Nawan Nagar, July 2024

On the full moon day of July 21, 2024, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) celebrated Guru Purnima with great fervor and enthusiasm at its Nawan Nagar center. A massive crowd gathered to have the darshan of Sant Baljit Singh Ji, in honor of the occasion signifying the guru-disciple relationship.

VMRK started preparations for the event well in advance. Three large tents were set up as the main event venue. Additionally, numerous smaller tents were set up to provide free lodging, food distribution, and other charitable services. A separate lodging section with foldable cots provided accommodation for senior citizens and individuals with special needs.

As the day of the event approached, attendees from different parts of the country began arriving at the Nawan Nagar center using various modes of transportation. Those traveling by train disembarked at Chandigarh, 32 kilometers from the center, or Kalka, 18 kilometers from the center. Since neither train station offered direct public transport to the center, VMRK arranged a shuttle service to bring attendees to and from the center. Three days before the event, VMRK set up kiosks at these railway stations. Volunteers at these kiosks served refreshments and helped attendees avail the shuttle service. This shuttle service also operated after the event to assist attendees with their departure.

On July 21, attendees started taking their seats early, beginning in the morning. To effectively manage the large crowd, the seating area was divided into multiple sections. A designated section along the edge of the main event tent was equipped with chairs for elderly and disabled attendees.

In July, the weather is marked by high temperatures, high humidity, and monsoon rains, resulting in muggy heat. Therefore, the tent was equipped with fans throughout to increase the airflow. Additionally, VMRK volunteers continuously served water to the attendees in the seating areas. To further combat dehydration, VMRK volunteers in the kitchen prepared freshly squeezed lemonade and served it at multiple locations throughout the event grounds.

As the evening approached at 5 o’clock, professional singers began performing devotional songs. To ensure that all attendees could enjoy the event, nine large LED screens and audio equipment were installed throughout the event grounds. The attendees clapped along to the devotional songs that praised the virtues of the Guru, expressing their enjoyment.

As the time for Sant Baljit Singh Ji’s arrival drew nearer, the main event tents were filled to maximum capacity, while more attendees continued to arrive. To accommodate the incoming attendees, VMRK volunteers had laid out carpets in the open area adjacent to these tents. The path to the dais was adorned with rangoli and flowers. When Sant Baljit Singh Ji made his way to the dais, the assembled attendees greeted him with cheerful smiles; some folded their hands in reverence, while others clapped enthusiastically.

Darshan program

Marking the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, attendees have the opportunity to walk past the dais, allowing them to have darshan of Sant Baljit Singh Ji from closer proximity. The darshan program started around 8:00 pm. A single queue of attendees for darshan was organized section by section. As attendees walked by, they greeted Sant Baljit Singh Ji with folded hands. Some bowed their heads, while others extended their wishes for the Guru Purnima event. After having darshan, attendees were offered prasad.

Senior citizens and individuals with special needs received assistance. VMRK volunteers provided a car shuttle service to transport these attendees from the parking area adjaccent to the center to the main event grounds on the opposite side of the main road. These attendees were then brought to the section with chairs that had been designated for the elderly and those with special needs. There, volunteers were on hand with wheelchairs to bring these individuals to the dais to have darshan of Sant Baljit Singh Ji. After darshan, the shuttle service transported them back to the parking area.

Many attendees remained at the main event grounds even after their turn for darshan to enjoy devotional songs in the presence of Sant Baljit Singh Ji. The program continued until late morning the following day and gave every attendee their opportunity to have darshan. Meanwhile, professional singers, such as Nooran Sisters, Sardar Ali, and Masha Ali, continued to perform bhajans throughout the darshan program.

Charitable services at Guru Purnima 2024

VMRK, inspired by the teachings of Sant Baljit Singh Ji to serve humanity, conducts charitable activities year-round. These activities were notably amplified during Guru Purnima to honor Sant Baljit Singh Ji’s teachings. Over a six-day period from July 18 to July 23, VMRK organized medical camps, a blood donation camp, distributed hygiene kits, and provided educational materials. All these activities were carried out within a 260-kilometer radius of the Nawan Nagar center, serving individuals in the areas of Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.

For more information about our recent charitable initiatives, read the following blog posts:

• Charitable services at Chaitra Navratri 2024
• Charitable services at Nawan Nagar, March 2024.

Medical and hygiene camps

VMRK organized a 24-hour medical camp from July 20-22 at the event grounds of the Nawan Nagar center. The camp was staffed by a team of 32 skilled medical professionals and 25 volunteers. Upon visiting the camp, attendees first underwent a basic registration process and then waited for their turn in the designated seating area. VMRK volunteers guided them to the next available doctor, and this worked well to streamline patient consultation. In particular, elderly attendees and those requiring immediate assistance were prioritized to ensure prompt attention. After consultation, patients received free medicines prescribed by the doctors. Thousands of patients received medical care of which more than 60 patients received in-house medical attention at the 22-bed clinical treatment center.

To extend medical services beyond the center, three medical camps were organized in slum areas. These locations were Manimajra in Chandigarh, Parol village in Punjab, and Chatipur village in Himachal Pradesh. To get to these locations, the team had to traverse waterlogged and muddy unpaved paths damaged by monsoon rains. Nevertheless, they persevered and provided free medical services to over 270 patients.

Alongside the medical camps, VMRK organized hygiene camps in these slum areas. More than 470 hygiene kits were distributed. Following the distribution, the medical team took the opportunity to educate the local inhabitants on the benefits of personal hygiene. They also highlighted measures to prevent the spread of dengue disease, which is particularly relevant during the monsoon season when cases are known to increase.

Blood donation is the noblest form of selfless service to the sick and afflicted humanity, a supreme service contributing to the question of saving human lives. The movement of voluntary blood donation is dedicated to the preservation of human life around the world. Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) organized a voluntary blood donation camp on July 21, 2024, at VMRK in which 82 donors donated their blood. We appreciate your gesture towards humanity and hope you will continue your efforts in the future.

Professor Incharge, Department of Immunohematology & Blood Transfusion (Blood Centre), Government Medical College Patiala

Donating educational materials to students

A month prior to the event, VMRK reached out to 36 schools in remote areas to determine their students’ needs. Based on their requirements, VMRK donated school bags, stationery kits, and water bottles to these schools. Additionally, several schools reported a need for sweaters and shoes. In response, VMRK recorded the specific sweater and shoe sizes for the students and subsequently purchased and donated these items. More than 2,720 underprivileged students benefited from this donation.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciate the great effort of Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) inspired by its spiritual head Sant Baljit Singh Ji for providing educational material such as school bags and water bottles for 133 underprivileged students of our school. I wish all success for VMRK and expect that VMRK will provide this kind of welfare service for ones in need in the near future also.

Gurinder Singh, Head Teacher, GPS Bassi Gujjran, Chamkaur Sahib, Ropar, Punjab