(Image source from: NewsIndiaTimes)

As only a day left for Lok Sabha elections in India one and all are doing their best to make their favored party win. Not only citizens of India but also Indians abroad are making every effort by campaigning in different means.

Recently at New Jersey, scores of Indian Americans came together to pray for the electoral victory of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming elections and as well showing support to Modi by engaging in phone calls, trips to India, holding prayer meetings, Chai pe Charchas (Discussions Over Tea), and Chowkidar marches.

On Sunday, the India World Foundation, a non-profit based in Morris Plains, N.J., organized “Shiv Shakti Maha Puja and Yagna” at Shri Sanatan Mandir. Earlier in May 2014, a similar yagna was held in the mandir to usher in Modi’s victory for his first term.

Billed as a yagna “For United India” the flyer of the event said the prayers were meant to “send Divine Energy toward Preserving, Nurturing our Dharma and Culture, as India goes through tremendous Election Cycle and also praying for our Motherland towards becoming an emerging Global Power ‘Vishwa Guru’.”

The prayers were also “For Vibrant & Strong Bilateral Relationship between USA and India” and “Blessings for the Victory of Shri Narendra Modi’s Team in 2019 General Election.”

Seshadri Chari, a leader in the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS), and on the National Executive Committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in his speech, called the yagna “a very great occasion” adding that he was “elated” to be part of it.

The yagna was attended by around 400 people.

“NRIs are India’s ambassadors in their country of adoption,” Chari who is also chief editor of India’s HW News Network, a partner of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold was quoted as saying by News India Times. “It is said You can take an Indian out of India, but you cannot take India out of an Indian,” Chari said, adding, “They have kept the culture of India. They have kept it alive.”

“So it is not just victory of an individual. We are working for the victory of not even one party, but for the victory of India. So if India is victorious, India’s culture, India’s dharma … and also universal peace will remain intact,” Chari emphasized. “So we are actually working for one universe - that is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.” He praised NRI “karyakartas” who he said were “keeping the religion and culture of India afloat.”

Padma Shri Dr. Sudhir Parikh, the founder and chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and chairman of ITV Gold, thanked all Indians living abroad, who he said “were all children of India” and must work for the betterment of India.

“We all should take part in this festival of democracy. And who can make India strong? The one who has risen; one who has a great vision; one who works day and night for India; one who brought India to the global level - and that is no one else but our beloved Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi.” He praised the health insurance initiative “Ayushman Bharat,” the largest of its kind undertaken in the world, being implemented during the Modi government, and other steps.

“Please tell your friends and family at home to vote for Narendrabhai. Vote for a strong leader, a visionary leader, to give him another chance,” said Dr. Parikh, predicting that Modi would be victorious and get a “pure majority” in the new Lok Sabha after the elections.

Dr. Parikh urged people to pledge to be “Chowkidars” (watchmen/ guards) adding, “Main Bhi Chowkidar” (I am also a Chowkidar), a slogan that Modi has made popular garnering thousands of followers around the country and in the diaspora.

Pramod Bhagat, president of India World Foundation, said people must work “selflessly” for the betterment of India. “Our dream is that it (India) go forward with Prime Minister Modi at the helm,” Bhagat said in his speech.

Indians living abroad, who Bhagat described as “NRI Hind ki Sena” have pledged to “selflessly” help the Motherland, which he said is moving ahead under Modi’s leadership.

There can be many ways to serve India, said Bhagat, including making phone calls to family, friends, one’s village, to urge people to vote for Modi, or to pray at home and “send positive energy” to India.

Krishna Reddy Anugula, president of the Overseas Friends of BJP, spoke about the various marches and Chai pe Charchas that his organization had held and will be holding over the coming days.

Ajit Kothari, a trustee of the Sanatan Dharm Mandir spoke briefly saying the temple was “happy” it was chosen to hold the havan and happy to contribute to Modi’s success.

-Sowmya Sangam