Veganism Unleashes Our Soul
Veganism is a way of living that attempts to exclude all forms of animal exploitation and cruelty, be it for food, clothing or any other purpose.
In the past few years, several celebrities have gone vegan, and a growing number of vegan products are appearing in stores. A parallel economy of sorts is slowly and steadily growing.
Veganism isn't a new concept, but it's been receiving more and more attention lately with people wanting to live a cruelty-free life and extending compassion towards not only humans but animals too.
With the surge in the level of mindfulness with which people are living their lives, ethical choices like turning vegan are not surprising.
Preventing the exploitation of animals is not the only reason for becoming vegan, but for many, it remains the key factor in their decision to go vegan and stay vegan.
Compassion aside it is becoming trendier with growing research on plant-based diets and its effect on one's health.
Pleasingly so the youth of the country have been taking various initiatives for several causes.
The Rotaract Club Chandigarh Himalayan is one such club. They organized a two-day event called "Chandigarh vegan Food Carnival" last weekend.
The event was held in order to raise awareness regarding "Veganism" and "Animal Welfare" and was flagged off by a performance by The Rotaract Himalayan Band.
The Club President, Priya Krishnan said that their objective was to organize an event where people could know about the concept of Veganism. She furthered pressed on the need to realize the importance of animal welfare by reiterating Paul McCartney's quote, "The whole world would turn vegan if slaughterhouses had glass walls."
The organization has been organizing social welfare events in the past, the funds collected from which are used in their project "Happy Schools." The project deals with the refurbishing of schools in and around Chandigarh that lack proper upkeep.
The chief guest at the event, the former mayor of Chandigarh, Asha Jaswal stressed the importance of youth activism saying that "Unless the youth involves itself in activism, the social stigmas cannot be broken."
An eclectic bunch of people from all walks of life showed up at the carnival, most vegans and a bevvy of vegan-curious toe tippers.
A carefully curated assembly of food stalls with vegan delicacies helped break the many myths of vegan food being dull at the taste. With Bodhi greens from Dharamshala, Char-b-queue and Jaggery box amongst other local event partners breaking the mould.
Front centre, out of the ordinary at the fest, was an interesting stall housing little puppies reading, "The Puppy Adoption Center".
The Rotaract had collaborated with the SPCA, i.e. a society for the prevention of cruelty against animals. It is a government based animal shelter. The puppy adoption centre was set up with Peedu's people an NGO that works in the area of changing perceptions of people towards stray animals and strives to be the voice for the underdogs.
Inder Sandhu, founder of Peedus People shared the great success that they have experienced at the SPCA in Chandigarh through the tireless effort of the volunteers who work around the clock to rescue, rehabilitate and get puppies adopted.
Not only do they work with dogs and cats but with birds, cows and horses too.
"Today we are happy to say that through our program at the SPCA we have an effective Parvo and Distemper ward where after incubation and treatment of rescues we are seeing happy healthy puppies emerge and get homes. It is important that people learn the importance of adopting local animal breeds instead of getting puppies from breeders. This is where the real genesis of compassion lies. Compassion towards the voiceless. Veganism has its roots in unleashing our soul in ways we only become aware of once we have departed on this journey. What often starts off as an effort to be kinder and healthier, has benefits that our minds do not comprehend when we dip our toe in the sea of compassion," highlighted Sandhu.
