{"id":11476,"date":"2022-09-21T11:09:54","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T05:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/omshantimedia.org\/?p=11476"},"modified":"2022-09-21T11:09:57","modified_gmt":"2022-09-21T05:39:57","slug":"st-petersburg-russia-great-celebration-of-the-great-festival-of-purity-in-lighthouse-and-the-indian-consulate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/omshantimedia.org\/?p=11476","title":{"rendered":"St. Petersburg, Russia- Great Celebration of the Great Festival of Purity in Lighthouse and the Indian Consulate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Great Celebration\u00a0of the Great Festival of Purity\u00a0in Lighthouse and the Indian Consulate<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Petersburg, Russia: <\/span><\/strong>The month of August brings about a message of purity as the basis of true love and real protection\u00a0in life.\u00a0In the presence of our respected seniors Didi Charkradhari, Didi Santosh the celebration of Raksha Bandhan became a Maha Celebration that\u00a0went on\u00a0for 3 days, from August 4 to 6, and was divided into 5 parts, starting with a Rakhi ceremony for the kumaris, then for working mothers (a group of Shiva Shaktis), co-operative souls, senior citizens (a group of Vanprasthis), and last but not the least, a wonderful program for BK brothers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For 3 days a powerful atmosphere of silence and\u00a0Yog\u00a0Tapasya prevailed in the Lighthouse. Every session would start with a short video film disclosing subtle secrets of the Bond of Protection. Then the participants enjoyed the fragrance of Madhuban, the land of blessings, by listening to the words of blessings from the letter of Dadi Ratan Mohini ji. A special Rakhi bhog would be offered to BapDada, the Giver of Purity,\u00a0at\u00a0every ceremony,\u00a0followed by a brief yet essence-full class by Didi Chakradhari or Didi Santosh.\u00a0Everyone would stay in the hall even after having their Rakhi tied, till the end of the ceremony, in order to do the Mansa Seva to our planet Earth that desperately needs Purity and Peace in the present-day scenario. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On August, 11, a group of BKs visited the General Consulate of India in St. Petersburg for having a friendly spiritual chit-chat and Rakhi celebration with the staff members. Starting the meeting, Mr Kumar Gaurav, Consul General, thanked Didi Santosh and the Brahma Kumaris for enabling the staff of the Consulate to keep in touch with the auspicious tradition when sisters tie Rakhis to their brothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a worldly way, money is always offered to\u00a0your\u00a0sister\u00a0who comes to tie a Rakhi. So what money would the Brahma Kumari sisters accept? The sisters explained that the only money we have to give here is the useless money of our weaknesses and vices! A special form was offered to the participants of the\u00a0sneh-milan\u00a0suggesting\u00a0them\u00a0to give away a bad habit or\u00a0character\u00a0trait and imbibe a divine virtue or power instead.\u00a0And it was really touching to watch how the sisters from Russia wearing white saris were tying Rakhis to Indian diplomats and their family members!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few words from our special guests<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Ludmila Kuleshova, Major General, President of A. F. Koni Foundation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLove is the greatest energy in the Universe. We should live with love for God, people and nature.\u00a0The basis of this love is purity of our soul, purity of thoughts and actions. I feel that Russia and India have much in common. Something that appeals to me at the Brahma Kumaris organization is that their aim is to ensure spiritual development, mutual understanding\u00a0and\u00a0goodwill, without anger, animosity and hatred.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Victoriya Zhirnova, head of department, Centre for Social\u00a0Support of Families and Children<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I feel that our mission is to shine, just as the Sun shines giving its light to whoever needs it. The families who come to us\u00a0face\u00a0a severe deficiency of peace, love, happiness, power and bliss. And here, at the Brahma Kumaris, I have learned that every soul possesses these divine virtues! I have always wanted to help people, and now I feel that I know how to do this service. it\u2019s as if the hand of the Divine\u00a0is\u00a0leading me, sustaining\u00a0and helping\u00a0to bring benefit to others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Tatyana Bartova,\u00a0science advisor, dietitian,\u00a0nutritionist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur diet is something that makes us light and enables to communicate with God. When you\u00a0consume\u00a0impure, non-vegetarian food you cannot fly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Valentina Suloyeva, director general, Diagnostic and Treatment Centre \u201cHealth\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a doctor I can say that cleanliness of our body, as well as of our thoughts and actions is of utmost importance. Our body is the temple where the soul abides, therefore we should take care of purity of our diet as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prof. Ludmila Rubis, State University of Industrial Technologies and Design<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am 84 now, yet I continue taking part in sports competitions.\u00a0I work with youth, and I feel that we should influence them with our practical example. The atmosphere at the Brahma Kumaris centre is something\u00a0so\u00a0beautiful and necessary for us\u00a0in this respect. The aura of this space is very warm, and every time I come here, I smile and laugh, because I feel so good! Sharing your goodness with others is the main thing in life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n