Three day Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair in Chennai

Hindu outfits to showcase service projects
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CHENNAI: Nearly 40 Hindu organisations will showcase their activities at the ‘Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair 2009’, in the city for three days, starting Friday.
 
The Chennai chapter of the Global Foundation for Civilisational Harmony (GFCH), an umbrella organisation of Eastern religions, is organising the exhibition and book fair. Swami Mitrananda, international president of Chinmaya Yuva Kendra and organising secretary of the GFCH exhibition, says, “The aim of GFCH is to develop a dialogue between various cultures and faiths. According to the GFCH, all faiths are valid and all civilisations are needed to keep the earth colorful.”
 
The exhibition and highlight the service work done by the participating organisations. “Hinduism is widely perceived to be just a ritualistic and spiritual religion. People don’t realise how much Hindus serve the society. This fair will enable people to see how the faith is serving the country. In fact, these organisations themselves are not aware of their own reach,” says Mitrananda.
 
To be held at the Jaigopal Garodia Vivekananda Vidyalaya at Anna Nagar, the fair will also showcase cultural programmes by the organisations from 6pm to 8pm on all the three days.
 
Apart from serving as a platform for organisations to exchange ideas on best practices and success stories, which can be adapted by other organisations, it will also enable followers of each organisation to appreciate the activities of other organisations. According to Mitrananda, “Followers of Ramakrishna Mission do not know what the Art of Living is doing. The fair will generate greater mutual respect and admiration.”
 
For those who do not belong to any organisation, the fair will be a spiritual retreat that will offer a plethora of choices. “The lay public can choose from among the variety of organisations present there. For example, someone who is intellectually inclined can choose the Chinmaya mission. Each one can choose an organisation according to their inclinations,” says Mitrananda.
 
Swami Dayanand Saraswati will inaugurate the exhibition at 2.55pm on Friday. Similar events will be held in future for Buddhist, Jain, Muslim and Christian organisations by the GFCH.

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