August 2012 brought about a much needed awareness on Universal ONENESS! Celebrating the “International Festival of Oneness”, Universal Brotherhood- Sant Nirankari Mission, organized a series of events and festivities to emphasize on the Oneness and unity of mankind. Irrespective of our background and belongingness, awareness was brought about on the significance of one global family. I feel fortunate and blessed to have been able to attend this blissful event.
Held in Birmingham, England, the entire International Seminar proved to be an immensely inspiring experience, which motivated all the delegates to look at humanity from a whole new angle. Innovative multimedia themed with the Olympic Games as a motivational backdrop portrayed a perfectly well-balanced duo between Spiritualism and Materialism. The Seminar reflected on how we can learn and get inspired by our daily life routines. It taught us how to envision our Material life styles and blend them into creating a motivational platform for our spiritual lives.
Hosted by the Sant Nirankari Mission and put together by the organizational team from UK and India, this International conference was attended by almost 7000 delegates from 33 different countries. Looking at the lush filled seats at the NIA, where the two day conference was held, the conference reminded us of the fact that there is still hope that mankind could be one. There are still people who believe in oneness and are willing to go above and beyond to work and strive towards creating “UNIVERSAL ONENESS” in this world. His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji said in His discourse: “I kept hearing the phrase: We are One FAMILY, and a very strong thought crossed my mind that I hope very soon we will be able to say: We are One: FINALLY!”
The preparations started with Diamond Jubilee Celebrations for the Queen, Torch Relay events for the Olympics, Kaleidoscope concert with the Music and Arts council and much more. Starting in June 2012 volunteers organized street shows in various cities of England and the last ten days were action-packed with picnics in the Hyde Park, Community Games depicting the Olympics in London, a music festival in Leicester, a Bhangra World Record termed: Dance for Oneness, followed by a Fireworks show in Birmingham and then finally ending the festivities with the two day Seminar at the NIA.
The delegates from all over the world were assisted with their stay arrangements and transportation & meals were provided to them for more than ten days-straight. It is not easy to cater to thousands of attendees from all across the world but the SNM volunteers seem to have done this with utmost expertise- as if a blessing from the almighty was pulling all the strings and creating completion in all the arrangements. Busses and coaches reached the respective hotels on time and took all the delegates to the respective venues and even included three days of sight-seeing for all the delegates. As much as the putting together of arrangements amazed me, I had to remind myself that this is a spiritual organization that holds two major Samagams in India every year and makes arrangements for millions of seekers and attendees: one in November in Delhi and another one in January in Mumbai: on an annual basis: and has done that for many decades. It is no wonder that an organization such as the Sant Nirankari Mission organized multiple events in England for 10 days catering to thousands of participants in a smooth and efficient manner. Of course, everything comes as a result of blessings from the Divine and His Holiness Nirankari Baba, with His blessings, blessed every moment of this spiritual experience. He was accompanied by His mother: Holy Mother: Raj Mata ji and His wife: Pujya Mata ji.
Apart from the spiritual aspect of awareness on “ONENESS” in the world, a thrilling event of Bhangra was also organized. This Bhangra event broke the World Record and now has been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. Volunteers and dancers organized a series of steps which were sent to all the participants via You tube and other social media links. Participants practiced these steps in their homes and coordination was perfected with daily practices in the last 10 days as well. On the day of the event, a record number of 2552 dancers did Bhangra on Potters Lane in Birmingham-which was closed to traffic. The dance was well coordinated in which everyone wore traditional Bhangra outfits and the Guinness Book of World Records Team was there to register and witness the authenticity of the participants and the event. Sure enough, the dancers danced in synchronization and coordination to well-choreographed steps and they danced for 14 minutes. This created a new World Record for the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest organized dance group in the world. The record was that of 2100 dancers. To add a cherry on the cake, all the participants were given certificates and medals. Imagine doing that for 2552 people!
In a Oneness message given by His Holiness Nirankari Baba, He said: “They say this world is too small. Yes, it is true when we consider the fast progress that man has made with information technology and communication. We can now reach each other within mille-seconds, whatever the distance. But when we refer to any two hearts, we find them wide apart from each other. Even though those hearts beat within people living under the same roof, in the same community, state or country it seems unity has been sacrificed for the sake of petty, material gain. At worst, distances are converted into prejudice, which in turn gives rise to hatred, jealousy and eventually even violence.
It is unfortunate that religion which was expected to bring man closer to man seems to contribute to the division of humanity. People fight over the names of God; argue over whose place is more holy; disrespect each other’s mode of worship- even the prophets and religious scriptures which were a universal gift to mankind, today stand divided in heart and mind. It seems the world has forgotten the common religion of mankind-the humanity which is our shared heritage and wealth……….”
