As I walked into a Hindu temple today, the serene atmosphere enveloped me, and the cool touch of white marble tiles beneath my feet made me feel alive. It’s a ritual I cherish, stepping into these sacred spaces, not just for the spiritual connection but also for the impeccable cleanliness that always strikes me. Despite the continuous flow of devotees offering flowers and lighting incense sticks, the temple remains spotless, a testament to the respect people hold for the divine presence within.
Sitting quietly in a corner, I observed every nook and cranny of the temple, marveling at its pristine condition. It struck me then that people refrain from littering or spitting gutka in these sacred precincts out of reverence for the deity enshrined there. This reverence extends beyond Hindu temples to mosques, Gurudwaras, and churches across India, all maintained with utmost cleanliness and respect.
However, amidst this oasis of cleanliness, the broader landscape of our nation tells a different tale. Despite our fervent devotion to Bharat Mata, our Motherland, cleanliness seems to be a virtue forgotten outside the temple walls. It begs the question: if we can treat our places of worship with such reverence, why can’t we extend the same courtesy to our country?
India, the land of gods and spiritual luminaries like Ram, Buddha, and Gandhi, embarked on the Clean India Project in 2014, inspired by the teachings of these great souls. Yet, despite these efforts, we remain one of the most polluted countries in the world. It’s disheartening to witness people urinating in public, spitting betel nut everywhere, and neglecting public toilets with disdain.
The solution lies in a shift in mindset. If we start viewing our nation as our temple, our holy sanctuary, perhaps then we will feel compelled to care for it as we do our places of worship. The same sense of reverence and cleanliness that we uphold within temple walls should extend to every street, every corner of our beloved country.
It’s time to embody the values we preach to the world and truly make India the clean, sacred land it deserves to be. Let’s pledge to treat our nation like our temple, nurturing it with the same love and respect we reserve for our places of worship. Only then can we hope to realize the vision of a truly Clean India.