Saints Should Make Every Possible Effort to Promote Social Harmony: President Smt Murmu

A grand mass wedding ceremony for 251 couples was held at Bageshwar Dham on the occasion of Maha Shivratri in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu. The President blessed the newlyweds and gave them gifts, wishing them a happy married life. Governor Mangubhai Patel and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav also extended their blessings. Each newlywed couple will receive ₹51,000 as a gift.

President Smt Murmu commended Pandit Dhirendra Krishna Shastri’s initiative to address social issues and raise awareness. She highlighted that great saints like Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Sant Ravidas, Kabir Das, and Meera Bai have historically worked against discrimination and for women’s empowerment. She expressed appreciation for how Bageshwar Dham is effectively continuing this tradition.

The President participated in the wedding rituals, presenting gifts to 3 couples as a symbolic gesture. Out of the 251 brides, 108 belonged to tribal communities. Upon her arrival at Bageshwar Dham, Pandit Dhirendra Shastri welcomed President Smt Murmu with a sacred cloth and a Tulsi garland, presenting her with religious artefacts and literature. A short film about the sixth mass wedding event at the Dham was also showcased.

President Smt Murmu emphasized the nation’s commitment to women-led development. She emphasised that empowering girls through education, healthcare, and safety is the collective responsibility of both society and government as well. She stated that by 2047 when India celebrates 100 years of independence, the country aims to be self-reliant, both economically and socially, and must also lead the world in spiritual guidance and environmental sustainability. She urged the saint community to actively contribute to promoting social harmony.

President Smt Murmu praised the mass wedding initiative led by Pt Dhirendra Krishna Shastri and the Bageshwar Dham Service Committee. She expressed happiness that the newlyweds were being gifted household items and tools like sewing machines to support their self-reliance. She described the event as a prime example of public participation in social welfare.

Governor Shri Mangubhai Patel thanked President Smt Murmu for personally attending and blessing the couples. He emphasized the importance of social awareness in India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047 under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav welcomed President Murmu to Madhya Pradesh and lauded the efforts of Bageshwar Dham in addressing social issues. He noted that caste barriers were being broken, as grooms from different castes participated together. He highlighted that such events, held in the presence of saints and government representatives, promote love, harmony, and unity in society.

The Chief Minister congratulated Pt Dhirendra Shastri for his efforts and expressed hope that such social initiatives would continue. He also announced that each newlywed couple would receive ₹51,000 from the state government as a gift.

Pt Dhirendra Shastri urged temples and religious institutions to allocate donation funds for the upliftment of girls from underprivileged families. He asserted that if all religious institutions and communities took this initiative, India’s rise as a global leader would be unstoppable.

The ceremony was attended by NRIs from 20 countries, eminent saints, families of the newlyweds, and a large number of local residents. Several dignitaries, including Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar, State Minister Dilip Ahirwar, and local MLAs and administrative officials, were also present at the event.