Vyasmuni Thakur
Under the auspices of Sant Asharamji Bapu Ashram and Yuva Seva Sangh – Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, a unique event was celebrated in Goregaon East on 14th February – “Matri-Pitru Poojan Diwas”.
This grand festival, celebrated collectively, started with Ganesh Vandana and worship of Goddess Saraswati, followed by a cultural drama and dance presentation by the children and youth of Bal Sanskar explaining the importance of parents in life.
Then the grand program of Matri-Pitra Puja Mahotsav began in which hundreds of children and youth present seated their parents on a higher ground, garlanded them, applied tilak and performed puja with puja thali in their hands. They fed sweets to their parents with their own hands and everyone circumambulated 7 times around their parents just as Lord Ganesha had done to Shivji and Maa Parvati. Then the parents hugged the children and gave auspicious blessings. Seeing this glimpse of Indian tradition, parents and other people present could not hold back their tears.
Through the video satsang of Saint Shri Asharamji Bapu, people were given clear information about why and how to celebrate ‘Matri-Pitru Puja Diwas’.
It is noteworthy that on the call of Saint Shri Asharamji Bapu, the celebration of ‘Matri Pitru Pujan Diwas’ (MPPD) on 14th February was started 17 years ago (2006). People liked this program so much that today MPPD is being celebrated not only in India but also in foreign countries. This program has been heartily welcomed by people of all religions – Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, Parsi. One of the reasons for the welcome of this divine work by all sections of the society is that it transcends the boundaries of religion and caste and contains the feeling of welfare of all.
The parents and the entire public present in the program greatly appreciated the said event and expressed their wish that more such events should be held in the future. The children also resolved to celebrate this day every year instead of Valentine’s Day to honor their parents and teachers. At the end, the program was concluded with a Bhandara Of Sattvik food.
