Ajaa Ekadashi Vrata (Vaisnav) | International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances | Hamro Patro

ब्लग - साहित्य / चाडपर्व तथा दिन विशेष लेखहरू

Ajaa Ekadashi Vrata (Vaisnav) | International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances





What is Smarta and Vaishnava Dhar?
Smarta
Smarta means householders who worship Hari, Shiva, Shakti, Ganesha and Surya, they do not attach much importance to the rising tithi. All householders who celebrate Janmashtami, Ramnavami, Ekadashi in conjunction with the previous tithi are called Smartas.

"vaishnava"
Those who believe only in Vasudeva, Shri Krishna or Lord Vishnu are called Vaishnavas and all ascetics and sanyasis who hold a Guru also come under the category of Vaishnavas.

In the Vaishnava sect, Udaya Tithi has great importance as Ekadashi is celebrated along with Dwadashi.

Meaning of Smarta Ekadashi
When Ekadashi is reflected at the time of local sunrise, it is called Smarta Ekadashi. Vaishnava or Bhagavata Ekadashi occurs when the dashami tithi of any aspect ends on the day of Arunodaya i.e. when the day of Ekadashi ends two hours before sunrise.That is, Smart Ekadashi ends 96 minutes before sunrise on Ekadashi day. Generally, Vaishnava Ekadashi falls on the day after Smarta Ekadashi.

Aja Ekadashi: Lord Vishnu in the form of Risikesh
The eleventh day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Bhadra of each year is called "Ajaa Ekadashi". This day is celebrated as a fast and festival by the followers of Sanatan Dharma living in different countries including Nepal and India.

According to the scriptures, Chakravarti King Harishchandra got back his lost family and kingdom by fasting on this day. King Harishachandra of ancient times could not pay the price of his deeds and gave up all his kingdom and wealth and made himself and his family slaves of King Chandal.

After spending many years as a slave, the truth-teller Harish Chandra became very worried about his condition. At that time, he met a sage Gautam to alleviate his worries. After Harishchandra expressed his concern to Gautam Rishi, Gautam Rishi asked him to observe the methodical fast of Ekadashi named Aja of Bhadrapad Krishna Paksha.

According to the sage Gautam, the fast of Ekadashi was observed and awakened, all the sins of the king were destroyed by the effect of that fast. The king then regained his family and kingdom. From that time onwards, it has been believed that fasting in full observance of the rules and regulations of this Ekadashi will destroy all kinds of sins.

Aja Ekadashi is the third Ekadashi under Chaturmas. On this Ekadashi day, like other Ekadashis, one should follow the rules and methods of fasting and worship Lord Srihari in the form of Rishikesh.

The fast of this Ekadashi is being observed tomorrow, today the Rishikesh form of Lord Vishnu is acknowledged and worshiped.
Peace and prosperity prevail in every corner of this planet.

International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances



Background:
On December 21, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly officially proclaimed August 30 as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The UN General Assembly on December 21 expressed its deep concern about the increase in enforced or involuntary disappearances across the world.

More than a human rights violation against an individual
Enforced disappearance has frequently been used as a strategy to spread terror within society. The feeling of insecurity generated by this practice is not limited to the close relatives of the disappeared but also affects their communities and society as a whole.

Enforced disappearance has become a global problem and is not restricted to a specific region of the world. Once largely the product of military dictatorships, enforced disappearances can nowadays be perpetrated in complex situations of internal conflict, especially as a means of political repression of opponents. Of particular concern are:

the ongoing harassment of human rights defenders, relatives of victims, witnesses, and legal counsel dealing with cases of enforced disappearance;
the use by States of counter-terrorist activities as an excuse for breaching their obligations; and the still widespread impunity for enforced disappearance.

Special attention must also be paid to specific groups of especially vulnerable people, like children and people with disabilities.
Hundreds of thousands of people have vanished during conflicts or periods of repression in at least 85 countries around the world.

Transitional justice in Nepal
In Nepal, during the period of conflict, there is a disturbing fact that thousands of individuals have been rendered missing over the course of a decade or so. However, it is incredibly saddening that even after nearly two decades of the cessation of the conflict, the establishment of justice seems almost unattainable. Internationally, human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the International Committee of the Red Cross have been conducting global campaigns to pressure the government and insurgents alike, shedding light on individuals missing due to armed conflict in Nepal.

In Nepal, during the past decade-long armed conflict between the security forces and the Maoists, a significant number of citizens suffered grievously. Even after the conclusion of the prolonged period of armed conflict and the subsequent peace agreement, many individuals who had suffered harm from both the state and the insurgent side have not yet been able to establish contact. The commissions established for transitional justice also progressed sluggishly and were influenced by political interests, resulting in delayed justice for those affected. There is a pressing need to ensure a renewed distribution of justice for the victims of violence and injustice in Nepal.

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has recorded that during the course of the armed conflict, a total of 31,014 individuals have been reported as missing, who were victims of enforced disappearance, from both the state and the former insurgent side. The wait for justice is shared by all, and heartfelt best wishes for a meaningful resolution.

-Suyog Dhakal



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