Sadhu Vaswani Rath Yatra Appeals for “Meatless Day” on 25th November
So long as animals and birds are slain to provide meat for man, so long we will not see peace on the face of this earth. If a man kills an animal for food, he will not hesitate in killing a fellow-man whom he considers his enemy. The root cause of world wars is irreverence for life.
— Dada Vaswani
23rd November 2019, Sadhu Vaswani Rath Yatra tread through the lanes of Pune, spreading the message of Sadhu Vaswani – ‘Reverence for All Life’ and with an appeal to observe 25th November, Sadhu Vaswani’s birthday, as a ‘Meatless Day’.
At 5:00 pm, the Rath Yatra on the 140th birthday of Sadhu Vaswani, commenced its journey from the Sacred Samadhi of the Great Masters — Sadhu Vaswani and Dada Vaswani. Life-like posters of the Masters were divinely seated on the chariot. Didi Krishna Kumari, Working Chairperson, Sadhu Vaswani Mission, offered an inaugural prayer. Chants of ‘Hare Krishna Hare Ram, Dada Dada Shyam, Dada Shyam,’ called out to every Puneite in love and devotion along with echoes of ‘25th of November, is the day to remember, it’s a Meatless Day’. Youngsters and devotees singing bhajans and kirtans added divinity to the procession. The ‘Rath Yatra’ was welcomed at several spots with banners, lights and altars with life-size portraits of Sadhu Vaswani and Dada J.P. Vaswani. The procession included decorated floats and balloons with messages like, ‘Animals are friends not food’ ‘jeeyo aur jeene do’.
The charioteer of the Rath, Suraj Dhaktode, sharing his experience said, “To drive the Rath feels exhilarating. As I drive it, I truly experience Dada Vaswani. It is as though he is sitting behind me and guiding the yatra.”
At the first halt, Dada Vaswani’s audio-visual in Sindhi was played in which he spoke on ‘Sadhu Vaswani’s message on the value of the human birth’. Awake! Awake! How long will you in slumber lie? How long will you remain in forgetfulness? The human birth is a priceless jewel; but we know not its worth. We fritter it away in worthless pursuits.
At the next halt of the yatra, Dada Vaswani’s recorded audio-visual in Hindi was played, in which he pleaded compassion for all creatures. We must remember that God is One and he resides in everyone, including animals. Do not slaughter but serve, serve all.
“I have been coming for the Rath Yatra since the age of 15. I cannot miss it for anything in this world,” said Priya Madan.
“It has been 17 years since I am attending the yatra. The results of the yatra is seen today with many people consciously making a choice to be vegetarian even if it is for a day,” said Mrs. Ekta Teckchandani.
Hitesh Mulchandani, a participant shared, “We try to explain to our little daughter, the significance of the Rath Yatra and the Meatless Day. We thought bringing her in this procession would be the best way to put the point across to her.
Route of the Rath Yatra:
Starting at Sadhu Vaswani’s Sacred Samadhi at the Mission, the yatra passed Sadhu Vaswani Chowk and then followed the route through Baba Ambedkar Chowk, KEM hospital, Sant Kabir Chowk, Quarter Gate Chowk, Pudumjee Compound, Babajan Chowk, Bhopala Chowk, MG Road, Nehru Memorial Hall, GPO, returning back to the Sacred Samadhi.
About the Rath Yatra
The Rath Yatra is an annual pilgrim-procession since 1966 in the city of Pune, providing an opportunity for the denizens of Pune to pay homage to a great saint of Pune, Sadhu Vaswani, and for all of them and their homes to receive his benedictions.
The specially constructed ‘Rath’ (chariot) is designed by the world-renowned Dilip Chabbria, better known as D.C. Built on a truck chassis, it is designed like a space-ship.
Sadhu T. L. Vaswani Quotes:
- If indeed, life is one, is not the animal, too, my brother? And am I not his keeper?
- Man is the elder brother of the animal: so must man be the animal’s guardian and helper, – not his tyrant and oppressor.
- All killing is a denial of Love!
For to kill or to eat what another has killed is to rejoice in cruelty. And cruelty hardens our hearts and blinds our vision and we see not that they whom we kill our brothers and sisters in the one Brotherhood of Life.
