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Contents:

• Bliss Laden Celebration of Brahma-Mahotsava
   
• Annual Prize Distribution of Shigally International Girl’s School,
  on 13th April 2006 (Vaisakhi), in Doon-Valley
   
• Release of Magazine “Green Life”, on 22nd April 2006, in Dehradun
   
• Visit of His Excellency Justice V.S. Kokje, Governor of Himachal Pradesh,
  at Swami Omkarananda Dharma Samsthan, Mumbai
  on 15th June 2006

Bliss Laden Celebration of Brahma-Mahotsava
Report by Dr. Doraisamy

The Second Anniversary Celebration of “Brahma-Mahotsava” of Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir was exquisitely celebrated on April 10 and 11, 2006.
The ecstatic function was meticulously organised by Shri Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, here, at Muni-ki-reti.

In order to grace the occasion obviously, learned Pandits from the renowned Vedic Town of Kancheepuram were specially invited by H.H. Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, President of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, to perform this soul elevating holy ceremony elegantly. A large gathering of devotees and invitees were present on this blissful occasion.

The auspicious ceremony began in the morning of the first day with “Ganapati Navagraha Kalasha Sthapana” in which the holy Kalasha was consecrated along with chanting of hymns.

Priests during “Sahasra Kalasha Sthapana”

Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Soma-shekhari and Swamini Vidyaprakashananda receive Prasadam

Subsequently “Ganapati Avahana Puja” was performed to invite the all-knowing Deity to bless the offering and the occasion.

Furthermore, “Ganapati Navagraha Yajna” was conducted in the Yajnashala of the temple in which H.H. Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, Swami Satchidanandaji, Swamini Vidyaprakashanandaji and Kumari Somashekhariji offered the “Ahutis” to the Deities. With “Ganapati Abhishekam” the morning program concluded with Arati, Bhog and distribution of Prasadam.

In the evening, “Sahasra Kalasha Sthapana” was arranged in which 1000 holy Kalashas were dedicated to all Temple Deities. Following this, Kalasha and Devi Puja were conducted and the hour long offerings ended with final Arati and Prasadam distribution to the devotees.

The second day ceremony began in the morning with “Navavarana Yajna” for Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi. Subsequently, the President, H.H. Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, Swami Satchidananda and Swamini Vidyaprakashananda performed Yajnas along with the priests, dedicated to all Deities of the temple. They also performed a special “Lalita-Sahasra-Namavali-Yajna” on this occasion.

Finally, “All-Deities-Abhishekam” was conducted along with “Sahasra- Kalasha-Mahaabhishekam” of Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi.

Swami Vishveshwarananda, Swamini Vidya-prakashananda and Swami Satchidananda participating in the Lalita-Sahasra-Namavali-Yajna

“Purnahuti”

The concluding ceremony of this holy “Brahma-Mahotsava” began on the second day evening with “Shri-Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Navavarana Puja” and Arati by Priests, which continued up to late evening. Hence, the successful celebration of the second anniversary of the beautiful Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir concluded with the distribution of Prasadam.

Annual Prize Distribution of
Shigally International Girl’s School,
on 13th April 2006 (Vaisakhi), in Doon-Valley

On the occasion of the Annual Prize Distribution, on 13th April 2006 (Vaisakhi), the beautifully situated Girls’ residential school “Shigally International School” has given outstanding performances – highly disciplined and full of joy and happiness.

The school was constructed in the Doon-Valley surrounded with an excellent greenery. Girls students joining the school are from India and abroad.

Around 200 girls, many of them with their parents, participated on that important function of installation. Swami Vishveshwarananda, President of Swami Omkarananda Saraswati Charitable Trust and Kumari Somashekhari, Secretary of Swami Omkarananda Saraswati Charitable Trust, were the Chief Guests. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick from the U.S.A. were the Guests of Honour.

In a very strict ceremonious and slightly military-like order the installation of School-Head-girl and other Head-girls taking charge of important assignments, took place followed by a prize distribution. Specially designed batches of honour were handed over to them by the Chief Guests and Guests of Honour. In the end of the ceremony Swami Vishveshwarananda was requested to bless and guide the young students. Swami Vishveshwarananda emphasized the value and advantage the students are having here due to the rare and holy ancient Indian culture. He also spoke about the great Saints and the leaders, who with their discipline, honesty and hard work, could achieve greatest heights.

