.
words carefully. Not just South The Prime Minsiter in his 'Mann
India, I am sure millions will ki Baat' address mentioned a
mantra: ‘Charaiveti-Charaiveti-
come from North India too to
Charaiveti’, meaning to keep going.
have darshan at Sabarimala This popular life mantra found in
drawing inspiration from our Upanishads summarises an
essential quality of our country’s
Prime Minister’s words.”
nature, that is, to keep moving, to
– Kantaru Rajeevaru be dynamic. And the practice of
pilgrimage exemplifies this spirit
Sabarimala Head Priest
of dynamism.
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