THE first-ever Ganga aarti on the banks of River Thames in London marks another glorious chapter for Indian culture which is finding growing resonance globally. The Ganga aarti at Thames was a recreation of the ethos of remembering the flow of life, which is the essence of Sanatan culture. London experienced the spirit of Mother Ganga through the aarti as the central region of the great city connected with the idea of worshipping the spiritual flow of tradition, culture and knowledge. The Ganga aarti at River Thames is the latest addition in Indian cultural symbols that are being acknowledged and revered by the world. A few days ago France opened a BAPS Hindu temple with great fanfare. It came on the back of the grand inauguration of a Hindu temple in the United Arab Emirates not so long ago. Many such cultural and religious events are becoming part of daily life in foreign countries which has helped India preserve its traditions and rich heritage across landscapes.

 

The moot point behind these events is the ready acceptance of the Sanatan thinking which always craves for the good of humanity. The Western world has realised the richness in Indian culture and with gradual removal of politically-stained glasses, nations practicing different religions are accepting the Indian symbols of faith without any reservations. This is the biggest positive of the cultural events being held across the globe. A part of India is becoming an integral part of life in every part of the globe. These developments can be seen as a success of India’s soft power which has made its presence felt through the vast diaspora. The world has a lot of Indian people happily mingling with different societies. Indians have assumed important positions in those respective societies with some even scaling up to the highest political positions in their country of work.

 

The diaspora’s happy presence is rubbing on the local populace as many cities have started relating to Indian traditions and festivals as celebration of goodness. Diwali has become a local festival in many countries in Europe as well as other continents. Various American States have officially declared Diwali as a holiday, urging natives to celebrate the festival with the Indian diaspora. The Festival of Lights is also celebrated in the White House. These are all signs of the positive spread of the Hindu traditions. The world also acknowledges that the Sanatan way of living is an idea steeped in peaceful and happy co-existence. Any tradition or faith seeking the greater good of the entire human race finds easy resonance in every society. The Sanatan culture is one such faith reverberating only with positivism. When a culture believes in giving and taking knowledge to the last man standing without any bias, it finds ready acceptance among human societies. A great example of how Indian culture seeks fitness for all is Yog which has now been accepted by the entire world.

 

The International Yog Day is a great symbol of how the world comes together to pursue an idea of good health for all. It has transcended the rigid boundaries deliberately set by a few sections on religious lines. Saudi Arabia has given official recognition to Yog and its first certified instructor is a woman named Ms. Nouf Marwaai. She has been honoured by India with Padma Shri for her contributions to spread the goodness of Yog in the Gulf country. This is how soft power makes its presence felt in human society, through art forms, music, films and culture. Indian folk art has become a source of inspiration for the Western world. Indian music is loved all over for its rich classical base. Indian cinema has climbed new heights in international festivals and artists from India are counted among the best in the world. These are all pointers of how soft power influences life when it is practiced without agenda. This is the best part of Indian culture whose symbols are shorn of antagonism towards anyone. When a culture, a faith, celebrates the source of life and bows to the creator, it transcends the narrow barriers of politics.