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Contents:

• Sharadiya Navaratri Celebration in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
  from October 4 to 11, 2005
   

• Celebration of 5th Anniversary of Uttaranchal State, on 9th November 2005,
  in Omkarananda Preparatory School, Dehradun Road, Rishikesh
   

• Polio-Vaccination Programme by Rotary Club Rishikesh
  on 27th November 2005

Sharadiya Navaratri Celebration in
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
from October 4 to 11, 2005

The Sharadiya Navaratri was celebrated from October 4th to 11th, 2005, in the beautiful Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. The Durga Devi Murti was brought by the Ashram Priests in a procession from Omkarananda-Shanta-Durga Mandir to the big Yagnashala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir and installed there. The Priests made a beautiful Altar and decorated it with shining lights and lots of flowers. Daily Chandipath and special Pujas were conducted in the morning and afternoon and in the evening additional special Homas were performed by the Chief Priest of Omkarananda Kamakshi Devi Mandir, Shri Suresh Shastriji, along with other Ashram Priests.

On 9th October, after the completion of the Yagna, Kumari Somashekhari and 9 of her dance students performed different devotional dances exclusively dedicated to the Divine Mother in the Temple Mandapa in front of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi. Many devotees from Rishikesh and neighbouring Ashrams came to watch the dance performance, which was meant as a special spiritual offering to the all-merciful Divine Mother.

Kumari Somashekhari and her students performing a Divine Mother Dance

Chandi Yagna being performed

October 11th was the concluding day of Sharadiya Navaratri. After a special Durgapath and Puja in the early morning an elaborate Chandi Yagna was performed by Chief Priest Suresh Shastriji and other Pandits. Many devotees attended the Yagna and the grand Purnahuti was offered by Shri Swami Vishweshwarananda, President of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.

Swami Vishweshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari and Chief Priest Suresh Shastri offering Purnahuti

Devotees attending the Puja and Chandi Yagna

After the completion of the Yagna, a special Kanya and Suvasini Puja was performed. Nine small girls were worshipped as small Devis by Kumari Somashekhari with the help of the Pandits. Puja and Arati were performed for the nine Kanyas and they were given many beautiful gifts by Kumari Somashekhari. An elderly lady, whose husband is alive, was worshipped by Kumari Somashekhari as “Suvasini” with Puja, Arati and gifts. This celebration always gives great happiness to the small girls and also to the Suvasini and this time it took place in the Yagnashala of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir and was watched by many devotees. After this wonderful ceremony the nine Kanyas and the Suvasini were served special Prasadam in the Annakshetra Hall of our nearby Omkarananda-Yoga-Sadhana Kutir.

Kanya Puja

Kanya Puja

In the end, all Ashramites and Ashram Devotees were specially blessed by our priests with holy Water, Tilak, Hariyali and Prasadam. Everybody enjoyed the elaborate function and thanked Swami Vishweshwaranandaji that they got the opportunity to attend this celebra-tion, which was performed for nine days with utmost devotion and intense spiritual fervour. Many devotees expressed their admiration and gratitude for the beautiful and powerful celebration. Everybody present had felt strong spiritual Blessings and Bliss.

Om Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Ki Jay - Om



Celebration of 5th Anniversary of Uttaranchal State, on 9th November 2005, in Omkarananda Preparatory School, Dehradun Road, Rishikesh
By Smt. Minakshi Gupta, Coordinator, Omkarananda Preparatory School

Garhwal, the land of priests, kings and warriors is widely described as the most beautiful land in the Himalayas. It is also known as Devbhoomi or Abode of Gods as the Holy Trio Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh – the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer – meditate on the three corners of it. Garhwal with its beautiful mountain ranges and dense forests has immense opportunities for a person to remain in contact of nature and also for adventure.
People living here are lucky to reside in such a beautiful and heavenly place that nothing more is left for them to desire.

Swami Vishweshwarananda and Swami Yogeshwarananda arriving at Omkarananda Preparatory School, Rishikesh

A Village Scene

This year Omkarananda Preparatory School celebrated Uttaranchal Day in a different way as it was the fifth anniversary of Uttaranchal as an independent State. In Hindu tradition number of ‘five’ or ‘eleven’ is considered to be the blessed auspicious one. That was the reason behind, to do something unique which has never been done in the city. The school prepared Jhankis* of Garhwal showing salient features of interior Garhwal in its real, cultural and traditional form.

