The Hindu : Religious festivals should end social evils: Swami Agnivesh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 19, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Religious festivals should end social evils: Swami Agnivesh

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, FEB. 18. The Arya Samaj leader and head of the Bandhua Mukti Morcha, Swami Agnivesh, today said religious festivals should not be confined to rituals and ceremonies, but should have social relevance. "Such events should be able to awaken and enable people to end vices and evils like gender discrimination, greed and jealousy from society."

Addressing a "dharma sammelan" on the occasion of Mahashivratri, organised by the Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Iswariya Vishwavidhyalaya in the Capital, he said religious festivals should be made a tool to bring in social change and awakening in the society.

Urging government and NGOs to work together to end social injustices like gender discrimination, female foeticide and dowry deaths, Swami Agnivesh said illiteracy and poverty were the main reason behind social evils so the government should work for the upliftment of people belonging to lower strata of the society.

Swami Sarvanand Saraswati, head of Mahashaktipeeth, said attainment of power to rule over time, discipline and self was the key to peace and happiness in life. Practice of divine knowledge and meditation could result in elimination of vices in self and in making life pure, healthy and prosperous.

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