ALLAHABAD: On the auspicious occasion of the Maghi Purnima eve, for the first time ever at Kumbh mela , an international group of musicians from the Middle East, tribal leaders from more than 42 countries and spiritual leaders from across Asia assembled on the banks of river Ganga, on Monday.At the function organised by Parmarth Niketan, they took a sacred pledge for peace and to protect the water bodies of the world.People from India, Spain, Brazil, Paraguay, China, Mexico, Belgium, America, Colombia, Bolivia, the Netherlands, Peru, Argentina, Germany, Australia, Italy, Norway, Chile, Germany, Tibet, Bhutan, Russia, Israel and many other countries joined together to take a pledge to work together to bring tranquility to the turmoil of the world.Through their magical concert on the banks of the Sangam, the Gil Ron Shama Ensemble, a musical group with members that come from Israel, Palestine, Yemen, Iran, and Turkey, wove threads of peace, unity, oneness, and reverence for our water bodies into their songs. A highlight was the special version of the Om Jai Jagadish Hare Aarti.Words were based on the teachings of King Solomon and sung in the Hebrew language. While Swami Chidanand Saraswati sang in Hindi, the band responded with their version in Hebrew.Speaking to the assembled group, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, said “Today, the Kumbh Mela has achieved international significance, witnessing the coming together- the Sangam- of people across the world”.India has never attacked another nation, but has attracted the world. There is no wall in the heart of India; it is a huge heart that equates the whole world. India does not merely believe in tolerance, but in acceptance, he added.“We must also understand that we are facing a water crisis and if there is no water, there will be no peace. Only with safe and sufficient water will we have peace. India must pledge to set the example in water conservation and preservation from the world’s largest water festival- the Kumbh Mela,” he added.“The United Nations estimates that by 2030, India will have only half of the drinking water that it needs and by 2040, the same will be true for the rest of the world, which will have only half the clean drinking water it needs; thus there will be more water refugees than war refugees,” Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati said.

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