Braj Foundation News Letter 9

HERITAGE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT

www.bra

jfoundation.org

Vol:9

RESTORATION OF SANKARSHAN KUND Inaugurated by HH Tridandi Sri Sri Sri Srimman Narayan Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swami Ji from Hyderabad (AP)

Those who have gone for parikrama to the sacred Goverdhan hill in Mathura District must have noticed a huge water body on their right when they pass through village Anyor. Known as Sankarshan Kund, the same was lying in neglect for the past 50 years and had become the

Guest Visit Swati & Ajay Piramal visit Braj Foundation’s Projects in Vrindavan Recently Dr. Swati Piramal and Mr. Ajay Piramal from Mumbai visited the sites of Braj Foundation's on going projects.

They particularly appreciated the work being done for the

Sri Srimman Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji being welcomed in Vrindavan

become the breeding ground for mosquitoes and is spreading diseases and foul smell.

Current plight of Sankarshan Kund

dumping ground of garbage for t h e l o c a l c o m m u n i t y. I t s surroundings have been encroached by the vested interests. The dirty drains of Anyor were falling into the kund, polluting its holy water. It has

Brajwasis and saints were very concerned for it and approached Braj Foundation to restore it.

Finally on 1st October 2012,

Dr. Swati & Mr. Ajay Piramal at Bhajan Kutir, Vrindavan

restoration and beautification of Seva Kunj, Vrindavan. Piramals gave a generous donation toward this project. The Braj Foundation team was very happy to welcome this special couple, who has also been taking care of the Administrative Expenses of the Foundation for the past two & half years. Earlier Piramals had also supported the restoration of ancient Brahma Kund (Vrindavan) and the Research Wing of the Braj Foundation.

Proposed development plan

Proposed beautification plan contd. on page 3

Inside Stories Pg-2 Action in field Pg-4 Gahavar Van Inauguration

Editorial

Action in field Rudra Kund Restoration...the Work So Far...

Dear Readers, Years ago when Mr. H J Dora (former DG Police Andhra and the then Member CVC) visited Braj Foundation's Vrindavan office and project sites, he was pleasantly surprised to know that the famous Goverdhan Hill actually exists in Braj. Despite being devotee of Tirupati Balaji and Lord Krishna, people in Andhra Pradesh think that Goverdhan exists only in the scriptures. It was in this light we tried to introduce Braj to the people of Andhra Pradesh.

Braj Mahotsav Hyderabad was one such effort. The recent one was to receive His Holiness Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swami Ji, who came with his 400 followers and was very pleased with the efforts of the Braj Foundation.

It is for the noble cause of Braj to reach out to as many people as possible so that this mammoth task of decorating Braj can collectively be accompalished by all of us.

We extend a very warm welcome to all of you to visit Braj and our website. In the project section on this site, you will come to know the interesting details and pictures of over 52 restoration projects going on in Braj. Let us hope that in 2013, many of you come forward to join hands in this noble mission of decorating Braj-the land of Sri Radha-Krishna! info@brajfoundation.org

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Commissioner Agra at Rudra Kund

Ancient ghat being repaired at the Kund

The reconstruction of ancient ghats, recharging of three ancient wells, installation of chain link fencing & diversion of nallah has so far been done at the historic Rudra Kund (Goverdhan). This work was started after the Commissioner of Agra Division Mr. A. Abhijat laid the foundation. Due to some complications in structural design, which requires Rs. 1crore extra for the retention wall, there has been some delay in the work but now it is being sorted out said Project Manager Mr. Bipin Vyas. With the generous financial support of the philanthropic people of Hydrabad, we are confident to speed up the restoration in coming months.

UP’s new Chief Minister, Mr. Akhilesh Yadav applauds Braj Foundation’s vision of Braj development Appreciating Braj Foundation’s work, the CM of UP spent considerable time in several meetings with the professionals of The Foundation to discuss the

CM in meeting with CS & Chairman, Braj Foundation

development of Braj. On his initiative the Chief Secy. Mr. J. Usmani called several meetings of concerned Secretaries to interact with our team. As a result large funds were released for the development of Braj. However we strongly feel the priority in Braj should be solid waste, sewerage & traffic management, revival of green cover and ancient water

bodies and restoration of heritage buildings. Braj Foundation’s Chairman told UP’s officials that too much of concretisation, broadening of roads, construction of fly-overs will ruin the landscape of Braj. He gave the example of Kerala, which is on priority agenda of global tourists, yet throughout the state you can not find more than two lane highways. Kerala has protected its green cover, which is what makes it God’s Own Country.

On the other hand Braj is fast becoming a concrete jungle and converting into a dumping ground. Braj Foundation’s Tourism Master Plan of Braj and DPRs can ensure aesthetic, ecofriendly & functional development of Braj, only if our advice is taken seriously by the UP administration.

contd. from page 1

thousands of people witnessed the transcendental inauguration of the restoration of Sankarshan Kund by HH Tridandi Sri Sri Sri Srimman Narayan Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swami Ji from Hyderabad along with over 400 of His disciples. A grand decorated procession commemorated the occasion also with hundreds of enthusiastic B r a j a w a s i s . To e v e r y o n e ' s surprise, Sankarshan Kund is very important to Swamiji as a great Acharya in His sampradaya had made this as His tapasthali.

