- No certificate is needed for India to become a ‘Vishwa Guru’ (global mentor); grand celebration of Govardhan Puja and Annakut Mahotsav held at Keshavdham, Vrindavan.
Mathura: Following Diwali, a grand event was organized on Tuesday afternoon at Keshavdham in Vrindavan to mark Govardhan Puja and the Annakut Mahotsav. Dattatrey Hosabale, Sarkaryavah (General Secretary) of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), attended the event as the chief guest. A large number of office-bearers and workers associated with the BJP and the RSS were present.
The event commenced with the lighting of a ceremonial lamp by chief guest Dattatrey Hosabale and other distinguished guests before the images of Bharat Mata (Mother India) and Lord Shri Krishna. The occasion served to highlight the significance of Indian culture, traditions, social harmony, nature conservation, and the creation of a self-reliant society.
Speakers noted that the festival of Govardhan Puja commemorates a divine episode in the life of Lord Shri Krishna, when He lifted the Govardhan mountain on His little finger to protect the people of Braj and the region itself, while simultaneously humbling Indra. The tradition of the Annakut Mahotsav is rooted in this very event. The celebration at Keshavdham underscored this religious and cultural tradition while conveying a message of social unity.
Highlighting the global recognition of Indian culture, Sarkaryavah Dattatrey Hosabale remarked that the Diwali festival—celebrated from Dhanteras to Bhai Dooj—is not confined to India alone; it is observed with great enthusiasm by Indians living in many countries across the world. In nations like Trinidad, for instance, large-scale Diwali celebrations take place, drawing thousands of participants to cultural programs, while in several states across the United States, Diwali has also been accorded special recognition. In his address, he stated that Indian culture—along with the wisdom found in Yoga, the Bhagavad Gita, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata—is currently providing guidance for life to people across the globe. At a time when unrest and mutual animosity are evident in many parts of the world, India can offer a new direction to humanity through its culture and core life values. He emphasized that India does not require validation from any international organization or the United Nations to be recognized as a ‘Vishwaguru’ (a global mentor/guide), as India’s true identity lies in its unique lifestyle, philosophy, and culture. He noted that merely extolling the virtues of ancient texts is insufficient; rather, one must embody these ideals in daily life to set an example for the rest of the world.
The guests were left impressed by a demonstration of ‘Mallavidya’ (traditional Indian wrestling/martial arts) performed by children during the event. Notable figures present on the occasion included All-India Contact Chief (Akhil Bharatiya Sampark Pramukh) Ramlal, Rajya Sabha MP Tejveer Singh, MLA Shrikant Sharma, Rajesh Chaudhary, Meghshyam Singh, Puran Prakash, social worker Shobharam Sharma, Ramakant Katheria, Narayan Das Agrawal, Ramkrishna Agrawal, Rajesh Khurana, Amit Jain, Atul Krishna Bhardwaj, Ravikant Garg, Jitendra Varshney, Vineet Sharma, Vijay Raghav, and Vaibhav Agrawal, among several other distinguished guests.
