Special prayer meeting remembers victims of the devastating tragedy; attendees pray for peace for the departed and safe return of missing pilgrims
New Delhi:East End Club organised a special bhajan sandhya and prayer meeting to honour the devotees who lost their lives or remain missing following the devastating tragedy along the Nepal-Tibet border. The gathering became an occasion of prayer, devotion and remembrance, as attendees prayed for eternal peace for the departed souls and the safe return of the devotees who are still missing.
Messages received from across India and abroad expressed deep condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. Speakers described the incident as one of the most painful tragedies in recent years and paid heartfelt tributes to those who lost their lives.
The tragedy took place on August 26, when devastating floods in Nepal’s Trishuli River claimed the lives of more than 1,000 pilgrims from India, Nepal, China and several other countries who were undertaking the Mansarovar pilgrimage. Thousands of people are still reported to be missing. Among those missing are around 80 foreign men and women pilgrims associated with the Isha Foundation.
The bhajan sandhya was held at East End Club in Yamuna Paar, where artists associated with the Delhi government’s Hindi Academy presented soulful devotional performances dedicated to Lord Shiva. Seventeen-year-old singer Drishti, along with renowned singers Simmi and Satish, captivated the gathering with their performances.
Drishti’s emotional rendition touched the hearts of those present, leaving several devotees visibly moved and bringing tears to the eyes of many in the audience. Professor Shruti Ojha conducted the programme.
Several prominent personalities also expressed their grief and solidarity through messages on the occasion. They included renowned classical musician Pandit Bholenath Mishra of the Banaras-Mirpur Gharana; BJP OBC Morcha president and MP Amarpal Maurya; Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad’s Prof. Rajkumar Bhatia; East End Club president Lalit Mohan Bansal (USA); and senior journalist Hemant Agrawal.
Senior journalist and Rashtra Times editor Vijay Shankar Chaturvedi, journalist Dilbar Gothee, renowned poet Shiv Kumar Bilgrami, Advocate Kapil Tyagi, Dr. Praveen Wadhwa, Advocate Manish Ojha, G.K. Bansal, Suchit Singal and Rajit Chadha were among those who attended the gathering. Several office-bearers and members of East End Club also joined the prayer meeting.
The programme concluded with a two-minute silence in memory of the devotees who lost their lives. Those present paid their respects to the departed souls and expressed their deepest condolences to the affected families, while praying for the safe return of the pilgrims who are still missing.
