THE 50th birthday celebration of Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji was held largely online on 14 March at Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh due to the Covid-19 situation and restrictions on travel.
This year the celebrations coincided with Mahashivratri, Haridwar Kumbh Mela and the conclusion of the first-ever online International Yoga Festival, a statement said.
On the eve of Pujya Sadhvi Saraswatiji's birthday, Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla and his family was welcomed home with a sacred Rudrabhishek and sacred morning Havan on the banks of river Ganga.
A sacred Sunday yagna in the sacred and oldest grooves of the ashram transpired into a moment of mantras, meditation and deep bliss concluding with the speaker's family offering their final ahuti with Pujya Swamiji and Pujya Sadhvi Saraswatiji.
The Encyclopedia of Hinduism of which she is the managing editor and 'Come Home to Yourself' was presented to them.
Later, Pujya Sadhvi Saraswatiji inaugurated the evening classes and skills training offerings of Parmath Nari Shakti Kendra. Administrators, teachers and students at Divine Shakti Foundation's Parmarth Vidya Mandir Prakash Bharti school came together to make the event very special, the statement added.
A live Ganga aarti led by HH Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, in the presence of Pujya Acharya Balkrishanji was conducted on the special occasion of Pujya Sadhvi Saraswatiji's 50th birthday, with live online interaction and wishes with renowned percussionist Sivamani and his wife and singer Runa Rizvii Sivamani.
Her father Rajkumar Rizviji, accompanied Runa in offering songs.
In the evening, blessings from saints and loved ones was previewed followed by a live stream webinar with some of Pujya Sadhvi Saraswatiji's family, friends and loved ones.
As part of the celebrations, a year-long online campaign was launched to honour Pujya Sadhvi Saraswatiji's teachings and her divine example by inspiring people to engage in at least 50 acts of compassion and kindness throughout the year leading up to her 51st Birthday.
According to a statement, these could be actions like planting a tree, feeding the hunger, providing the gift of education, pledging to become vegetarian or any action of love and service and then sharing it on social media with #50ActsofCompassion.
Davindra and Seema Misra, and Vijay and Gita Parekh
Varchas Patel with his father Vipin and mother Jayshriben
Hasmukh Shingadia and his wife Chandrika were all victims of the Horizon scandal
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Man pleads not guilty to murder of BBC presenter's family
A 26-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to charges of murdering the wife and two daughters of BBC sports commentator John Hunt in a crossbow and knife attack.
Kyle Clifford, who also faces charges of rape, appeared via video link at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday.
Clifford, arrested in July after a manhunt, is charged with three counts of murder, one count each of rape and false imprisonment, and two counts of possessing offensive weapons – a 10-inch knife and a crossbow.
During the hearing, Clifford denied all the charges except for the rape charge, which was added to the indictment at the session.
He is expected to enter a plea for that charge at a later date.
The victims were Carol Hunt, 61, wife of horseracing commentator John Hunt, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28.
An earlier hearing revealed that Louise had been found tied up and that both she and her sister had been shot with a crossbow, while their mother had been stabbed with a knife.
The fatal attack occurred at the family’s home in Bushey, a commuter town near Watford, northwest of London.
(With inputs from AFP)