After a beautiful song by the well trained students, Mr. Waryam Singh, Chairman of the school, requested Kumari Somashekhari, who is highly known as an exponent of Bharatanatyam and Kathak-dance, to show some of her art to the students and parents.
Though Somaji was absolutely unprepared to perform on this occasion, she accepted the request to dance and introduced the audience with her perfect Hindi language into the mystic science of the Indian Classical Dance. She emphasized the great virtue and the eternal beauty and the mystical meaning of this everlasting art.

Kumari Somashekhari performing Indian Classical Dance

Swami Vishveshwarananda distributing prizes to Students

Thereafter two dance performances by Somaji left the students and parents absolutely spell-bound. There was a nearly never-ending clapping and this “out-of-schedule-part” became the sensation of the day.

In the end the Principal, the Organiser and the Chairman, Shri Waryam Singhji, thanked very specially Somaji, Swami Vishveshwarananda, the Guests of Honour and the students and the parents for their excellent performances. The Principal as well as the Director also thanked the parents and the students for their hard work to make this wonderful day a success.

Release of Magazine “Green Life”, on 22nd April 2006, in Dehradun

Uttaranchal, which has become a separate State and is progressing in a very fast way, has understood the value of a very good environment. On the occasion of the release of a new magazine, called “Green Life”, the Editor wanted to go deep into the life of the people of the interior, their problems, their living standard and the environment. Chief Guest on this particular function was former Chief Minister Nityanand Swami, Special Guest and Guest of Honour was Swami Vishveshwarananda, President of Swami Omkarananda Saraswati Charitable Trust, accompanied by Kumari Somashekhari, Secretary of the Trust.

Honourable Prof. Rajwar from the PG College in Rishikesh, who himself is a strong exponent in questions of environment, was presiding over the function. The Principal of Omkarananda Saraswati Govt. Degree College, Deoprayag, and other important environmentalists were on the dais. Different speakers touched the problems being faced nowadays, especially in the hills, to sustain the great value of the forest, which faces danger, especially during the hot season because of unnecessary burning of dried leaves and also by corrupt people, who are illegally felling and selling trees.

Swami Vishveshwarananda elaborately touched the practical points, like a better control of the exhausts of cars, controlling of the wastes like plastics etc., and he also emphasized not only the danger to the environment through all these malpractices, but also the danger through noise pollution, which is more and more on the increase due to the heavy amount of traffic.

Nityananda Swami, the Chief Guest, being himself an expert in various fields of environment, has touched at length all the points mentioned by Swami Vishveshwarananda, answered many questions raised during discussion with the audience and, being himself a Government Official, emphasized the working practice in collaboration with the Government. Major part of the audience were journalists from various fields of the news and information sector.

With a great clapping the first issue of the beautiful magazine “Green Life” was released by H.H. Swami Vishveshwarananda. Among important guests were Senior Advocate Shri Surat Singh Negi from Dehradun and Shri Mahaveer Singh Negi from Rishikesh.

Visit of His Excellency Justice V.S. Kokje, Governor of Himachal Pradesh,
at Swami Omkarananda Dharma Samsthan, Mumbai
on 15th June 2006
By Nalini Shastri

His Excellency Justice V.S. Kokje and his wife Smt. L.V. Kokje visited our Ashram at Mumbai to seek the divine blessings of the Goddess. The couple was welcomed in traditional South-Indian way with the soothing music of Nadaswaram while the Priests recited the Mantras. All the society members gathered to receive them.

H.E. Justice V.S. Kokje being received in traditional South-Indian style

The Governor and his wife offering prayers in the Mandir of Swami Omkarananda Dharma Samsthan, Mumbai, in the presence of Shri Madhu V. Shastri, Trustee

His Excellency and his wife offered prayers to Goddess Durga and Lord Shiva and sought the blessings from the Priests. Later on, he spoke to a few society members while watching the video coverage taken during his visit to Omkarananda Mahatripurasundari Charitable Research Trust, Himachal Pradesh. He was really pleased to see our spiritual and social activities.