JAMMU, Aug 18: On the auspicious occasion of Sanskrit Month, a grand Sanskrit procession and anti-drug awareness rally was organised on Tuesday under the aegis of the Shri Kailakh Jyotish and Vedic Sansthan Trust. The programme commenced from Sant Haray Ram Das Ji Public School, Mandal, in the Marh Assembly constituency, bringing together the twin messages of preserving Sanskrit and building a drug-free society.
The programme aimed to promote the preservation, development and wider dissemination of the Sanskrit language while simultaneously creating awareness about the harmful effects of drug abuse and encouraging young people to adopt a healthy and drug-free lifestyle. Students, teachers, representatives of social and religious organisations, religious leaders and prominent citizens participated enthusiastically in the rally.
During the procession, participants raised slogans and displayed messages highlighting the importance of Sanskrit and the dangers of substance abuse. The participants also took a pledge to contribute towards making society free from drugs and to take the rich heritage of Sanskrit to every section of society.
Chief Guest and Senior Advocate Abhinav Sharma said that Sanskrit is not merely a language but a cornerstone of India’s knowledge, culture, traditions and values. He said promoting Sanskrit can help the younger generation reconnect with its cultural roots. He also stressed that protecting youth from social evils such as drug abuse is the collective responsibility of society. Addressing the students, Sharma urged them to stay away from drugs and encourage their families and communities to adopt a drug-free lifestyle.
School Manager Mahant Haray Ram Dass Ji said education should not be limited to bookish knowledge but should also develop values, discipline, morality and a sense of social responsibility among students. He described Sanskrit as an important link to India’s glorious cultural and knowledge traditions and called for sustained efforts by schools, parents, religious institutions and social organisations to combat drug abuse.
Mahant Rohit Shastri, President of the Shri Kailakh Jyotish and Vedic Sansthan Trust, said Sanskrit encompasses India’s rich traditions of culture, philosophy, spirituality, astrology, Ayurveda, knowledge and science. He emphasised the collective responsibility of society to take Sanskrit to the masses and connect younger generations with the language.
Mahant Rohit Shastri said the inclusion of the de-addiction message alongside Sanskrit promotion made the event particularly significant, as healthy and culturally rooted youth are essential for a strong society and nation. He said drug abuse damages an individual’s health, family and social life while weakening the nation’s youth power.
He appealed to young people to stay away from drugs and make education, sports, values, spirituality and constructive activities an integral part of their lives. He stressed that creating a drug-free society cannot be achieved through government efforts alone and requires active participation from every family and citizen.
The rally began from the public school at Mandal, passed through the surrounding areas and returned to the school premises. Students participated with great enthusiasm and effectively conveyed the messages of Sanskrit preservation and drug-free living to the public.
Speakers emphasised the need to organise such awareness programmes regularly to promote Sanskrit, preserve Indian cultural heritage and strengthen the campaign against drug abuse. The event provided a common platform for cultural preservation and social awareness.
At the conclusion, the organisers expressed gratitude to the guests, students, teachers, representatives of social and religious organisations, prominent citizens and media representatives for their participation. They appealed to people from all sections of society to join the campaign for the promotion of Sanskrit and creation of a drug-free society.
Among those present were Devki Nandan Sharma, former Sarpanch Vandana Kumari, Aman Sharma, Rakesh Singh, Lucky Sharma, Amit Jamwal, Jonny Singh, Kulbhushan Jamwal and several other distinguished citizens.