By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: While stating that animal sacrifice does not appease anyone, Meghalaya Governor RS Mooshahary urged people to observe dharma, which is duty of all human being often confused with religion.
The governor said this while speaking at the Central Puja Committee’s (CPC) “Get-Together of Harmony” held in the city on Thursday.
Chanting shlokas like a Sanskrit scholar and interpreting them for the audience, the Governor also cited stories of compassion from every religion. The Governor narrated examples from the Mahabharat to highlight that compassion is true dharma.
“Anything that divides and destructs is not religion. But what I have seen is the destructive power of religion which we often mistake for dharma. Dharma is the set of ethics that guides a person’s life toward humane and compassionate goals,” Mooshahary said.
Explaining the origin of the word Hindu, commonly understood as a religion, like Islam or Christianity, Mooshahary said it comes from the word Sindhu, meaning Indus. The term “Hindu” was initially given to people of Indus valley and it was only in 1886 that Raja Ram Mohan Roy termed the religion of the inhabitants of the valley Hindu.
Speaking as the guest of honour, Union Minister of State for Water Resources and minority affairs, Vincent Pala wished the people peace and harmony during the Puja season.
Gorkhas, who started Durga Puja in Shillong, hosted this year’s “Get-Together Of Harmony” an initiative of the Central Puja Committee, at Gorkha Duja Puja ground at Lukier Road on Thursday. The flavour of Gorkhas was visible all around from the use of red “shradha” (neck scarves given to men and women both at the time of entry as a show of respect) and sarees of women in the organizing committee to the Gorkha caps that were offered to the dignitaries.
BB Chetri, Chairman of the Gorkha Durga Puja Committee (GDPC) said, “The shradha that we offer is only done by Indian Gorkhas; it is not a practice in Nepal and the colour red signifies joy.” Garlands of marigold crisscrossing to make diamonds and sometimes running in semicircles hanging from the roof were accompanied with chandeliers to add to the ambience. The ceremony began with the national anthem, followed by two vedic hymns sung by Swami Achyuteshananda of Ram Krishna Mission, Shillong. Perfect for the concept of Harmony gathering, which was started amidst ethnic conflicts in 1993, the members of GDPC chose to sing, “Chodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat purani, naye daur mein likhenge hum milkar nai kahani, hum Hindustani, hum Hindustani.”
Religious leaders who attended the programme included PG Marbaniang of Unitarian Church, Imam Bilaluddin from Police Bazar Mosque, M F Blah-Seng Khasi, R L Shullai of Sein Jaintia, Buddist monk Sangwe Tsehwang, Swami Achutesyananda from Ram Krishna Mission and Gyani of Shillong Gurudwara.
Dance performances by young Gurkha women gave the ceremony a touch of culture. The only glitch in the entire event was the poor audio system, which the CPC said it was due to low voltage. Other dignitaries present included Deputy Chief Minister BM Lanong, Urban Affairs Minister, Ms Ampareen Lyngdoh, Minister for Water Resources, AL Hek, Mawprem MLA Manas Chaudhuri, former Rajya Sabha MP, BB Dutta and former minister DN Joshi besides others.