All of us here at Radio Ruhaniyat, hope and pray that each and every human being can play their little role in creating Oneness, peace and unity in this world, so that one day we can meaningfully say:
“WE ARE ONE FAMILY, WE ARE ONE: FINALLY!”
Held in Birmingham, England, the entire International Seminar proved to be an immensely inspiring experience, which motivated all the delegates to look at humanity from a whole new angle. Innovative multimedia themed with the Olympic Games as a motivational backdrop portrayed a perfectly well-balanced duo between Spiritualism and Materialism. The Seminar reflected on how we can learn and get inspired by our daily life routines. It taught us how to envision our Material life styles and blend them into creating a motivational platform for our spiritual lives.
Hosted by the Sant Nirankari Mission and put together by the organizational team from UK and India, this International conference was attended by almost 7000 delegates from 33 different countries. Looking at the lush filled seats at the NIA, where the two day conference was held, the conference reminded us of the fact that there is still hope that mankind could be one. There are still people who believe in oneness and are willing to go above and beyond to work and strive towards creating “UNIVERSAL ONENESS” in this world. His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh Ji said in His discourse: “I kept hearing the phrase: We are One FAMILY, and a very strong thought crossed my mind that I hope very soon we will be able to say: We are One: FINALLY!”
The preparations started with Diamond Jubilee Celebrations for the Queen, Torch Relay events for the Olympics, Kaleidoscope concert with the Music and Arts council and much more. Starting in June 2012 volunteers organized street shows in various cities of England and the last ten days were action-packed with picnics in the Hyde Park, Community Games depicting the Olympics in London, a music festival in Leicester, a Bhangra World Record termed: Dance for Oneness, followed by a Fireworks show in Birmingham and then finally ending the festivities with the two day Seminar at the NIA.
The delegates from all over the world were assisted with their stay arrangements and transportation & meals were provided to them for more than ten days-straight. It is not easy to cater to thousands of attendees from all across the world but the SNM volunteers seem to have done this with utmost expertise- as if a blessing from the almighty was pulling all the strings and creating completion in all the arrangements. Busses and coaches reached the respective hotels on time and took all the delegates to the respective venues and even included three days of sight-seeing for all the delegates. As much as the putting together of arrangements amazed me, I had to remind myself that this is a spiritual organization that holds two major Samagams in India every year and makes arrangements for millions of seekers and attendees: one in November in Delhi and another one in January in Mumbai: on an annual basis: and has done that for many decades. It is no wonder that an organization such as the Sant Nirankari Mission organized multiple events in England for 10 days catering to thousands of participants in a smooth and efficient manner. Of course, everything comes as a result of blessings from the Divine and His Holiness Nirankari Baba, with His blessings, blessed every moment of this spiritual experience. He was accompanied by His mother: Holy Mother: Raj Mata ji and His wife: Pujya Mata ji.
Apart from the spiritual aspect of awareness on “ONENESS” in the world, a thrilling event of Bhangra was also organized. This Bhangra event broke the World Record and now has been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. Volunteers and dancers organized a series of steps which were sent to all the participants via You tube and other social media links. Participants practiced these steps in their homes and coordination was perfected with daily practices in the last 10 days as well. On the day of the event, a record number of 2552 dancers did Bhangra on Potters Lane in Birmingham-which was closed to traffic. The dance was well coordinated in which everyone wore traditional Bhangra outfits and the Guinness Book of World Records Team was there to register and witness the authenticity of the participants and the event. Sure enough, the dancers danced in synchronization and coordination to well-choreographed steps and they danced for 14 minutes. This created a new World Record for the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest organized dance group in the world. The record was that of 2100 dancers. To add a cherry on the cake, all the participants were given certificates and medals. Imagine doing that for 2552 people!
In a Oneness message given by His Holiness Nirankari Baba, He said: “They say this world is too small. Yes, it is true when we consider the fast progress that man has made with information technology and communication. We can now reach each other within mille-seconds, whatever the distance. But when we refer to any two hearts, we find them wide apart from each other. Even though those hearts beat within people living under the same roof, in the same community, state or country it seems unity has been sacrificed for the sake of petty, material gain. At worst, distances are converted into prejudice, which in turn gives rise to hatred, jealousy and eventually even violence.
It is unfortunate that religion which was expected to bring man closer to man seems to contribute to the division of humanity. People fight over the names of God; argue over whose place is more holy; disrespect each other’s mode of worship- even the prophets and religious scriptures which were a universal gift to mankind, today stand divided in heart and mind. It seems the world has forgotten the common religion of mankind-the humanity which is our shared heritage and wealth……….”
All of us here at Radio Ruhaniyat, hope and pray that each and every human being can play their little role in creating Oneness, peace and unity in this world, so that one day we can meaningfully say:
“WE ARE ONE FAMILY, WE ARE ONE: FINALLY!”
- by Preet Sahi ji
Enjoy the Picture album by Rev. Mohan Sabnani ji:
