By IANS,
Chennai : A five-day fair highlighting the services being rendered by Hindu spiritual organisations has begun in this Tamil Nadu capital.
Over 100 Hindu spiritual and service organisations including Ramakrishna Mission, Aurobindo Ashram, Ramanahram, Kanchi Math, Sringeri Math, Mata Amritananadamayi Math, Art of Living movement, Swaminarayan movement and Patanjali Yogpeeth are participating in the fair.
Organised by the Chennai chapter of the Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (India), the fair was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu Governor Surjeet Singh Barnala at Thiruvanmiyur in south Chennai Thursday.
This is the second edition of the “Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair”, which concludes on Dec 28.
The fair’s objective is “to remove the misconception about Hindu spiritual organisations that they are not socially conscious – which is contrary to the truth,” according to GFCHI.
The GFCHI, a platform of different faiths and civilisations, was launched by former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in January last year at an all-faith meet in New Delhi to promote dialogue among civilisations.
“Religions and different faiths should bring about an understanding among the people and foster unity among faiths,” Barnala said in his address.
Barnala said the services rendered by Hindu spiritual organisations have been immense.
Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said there is a general perception that Hindu spiritual organisations are not socially conscious and lack motivation for service.
“This myth needs to be demolished in order to gain the rightful place for these organisations in the global order of things,” he said.
GFCHI Trustee S. Gurumurthy said 90,000 schools were being run by the 100 organisations participating in the fair, constituting one-eigth of the total schools in the country. These organisations also ran 25,000 hospitals and clinics and various rural development projects.
“It was essential therefore to demolish the myth that Hindu spiritual organisations were not socially conscious,” he said.