Put compassion on the menu: Go meatless on November 25

The International Meatless Day was established in 1986 by India’s Sadhu Vaswani Mission to honor the birth date of its founder. The aim is to raise awareness about the impact of our dietary choices on animals and the environment.

Thanksgiving was on Thursday, November 23, which Lotus advocated should be celebrated without turkey on your plate. Now comes International Meatless Day which is observed on November 25. New Jersey-based Sadhu Vaswani Center for World Peace, which spearheads the effort, is inviting people worldwide to take the #VegPledge and consciously choose a vegetarian lifestyle at least for one day. This collective effort aims to raise awareness about the impact of our dietary choices on animals and the environment.

International Meatless Day is a poignant reminder that small actions can create meaningful change. By opting for plant-based meals on November 25, participants contribute to a day of compassion and peace and take a stand against animal cruelty.

The International Meatless Day was established in 1986 by Rev. Dada J.P. Vaswani, the spiritual leader of Pune, India-based Sadhu Vaswani Mission, to honor the birth date of Sadhu T.L. Vaswani, his predecessor, and founder of the movement and to promote compassion and sustainability by encouraging people to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle.

Four Indian state governments – of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka – notify butchers’ shops to be closed on November 25.

Sadhu Vaswani Mission in India organized festivities from November 23-25 commemorating the 144th birthday of Sadhu Vaswani this year. Highlights of the program included the annual rath yatra, satsangs and spiritual talks, besides observance of the International Meatless Day.

 

Healthcare institutions affiliated with Sadhu Vaswani Mission offered concessional treatments. Extensive service activities were planned in local communities, embodying Sadhu Vaswani’s teachings of compassion and service to humanity.

Dada Vaswani famously said: The 18^th century gave rights to men; the 19^th century gave rights to slaves; the 20^th century has given rights to women; the 21^st century, I verily believe, is going to give rights (to live) to animals.

“Every animal has some fundamental rights. The very first fundamental right of an animal is the right to live.” This was part of Dada Vaswani’s message of non-violence, which he took to some of the world’s greatest forums – the United Nations, the House of Commons in England, and so many more.

Starting in the 1980s, Dada Vaswani’s mission of humanitarian initiatives laid the foundation for a global movement towards peace. After he passed away in 2018 at the ripe old age of 100, his work has been carried on by his successor, Didi Krishna Kumari.

Sadhu Vaswani Center for World Peace, based in East Brunswick, NJ, is dedicated to cultivating a world of compassion, and unity where diversity is celebrated, and the bonds of humanity are strengthened through education, interfaith dialogue, and humanitarian initiatives. “Fostering love, forgiveness, and mutual respect guides our efforts to build a foundation for lasting peace, leaving a positive and transformative impact on generations to come,” added their press release.