Dear Citizens of Indore, Revered Pandits, and Esteemed Gurus, Pranam and Jai Shri Ram! On the sacred occasion of Ram Navami, as we remember the ideals of Lord Rama—dharma, unity, compassion, and social harmony—I write this letter with both hope and concern. There was a time when our society was deeply connected. Temples were not just places of worship; they were living institutions of culture, learning, and unity. People gathered not as individuals, but as a community. Worship was collective, celebrations were shared, and society was woven together with faith and mutual respect. Today, however, we seem to have limited ourselves. पूजा (puja) has become confined within the walls of our homes. We often consider only our immediate relatives as our circle, forgetting the larger social family we once cherished. The spirit of togetherness is fading. In our childhood, many of us walked together to gurudwaras, temples, and celebrated every festival—Holi, Diwali, Gurpurab,...
Dear Citizens of Indore, Revered Pandits, and Esteemed Gurus,
Pranam and Jai Shri Ram!
On the sacred occasion of Ram Navami,
as we remember the ideals of Lord Rama—dharma, unity, compassion, and social
harmony—I write this letter with both hope and concern.
There was a time when our society
was deeply connected. Temples were not just places of worship; they were living
institutions of culture, learning, and unity. People gathered not as
individuals, but as a community. Worship was collective, celebrations were
shared, and society was woven together with faith and mutual respect.
Today, however, we seem to have
limited ourselves. पूजा
(puja) has become confined within the walls of our homes. We often consider
only our immediate relatives as our circle, forgetting the larger social family
we once cherished. The spirit of togetherness is fading.
In our childhood, many of us walked together
to gurudwaras, temples, and celebrated every festival—Holi, Diwali, Gurpurab,
even Eid—with joy in our colonies. There was no division; there was only
celebration. Temples, gurudwaras, and mosques stood as symbols of unity, not
separation.
But today, questions arise:
- Why has collective worship reduced?
- Why do we see declining participation in temples?
- Why do joint celebrations in colonies feel like a thing
of the past?
- Where is that spirit of unity that once defined Indore?
Temples need our presence—not just
donations, but participation. They are centers of sanskar, संस्कृति
(culture), and सामूहिक जीवन
(community life). Similarly, gurudwaras continue to inspire us through seva,
langar, and equality.
This letter is not about comparison
or division—it is about revival.
Respected Pandits, I request you to encourage community
participation—organize satsang, kirtan, and inclusive events that bring people
together.
Esteemed Gurus of Gurudwaras, your tradition of seva and openness is a guiding light. Let
us strengthen inter-community participation—let the sangat also reconnect with
broader cultural celebrations.
People of Indore, this responsibility lies with us:
- Visit temples and gurudwaras regularly
- Bring children along to experience collective faith
- Celebrate festivals together in colonies again
- Support religious and cultural institutions as
community centers
We do not need to look far for
change—it begins with one step: stepping out of our homes and into shared
spaces of devotion.
On this Ram Navami, let us take a
pledge:
To rebuild unity, to revive collective worship, and to restore Indore’s
spirit of togetherness.
Let us not remain limited to “me and
my family.”
Let us become “We, the People of India.”
With folded hands and sincere hope,
A Concerned Citizen
Indore, Madhya Pradesh
March 27, 2026
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