Mumbai: Hindu spiritual organisations will come together in January for the Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair 2025 at Bangur Nagar, Goregaon. The fair, which will be held between January 9 and 11, will showcase the charitable works rendered by Hindu spiritual organisations.

The fair, organised by the Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation, will also highlight issues relating to environment, ecology, sustainable living, family, and women. Over 400 not-for-profit groups, temples, Maths, and other social organisations have been invited to the fair. The organisations will get free space to set up stalls to showcase their work.

Journalist and part time director of the Reserve Bank of India, S Gurumurthy is the founder of the Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation. The fair had its beginnings in December-January 2006 when delegates from India, US and Europe who were concerned about the future and role of Hindu-Buddhist civilisation in a world becoming more Asia-centric, met in Ahmedabad.

They discussed how, in the background of the perceived cultural and civilisational clashes, the global discourse dominated by Abrahamic and Western perspectives needed a paradigm shift and the time had come for non-conflicting Eastern religious traditions, namely Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh traditions, to play more prominent role to promote dialogue for conflict avoidance among civilisations.

Amar Sharma, convenor of the Mumbai chapter of the Hindu Spiritual and Service Foundation, said that Sanatan Dharma discouraged it's members from talking and publicising their work.

"This sometimes leads to misunderstanding that Hindu temples and Maths di only religious works. Their social work is not known. The fair wants to remove this misunderstanding," said Sharma.

Introducing the event, Sadhvi Rithambhara, said that there are many spiritual organisations working in the field of environment, revival of rivers, children's education, and other social issues.

"They do their work quietly because social service is done without any advertisements. However, highlighting the work done by the groups is important because it encourages them and others to continue their good work. There are fairs of all kinds, but this is a fair showcasing the work done by spiritual groups," said Rithambhara.

Mumbai has hosted the fair in 2016 in Goregaon and in 2019 in Borivali. The Hindu Spiritual and Service Fair has been held in Chennai, Indore, Pune, Ahmedabad, and other cities.