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Vraj Vaibhav
Abhiyan restoring the sacred ponds and forests of Vrindavan
Hyderabad: Marking
another milestone in its collaborative sustainability efforts, Heartfulness
Institute signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth
Vikas Parishad (UPBTVP), a
statutory body constituted under the Uttar Pradesh Braj Niyojan Aur
Vikas Board (Sanshodhan) Adhiniyam. The MoU was signed by the two parties in
Mathura to collaborate on eco-rejuvenation, heritage conservation, biodiversity
enhancement, yoga, meditation, and community development initiatives, including
youth engagement and capacity-building programmes, in
Mathura and Vrindavan.
Under
the MoU, UPBTVP and Heartfulness Institute recognise the importance of
collaborative efforts to
conserve Braj’s sacred heritage, restore the ecology, enhance biodiversity,
build environmental awareness, and support community welfare. The two
organisations will jointly explore, develop, and implement suitable projects
from time to time.
Inspired
by the vision of Revered Daaji – Guide of Heartfulness and President of Shri
Ram Chandra Mission, the partnership aims to restore the timeless glory of
Braj through the Vraj Vaibhav Abhiyan. At lest ten historical ‘kunds’ or
sacred ponds including Govind Kund, Gandharv Kund and Surabhi Kund will have
their waters cleansed and restored. By the help of ISCKON and Tata group, Radha
Kund, Milan Kund and others are being rejuvenated through bioremediation and
sewage treatment and repairing the neighbouring ghats. A 7km long ecofriendly
Inner Parikrama Path is being developed to facilitate the pilgrims with
separate lanes for pilgrims on foot and those circumambulating by full-body
prostrations. Apart from these, 60 Ha area at Govardhan Hill will deploy a vast
irrigation system and Raingun Sprinkler System to enable afforestation of
indigenous plant species. Sacred ancient forests like Kamail Karhala forests
are being restored through the initiative. In Sunrakh (Vrinadavan), a modern
nursery spread across 8 acres is being developed to grow the plants native to
Vrindavan.
Revered Daaji
- Guide of Heartfulness and President of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, said, “Vraj
has always been a sacred space where nature and consciousness exist in harmony.
When we care for the land with sensitivity and purity of intention, we also
uplift the hearts of the people who live there. This collaboration is an
opportunity to serve both the outer environment and the inner condition of
humanity, so that future generations may inherit not only a preserved heritage,
but a living legacy rooted in responsibility and respect for nature.”
Shri Shailja Kant Misra,
Vice Chairman, UPBTVP, said, “Braj has guided seekers and communities
for centuries, and this association with Heartfulness adds a valuable dimension
to our shared effort to nurture Braj as a centre of sacred heritage, inner
well-being, and environmental care.”
Smt Lakshmi Nagappan, CEO, UPBTVP, said, “Through this
collaboration with Heartfulness, we look forward to translating shared intent
into visible, community-level outcomes that strengthen Braj’s environment,
public engagement, and cultural vitality.”
As part of the collaboration,
Heartfulness Institute and UPBTVP may develop new projects, interventions, and
activities with the support of technical experts, implementation agencies, CSR
partners, academic institutions, and other stakeholders, as required.
Individual projects will be governed by separate funding arrangements, work
orders, and project documents. Each party will retain ownership of its
pre-existing intellectual property, trademarks, logos, methodologies, and
proprietary materials.