The Sant Nirankari Mission, a spiritual movement working towards universal brotherhood, celebrates 'Manav Ekta Divas' (Human Unity Day), every year in the month of April by organizing blood donation camps and health fairs
all over the world. His Holiness Baba Hardev Singh ji says “Blood should flow in the veins, not on the street” and let there be “Peace, Not Pieces”.
With blessings from the current Head of the Sant Nirankari Mission, Mata Savinder Hardev
ji, the Northern California chapter of the Sant Nirankari Mission celebrated ‘Manv Ekta Diwas’ in Tracy, California by hosting a Blood Drive on Sunday, April 23rd 2017in collaboration with American Red Cross Blood Bank. Volunteers of the Sant Nirankari
Mission (sewadal) worked hard for the last few weeks planning and making arrangements for the blood donation camp. Communication mediums such as fliers, newspapers, emails, Internet as well as word of mouth were used to make everyone aware of the event
and as it turned out that the effort was not in vain. The blood camp received an overwhelming response. Over 80 people registered and 50 units of blood were collected. Enthusiasm was such that there were more people lined up to donate than Blood bank
could accommodate. All the volunteers did a lot of hard work. For instance, it was a hot day and there were volunteers of the mission standing at the stop sign (directing the donors) for hours together. Though the timing for the blood camp was from
10 am till 2pm, it had to be extended further and still there were a few who could not be accommodated. American Red Cross was excited to see the zeal of the donors and the response that the camp received. Blood donors came from places as far as Reno,
Fresno, San Jose, and Sacramento. The bank has promised to visit again next year.
Representatives from the American Red Cross as well as the volunteers of the Sant Nirankari Mission (sewadal) gathered at the Tracy Bhavan very early in
the morning to set up the blood camp and health camp. Snacks, fruits and juices were arranged for the blood donors. In a hall, adjacent to the camp, satsang program (spiritual congregation) was conducted with screening of the message to mankind by
the head of the Sant Nirankari Mission, His Holiness Mata Savinder Hardev Singh ji. Baba Hardev Singh ji’s inspirational message was also shared with the audience. He reinforced the importance of human unity. This message of human unity was not just
listened to but being lived by the people who participated in the blood donation camp. After the congregation langar (community lunch) was served.
I got a chance to speak to a few blood donors. Steph a local resident of Tracy expressed
his joy as a participant and promised to visit again next year. Some of the youths from Tracy donated blood for the first time and expressed deep satisfaction by supporting this noble cause. Overall the feeling was the same amongst the blood donors
and everyone seemed very happy by contributing to this noble cause.
Honorable Tracy Mayor Robert Rickman attended the event. He expressed his happiness and admired enthusiasm of people, some of them visiting as far as from Reno and Fresno. His
support was greatly appreciated by SNM. The Sant Nirankari Mission today is one of the leading blood donating voluntary organizations in India. Scores of blood donation camps are organized in the month of April every year. These camps are held as per
the wishes of the former Spiritual Head of the Mission Baba Hardev Singh who said that donation of blood would be the best tribute to Baba Gurbachan Singh who sacrificed his life for the sake of Truth and human values. Moreover, blood donation is the
best service one could offer to humanity. When transfused in human veins blood knows no religion, caste or nationality.
The Sant Nirankari Mission is essentially a spiritual movement. Its principal commitment to its followers is to make
their minds conscious of the Eternal Reality and unite their Soul with the Creator, the Formless God. The Mission believes that ignorance and superstition are the biggest obstacles in man’s path to real progress and happiness. The narrow-mindedness,
hatred and pride brooded by them are the most vicious source of trouble for the mankind. The Mission endeavors to remove the same by making spiritual enlightenment within the reach of every man and woman--young or old, rich or poor, high or low, educated
or illiterate, whatever the language, faith or culture, whatever the state or the nation.
Reported by : Prafull Lande
Photographs