by Suman Gupta
“From Bhakti to Seva, from Prayer to the Gift of Life”
Vrindaban (Mathura), 19 September 2026: On the auspicious occasion of Radhashtami, Rotarian Lal Goel, Founder & Charter President of the Rotary Club of Organ Donation International (RCODI) and Chairman of Organ Donation India Foundation & GYAN, offered prayers and Darshan at the revered Tatiya Sthan, Vrindaban, seeking divine blessings for greater awareness and acceptance of organ donation in India.
Radhashtami, celebrated as the appearance day of Sri Radha, holds special significance in the spiritual tradition of Braj. Darshan at Tatiya Sthan on this sacred day is especially meaningful to devotees, as the site is associated with the devotional traditions of Swami Haridas and the saints of Vrindaban. The sacred surroundings are known for prayer, meditation, devotion* and sadhana.
_“On Radhashtami, I prayed at Tatiya Sthan that the spirit of compassion, sacrifice and seva may inspire more Indians to pledge their organs. Organ donation is a profound form of service to humanity—one person can give hope and new life to several others.”_
— Rtn Lal Goel
Tatiya Sthan: A Sacred Heritage
Tatiya Sthan is an important spiritual site of Vrindaban associated with the Swami Haridas tradition, known for devotion to Sri Radha-Krishna, music, meditation and spiritual practice. Its secluded natural setting and association with saints and sadhana have made it a revered place of devotion in Braj. On Radhashtami, the site assumes particular spiritual significance as devotees gather to offer prayers and seek the blessings of Sri Radha.*
Rtn Lal Goel said that the spirit of seva reflected in India’s spiritual traditions can inspire a stronger culture of organ donation. He emphasised that organ donation is not only a medical issue but also a humanitarian responsibility, through which the loss of one life can become an opportunity to save or transform several other lives.
On this occasion Rotation Lal Goel was honoured by Freedom Fighter Shri Ramesh Chand Garg for his selfless service to humanity.
Rtn Deepak Goel, Foundation Chair, RCODI; Rtn Asha Goel; Rtn Sanjay Pathak; Rtn Ravi Sarin, Ann Sadhana Sarin all of the Rotary Club of Organ Donation International, and PP Rtn Mohan Singh Chowdhry of Rotary Club of Mathura, Mr Ashok Chaturvedi, and Mr Girdhari Pathak were present among other dignitaries.
