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President to flag off Gomateshwara fete in Karnataka

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Shravanabelagola (Karnataka), Feb 6 (IANS) President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday will flag off the celebrations to anoint the Gomateshwara statue in this Jain pilgrim town in Karnataka’s Hassan district, an official said on Tuesday.

“The President will be flown in by a chopper from Bengaluru on Wednesday to flag off the ‘Mahamastabhisheka’ (grand consecration) celebrations of the Bahubali Gomateshwara statue… this is a very important Jain festival,” the festival organising committee’s chief of publicity P.Y.Rajendra Kumar told IANS.

Lakhs of people from across the country visit Shravanabelagola to take part in the fest, which is held once in every 12 years, to anoint the 17-metre high mighty statue of Bahubali, a Jain spiritual leader.

While the President will flag off the celebrations on Wednesday, the actual anointing of the statue will take place on February 17. The last anointing ceremony took place 12 years ago in 2006.

“The fest will be celebrated for 18 days from February 7 to 25, with various Jain rituals held for the first nine days and the anointing ceremony taking place from February 17 to 25,” Kumar added.

While the key days of the festival run from February 17 to 25, devotees and VIPs have been pouring into this town over the last three weeks.

According to officials, about 2.25 lakh people are expected to visit the town for the mega Jain observance. The pilgrim town has been spruced up at an estimated cost of Rs 175 crore for the fest.

Charukeerthi Bhattarakha of the Jain Mutt here said: “The anointment of Bahubali statue once in 12 years is a great event not only for the Jain community but all those who regard the teachings of Jainism and renunciation.”

The ancient town is also home to about 500 rock inscriptions, protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made with thousands of pilgrims visiting the town, said Karnataka Director General of Police Neelamani Raju, adding CCTV cameras and hundreds of policemen would be deployed to monitor the crowds.

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.

The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.

Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.

For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.

During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.

Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.

Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .

Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.

In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.

In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.

He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.

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