All the participants, small students of our school, were dressed up as Garhwal folks. The gateway was nicely decorated. Swami Vishweshwaranandaji, the President of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, along with Swami Yogeshwarananda from Omkarananda Ashram Austria, cut the ribbon and gave opportunity to all those parents who were waiting eagerly to witness the Jhankis, to enter the school-compound. As soon as the school gate was opened, it appeared as if the whole Garhwal had limited itself with all its magnificence and charm in Omkarananda Preparatory School. There were temples of Gods and Goddesses, where priests and common people were offering their prayers. Flower sellers and drum beaters were also there. A school of Agrakhal was shown, where a Teacher was teaching his students under the shade of a tree with his limited resources. Myani Gram Panchayat was also shown where a dispute was being settled. Uttaranchal Bazar was second to none. While on one hand a jeweller, a cloth merchant, a utensil seller, a medical store keeper and a tea stall owner were giving a rich look to the market, there were vegetable seller, fruit seller, barber, cobbler, etc. also to fulfil the daily needs of common man. Also a leper was seen begging. Further domestic life was shown. A lady cooking Dal and Bhat*, another one milking a cow, few others bringing water from far away places were shown. An old lady and an old man were sitting on a cot. The lady was busy knitting and the man was smoking tobacco through Hukka. A postman gave them the information of their near and dear ones through letters. Four gents were busy playing cards.

“Postman”

“Irrigation Officer”

The scene of fields represented terrace farming on the hills, where grass carrier, water sprinkler, bullock cart driver and other farmers were shown. The ladies along with their babies on their backs were busy cutting the crops and singing their folk songs.

The next presentation was of Tehri Dam Project where the old Tehri was shown sunk in water. Gloomy people with their families and luggage on their shoulders were leaving their native place. Moreover, it showed the agony of those people who had to leave their homes and had to settle somewhere else.

An irrigation office was also there, where the officer, clerical staff and helpers were shown doing their duties. There was a beautiful place named ‘Valley of Flowers’ where common folk were merry-making with music and dance. From time to time they were enjoying the campfire also.

“Village Girls” with water pots

Usha Devi (Manager) and Smt. Meenakshi Gupta (Coordinator) who have organised the Celebration

Towards the end there was beautiful altar of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati by whose inspiration more than 45 schools are being run in different areas of Garhwal. These schools were listed and their location was shown on a map.

This was an unbelievable experience for everyone. The make up, costumes, dialogue delivery and expressions of tiny tots made these Jhankis lively and real. Since beginning till end everybody felt that they are visiting real Garhwal, as it has accommodated in itself all the joys, sorrows, cares and worries of life. Visitors were so curious that they visited the Jhankis a number of times and nobody wanted to go back home. Huge accolades were received by the Teachers and the participants. This celebration left such an imprint on the hearts of the spectators that this day of cherish will never be forgotten by them. The memories of this celebration will remain fresh forever.

Polio-Vaccination Programme by Rotary
Club Rishikesh on 27th November 2005

Thanks to the great efforts of Rotary Club International the horrible Polio disease was eradicated completely in many countries of the world. Unfortunately in India, and also in our Uttaranchal State, there are still cases of children getting crippled by Polio. Therefore it is of utmost importance to administer Polio-Vaccination drops to as many small children as possible.

This year too, Rotary Club Rishikesh, under the able and dynamic guidance of Rotarion Dr. Sandhu, Rotary members were engaged to see that at different places all over Rishikesh, thousands of small children got their drops, which protect them against the disease. Rotarian Kumari Somashekhari, who is Past Vice-President of Rotary Club Rishikesh and a Member of this club since more than 8 years, was made in charge by Dr. Sandhu for Polio-Vaccination booths at Chandrabhaga Bridge area.

Somashekhari went personally to the booths to encourage the present staff-members (nurses, school teachers and doctors) organise tea and snacks for them, etc. Soma herself also administered Polio-Vaccination drops to the small children.