Report on Feb 2003 Conferance of Ancients

[Guest guest]

CONFLUENCE OF INDIGENOUS CULTURES

 

WORLD COUNCIL OF ELDERS OF ANCIENT TRADITIONS AND CULTURES and the

GATHERING OF ELDERS was a real "SAMSKRITI SANGAM" or cultural

gathering. It lived up to its name as more than 180 traditional

Elders and scholars from 4o traditions from around the globe came

together for the first time in Bharat (Ancient Vedic name for India).

All decided to work unitedly in the future. A common declaration

called "Mumbai Manifesto" was released to the public by the WCEA TC

that' carries the common message from the Elders & cultural scholars.

The conference in Mumbai(British name of Bombay) was held in the

picturesque Keshav Srushti and Rambhall Mhalagi Prabodhini.

Baba I.ouris Samphil. an Orisa Elder from Trinidad called it

a 'gathering planned by the divinity'-. Nature in its full bounty'

added to the cheerflll mood of the Elders gathering. The inaugural

function was marked by the colorfulk

costumes the Elders dressed themselves in, and

that left the local media agog to see such a vivid canvass (If

Cultures and costumes. The journalists all wanted to talk to

everybody present there, interview them, to get their pictures, and

get them on their TV channels. Some of the elders who spoke at the

inaugural function expressed their joy

all did not miss to mention that this is a

gathering of "Dharati putras",(Children of the Earth, Eng Dirt comes

from the Sanskrit word Dharti or Earth) the term they used

; again and again. AII these traditions believe In the 'mother

earth' and are Nature Worshippers

j

 

 

All stressed the need to preserve the diversity of the traditions of

the World. Emphasized was the need for the Indigenous traditions to

come together for bringing peace in times of war and terrorism. The

first session of all the following days of the conference were

devoted to the demonstration of ceremonies of different traditions.

Truly speaking it is beyond words to describe the moments as many

traditions performed their own versions Yagya or fire worship with

their own rituals and rites and chanting their own hymns.

 

 

CONFLUENCE OF INDIGENOUS CULTURES

 

WORLD COUNCIL OF ELDERS OF ANCIENT TRADITIONS AND CULTURES and the

GATHERING OF ELDERS was a real "SAMSKRITI SANGAM" or cultural

gathering. It lived up to its name as more than 180 traditional

Elders and scholars from 4o traditions from around the globe came

together for the first time in Bharat (Ancient Vedic name for India).

All decided to work unitedly in the future. A common declaration

called "Mumbai Manifesto" was released to the public by the WCEA TC

that' carries the common message from the Elders & cultural scholars.

The conference in Mumbai(British name of Bombay) was held in the

picturesque Keshav Srushti and Rambhall Mhalagi Prabodhini.

Baba I.ouris Samphil. an Orisa Elder from Trinidad called it

a 'gathering planned by the divinity'-. Nature in its full bounty'

added to the cheerflll mood of the Elders gathering. The inaugural

function was marked by the colorfulk

costumes the Elders dressed themselves in, and

that left the local media agog to see such a vivid canvass (If

Cultures and costumes. The journalists all wanted to talk to

everybody present there, interview them, to get their pictures, and

get them on their TV channels. Some of the elders who spoke at the

inaugural function expressed their joy

all did not miss to mention that this is a

gathering of "Dharati putras",(Children of the Earth, Eng Dirt comes

from the Sanskrit word Dharti or Earth) the term they used

; again and again. AII these traditions believe In the 'mother

earth' and are Nature Worshippers

j

 

 

All stressed the need to preserve the diversity of the traditions of

the World. Emphasized was the need for the Indigenous traditions to

come together for bringing peace in times of war and terrorism. The

first session of all the following days of the conference were

devoted to the demonstration of ceremonies of different traditions.

Truly speaking it is beyond words to describe the moments as many

traditions performed their own versions Yagya or fire worship with

their own rituals and rites and chanting their own hymns.

 

 

 

Representatives from the Pagan traditions of Europe, the Caribs from

the Caribbean, the American indians from the Americas, are some of

those that thrilled everybody present.

iTribal groups from the North Eastern states of 'Bharat=India like

Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram.

Meghalaya excelled the audience with their performances. On the last

day, morning groups from the Arunachal Pradesh Tribes performed the

scintillating "Sun \\'orship".

The proceedings of the conference have been published in a 2 volume

set.

The conference has passed a resolution named "The Mumhai Manifesto"

that chalks out the future course of action for the World council of

Elders.

The participants were thrilled to be part of the Amercan indian

traditional "Sweat Lodge" on 8th, Febrllary late night. This

traditional experience was organized specially by the Amerindian

Elders who constructed a semi-circular hut in which red

hot sacred stones were put in a pit and water was

offered to the divinityThe door of the hut was shut

and the participants inside the hut offered worship .to their own

traditional deities through the heat and sweat that was generated

inside the hut This was the first known "Sweat Lodge" performed in

Bharat=India and is a lifetime experience.

The conference addressed in no uncertain terms the issue of religious

conversions and this is mentioned in the Mumbai Manifesto". The

conference ended \with a grand validectory function addressed by his

Holiness Acharya

Mahapragnya of the Anuvrat Movement and Dr. Shankar Tattwavadi. the

Pracharak In charge of. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in countries

~ outside India.

Some of the Delegates participated in a pre- conference tourHaridwar.

Rishikesh, Delhi, Jaipur. Agra, Mathura. Vrindavan.etc. The visitors

were very much thrilled to be onn the banks of Sacred River Mother

Ganga. They offered their prayers as a majority of the Elders were

worshipped Water as sacred and Divine.

The next conference of the World Council of Elders of Ancient

Traditions and Cultures will be held at Washington DC USA from 13th

of July to 16th of July 2006.