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What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
A Jewish Rabbi said the multi-faith prayer highlights unity in diversity in India.
NEW DELHI: A pastor, an Imam, a temple priest, Sikh clergies, Buddhist monk and representatives of other religions become part of a grand multi-faith ceremony inside the new Parliament complex on Sunday as India starts afresh its innings for lawmakers to sit, debate and frame laws.
In the presence of Union ministers, chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, senior bureaucrats, and dignitaries, a group of around a dozen religious representatives recited sacred hymns from their respective religious texts.
A Vedic scholar eloquently spoke in Sanskrit, reciting verses from the Bhagavad Gita. A troupe of Sikh preachers mesmerized the audience with melodic renditions of Sabad accompanied by traditional musical instruments.
Expressing gratitude on behalf of all sects of Jainism, a Jain muni stated, “I want to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for installing the sceptre at its appropriate place and giving it the respect it deserves.”
Sikh Guru Balbir Singh, who participated in the multi-faith ceremony, expressed his appreciation for the new Parliament building, emphasizing the importance of unity for the nation’s progress. He remarked, “It is a very good thing that the new Parliament has been built. I keep myself away from politics, but I believe everyone should work unitedly for the growth of the country.”
The multi-faith prayers held at the inauguration of the new Parliament building conveyed a powerful message of unity in diversity, as stated by Jewish Rabbi Ezekiel Isaac Malekar. Jasbeer Kaur, another participant in the multi-faith prayers, emphasized the historic significance of the new Parliament building and urged all Indians to remain united.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and several Cabinet ministers, attended a significant ‘Sarv-dharma’ prayer ceremony held at the newly constructed Parliament building. The ceremony aimed to promote religious inclusivity and unity, bringing together leaders from different faiths to offer prayers and blessings.
The new Parliament building, designed to embody India’s ethos, incorporates materials sourced from various regions of the country. The sandstone used in its construction comes from Rajasthan’s Samthura, while the Ashoka Chakras inside both houses were sourced from Indore.
Before the multi-faith prayers, PM Modi participated in puja and havan near the iconic Mahatma Gandhi statue, joined by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. He later installed the historic ‘Sengol’ sceptre in the lower house, in the presence of Birla and Hindu seers from Tamil Nadu. The ‘Sengol’ was originally presented to Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, symbolizing the transfer of power from the British. The term ‘Sengol’ is believed to derive from the Tamil word ‘semmai’.
The significance of the ‘Sengol’ sceptre emerged when Lord Mountbatten, the former Viceroy of British India, inquired about a symbolic transfer of power. Seeking the advice of C Rajagopalachari, the last Governor-General of India from Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu, Nehru was suggested to use the ‘Sengol’.
On August 14, 1947, a historic moment unfolded as three priests from the Tanjore religious body carried the ‘Sengol’ with utmost reverence. They presented it to Nehru, marking the momentous transfer of power.