Donate here If you want to support our mission in Braj, you may please send your draft favoring ‘The Braj Foundation’ payable at New Delhi, Nallah being dug

at the following address concrete Hume pipes were also laid on the parikrama marg to ensure regular outflow of dirty water without obstructing the traffic flow, informed Project Coordinator Mr. Gaurav Gola.

Sankarshan Kund has high spiritual value for Vaishnavites from all over the world.

Sankarshan is the name of Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna, whose temple is also situated in its close vicinity. It is believed that the deity here was installed around 5000 years ago

Swamiji and Dr. Rao’s family performing Bhoomi Pujan

Swamiji's especially blessed disciple Dr. Rameshwar Rao, CMD, My Home Industries, Hyderabad, graciously declared to donate the entire cost of restoration of the Sankarshan Kund. He along with his wife Mrs. Sree Kumari Jupallay and son Mr. Ranjeet performed the Bhoomi Pujan at the Kund. In his speech, Swamiji and Dr. Rao praised The Braj Foundation for its unique and significant initiative.

However, the restoration could not start immediately after this ceremony because multiple drains of sewerage were directly falling into the kund. To divert the drains, the Engineering Wing of the Braj Foundation dug a 3.5 km long, 4 feet wide and 7 feet deep nallah (drain). In addition to this

The Braj Foundation C-6/28, Safdarjung Development Area, New Delhi-110016 Tel. (011) 26566800 & 26519080 email:info@brajfoundation.org You may also contribute directly at : Account Name : The Braj Foundation Account No. : 00321000142404 RTGS Code: HDFC0000032 Bank & Branch: HDFC Bank Ltd. C-5/32, Safdurjung Development Area (SDA) New Delhi - 110016

De-watering work in full swing

by Shri Vajranabh ji, the grandson of Lord Krishna. There are numerous transcendental past times of several saints associated with this Kund. The architectural wing of the Foundation has prepared a very impressive plan (see picture) for its beautification. The estimated cost of this project is Rs. 2.87 crores. The entire project may take over 2 years to complete.

With the blessings of Swamiji and His devotees, we are confident to re-establish yet another historic site in Braj.

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Forthcoming Events

Inauguration of Majestic Website Over 5 lacs people from world over have v i s i t e d o u r w e b s i t e www.brajfoundation.org in 2012.

However its improvement is still being done and we are soon planning to launch it with a mega event in Mumbai.

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Braj Foundation dedicates to the public

Barsana’s ancient Gahvar Van An ancient forest, connected with the pastimes of Radharani named Gahvar Van situated in Barsana was lying neglected for many decades despite being a protected forest of UP Forest Dept.

In 2006 The Braj Foundation took the initiative of beautifying and restoring it.

Heaps of garbage was removed, soil was treated, drip irrigation network was laid, pathways were made, chainlink fenced wall was

Forest Dept.’s protected Gahvar Van before restoration

erected, tourist facilities were established, dioramas of the concerned lilas were installed, heavy plantation was done, sweet water supply was ensured and stone Shilalekhs (plaque) in Hindi and English were installed to glorify its history and importance.

Today it has become the most attractive forest and tourist site in Braj.

This would not have been

possible without the financial support of Indian Oil Corporation and Dammani family from Kolkata.

Delhi to Vrindavan Helicopter service starts Chairman Braj Foundation, Mr. Vineet Narain inaugurates the flight as its first guest passenger

First flight passengers being welcomed by Pawan Hans officials Gahvar Van after restoration

Due to the normal duration required for plants to grow and also due to some administrative problems, it took long time to finish. Recently the beautified grove was dedicated to the public with a very colorful cultural programme. Top officials of UP Forest Dept. and IOC along with over hundred guests of Dammani's from Kolkata besides thousands of Brajwasis, attended the glittering inauguration ceremony.

On the initiative of young MP of Mathura Mr. Jayant Chaudary, the first ever daily chopper service from Delhi Airport to Vrindavan was launched with much excitement. Its first passenger the Chairman of Braj Foundation, Mr. Vineet Narain along with the CMD of P a w a n H a n s M r. A . K .

Shrivastava took the flight from Delhi Airport and landed in Vrindavan within 25 minutes.

This facility will go a long way in attracting numerous prominent people, who have a deep desire but are unable to take road journey to Vrindavan, due to paucity of time. However in his inaugural speech, Mr. Narain stressed the need to improve the traffic and hygiene conditions of Braj “if we really want to attract influential people, who can support Braj restoration efforts.”

Mohd. Ahsan, CCF of UP Forest Dept. & IOCL officials at the inauguration

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