- The nation is witnessing the realisation of the goals Maharishi had set forth with the principles of Sabka saath, sabka vikas, and sabka prayas: Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel
- Gujarat Prantiya Arya Pratinidhi Sabha hosts Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati’s 200th birth anniversary celebrations in Ahmedabad
- The year-long celebrations will culminate with a grand celebration in Morbi’s Tankara, the birthplace of Maharishi: Acharya Vachonidhi Agarwal, President of Arya Samaj Gujarat
NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, OCT 8
Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat on Sunday announced that the state government has allocated 15 acres of land to develop a pilgrimage centre at Tankara, the birth place of Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati in Gujarat. Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel said that the nation is witnessing the realisation of the goals Maharishi had set forth with the principles of Sabka saath, sabka vikas, and sabka prayas.
The duo were speaking at the the 200th birth anniversary celebrations of Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati, the great reformer of the 19th century organised by the Gujarat Prantiya Arya Pratinidhi Sabha at the Sabarmati Riverfront on Sunday. Governor Acharya Devvrat presided over the function and Chief Minister Bhupendrabhai Patel was present as the Chief Guest.
In his address, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, said, “For centuries, our nation endured subjugation and attempts were made to undermine our ideals, traditions, values, and practices. In the face of such adversity, Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati devoted his entire life to the betterment of society. He rekindled the flame of independence in many hearts. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been a remarkable resurgence of culture in the country, with a focus on preserving and promoting Indian culture and traditions. The nation is witnessing the realisation of the goals Maharishi had set forth with the principles of Sabka saath, sabka vikas, and sabka prayas.”
Governor Acharya Devvrat, who presided over the function, recalled that when he as a part of a delegation met PM Narendra Modi for the 200th-anniversary celebration events, he not only responded positively to the proposal but also suggested that the entire nation should partake in this celebration.
“I approached the Chief Minister, requesting 15 acres of land for a grand pilgrimage centre dedicated to Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati at his birthplace Tankara. I am delighted to announce that the state government has allocated the land to Arya Samaj for the centre,” he said. He also shared that a grand hall in Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the Governor, has been named after Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati.
Welcoming the dignitaries and participants from all over the country, Acharya Vachonidhi Agarwal, President of Arya Samaj Gujarat, said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 200th birth jayanti celebrations of Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati on February 12, 2023. The year-long celebrations will culminate with a grand celebration in Morbi’s Tankara, the birthplace of Maharishi. We are organising Gyanjyoti festivals and other events in different states as a part of the 200th jayanti celebrations.”
The Aryaveer Dal and Aryavirangan Dal performed the march past and gave a guard of honour to the dignitaries. Prominent personalities from across Gujarat and all over the country participated in the event and paid homage to Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati, who was born at Tankara in present-day Morbi in Gujarat.
In his address, Acharya Vagheshji Sharma said that Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati was a beacon of light during the 19th century when India was gripped with ignorance, superstitions, and social ills.
“Maharishi devoted his life to dispelling the shadows of ignorance and rekindled the spirit of knowledge and rationality throughout the country. He championed the cause of Vedic wisdom and also inspired a wave of freedom fighters such as Shyamji Krishna Verma. By continuing to champion Maharishi’s ideas, the Arya Samaj is playing an important role in uplifting the Hindu community,” he said.
The celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati is expected to inspire the coming generations to follow the path of Vedas taught by him. Various organisations belonging to the Arya Samaj, which he founded in Mumbai in 1875, have charted a comprehensive action plan of two-and-a-half years. Incidentally, 2025 also marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of Arya Samaj.
As a part of the 200th jayanti celebrations, grand programmes will be organised in the capitals of all states of the country and 35 countries worldwide. Various competitions and seminars will also be organised on a wide range of topics in India and overseas. For the wider promotion of Vedic culture, high-level conferences, publication of Vedic literature, greeting advertisements and many other activities will be undertaken by Gurukul, Arya Samaj temples, DAV institutions, and other institutions of Arya Samaj.
The grand closing ceremony of Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati’s 200th birth anniversary and Arya Samaj’s 150 years of existence will culminate with the International Arya Maha Sammelan in October 2025.
