DIWALI CELEBRATION

DIWALI CELEBRATION

Pushpa Archana

On Sunday morning, Samskar Varga children celebrated Diwali by paying homage to Veermata Nivedita. Little Dakshina dressed as Sister Nivedita together with Mananeeya LakshmiDidi, lit the lamp in front of the photo of Sister. Some parents of the Sandeepani Sishuvihar and the inmates of Anandadham were present as the audience to encourage them.A short speech by Little Sister,  chanting of Suktas of Sister and Swamiji, a group song and Surya Namaskar formed part of their programme. Didi spoke to them on the life and work of Sister Nivedita. At the end, after pushparchana each of them received a booklet on Sister Nivedita as prasad.

Suryanamaskar

Sister listening attentively to Didi

Reciting Ssuktam

Our Ganapati temple on Diwali day

Inauguration of Sister Nivedita -150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations

Inauguration of the year long 150th  Birth Anniversary celebration of Sister Nivedita  began with the inaugural programme at Paramekkavu  auditorium, Thrissur on Friday, October 28th.
 

The Programme started sharp at 4p.m with a Bhajan session conducted by the Bhaktamahila Trust of Thrissur. A good number of devotees were already in the auditorium to listen to the melody of bhajans invoking the Holy Trinity.  

At 5p.m the main programme started with Mangalacharan by Sushree Sutapa followed by the  welcome speech by Dr Lakshmi Sankar,General Convenor of (the organising committee) Samarpanam. She gave a brief introduction to the yearlong  programmes in connections with Sister Nivedita's 150th Birth Anniversary and introduced the guests on the dais. 

Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi,Chairperson of Samarpan, spoke on Sister Nivedita's shraddha for her Guru and how she absorbed the spirit of Bharat through her association with her Guru. The opening group song and a short speech on Sister Nivedita were the contributions of  the senior students of Harishree School,Thrissur. Deepa prajwalan was by the Chief Guest, Retd. Justice. Smt. K.K. Usha (Former Chief Justice, High Court of Kerala). In her inaugural address, Justice Usha spoke on the dedication and total surrender of Sister to her Guru's instruction. The keynote address was given by Prof.Dr. Prameela Devi, Member-Women’s Commission.on the need of  'Nivedita ' in this era of utter confusion and anarchy. Apart from the main speakers, Revered Swami Mokshavratanandaji - President of Sri Ramakrishna Math Thiruvananthapuram blessed the audience and Rev. Swami Sadbhavanandaji President Ramakrishna Math, Thrissur released a book on Sister Nivedita in Malayalam, translated by Smt. Vinila Vijay from the English version of Smt. Sarala Bala Sarkar  entitled "Nivedita As I Saw Her".  Sri Terambil Ramakrishnan (Ex-MLA) and Smt. Padma Devy received the copies of the books.

The most interesting part of the  programme was Rev. Swami Nadatmajanandaji's  (Editor of Prabuddha Keralam) 'Vanichitrapuja' or sketching of Sister Nivedita on the tune of a poem on Sister composed by Sri Dilip - a member of Vivekananda Darshanika Samajam and sung by a Master. Ananta Narayan from Ramakrishna Mission High School. The vote of thanks was given by Smt Beena Govind, a member of Samarpanam. The programme ended at 7p.m.with the chanting of 'Asatoma Satgamaya'.



More than three hundred people attended the programme. Each received a copy of  a booklet on Sister Nivedita and prasad. 

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Viswhabhanu

August_September  2016

Viswhabhanu

August_September  2016

UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD DAY CELEBRATION

Each year, September 11th is celebrated as Universal Brotherhood Day by Vivekananda Kendra because it was on this day in the year 1893,  the King of the Yatis (saints), Swami Vivekananda uttered the five words 'Sisters and Brothers of America' in the World Parliament of Religions at Chicago which won him the hearts of the entire world. His speech was so powerful that He became known as the 'Cyclonic Monk'. Since Swamiji's words came out from the depths of his heart, Swamiji was able to convey the universal Vedantic ideas of brotherhood to the West,  Hence the importance of this day as 'Universal Brotherhood Day' which is being celebrated by Vivekananda Kendra all over India with a variety of programmes.

A number of competitions were held on this occasion by Vivekananda Kendra so that the messages of Swamiji could reach every nook and corner. Various inter -school competitions were held for the UP, H.S and H.S.S. sections starting from 26th August.

On 26th August, Painting competitions were conducted for classes VI-VII and VIII to X. The topic for the junior section was ' Great Indian Heroes  and for the seniors, it was  Indian Monuments. 64 students from 12 different schools participated.

On 27th August, Elocution competitions based on the speech of Swamiji was conducted  both in English and Malayalam for  the upper primary and high School levels. 82 students participated from 8 different schools. It was a full day programme.

On 29th August a quiz competition for classes X, XI and XIIth classes. The topic given was 'Simhavalokan' or recollection and recap of all the subjects studied in the lower classes. Five schools participated. Amrita Vidyalayam secured the first position, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, secured the second position, third and consolation prizes went to Guru Sree Public School and HDPY School.

Concluding function of the UB Day was on 4th September (Sunday). Srimad Swami Chaitanyanandaji from Vivekananda Ashram, Vellimalai-Kanyakumari, was the Chief Guest. Swamiji delivered a vibrant speech on how the sanskaras or values  should be inculcated in children so that they become physically and mentally strong and will be able to face any odds in life. Four regular daily practices were suggested to be adopted from childhood. 1. 12 Ganapathi namaskar, 2. 12 Surya namaskar, 3. Gayathri Japa minimum 12 times 4. Nadisuddhi 12 rounds 

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At the end, prizes were distributed by Revered Swamiji to the winning participants. The rolling shield for English Elocution was won jointly by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Amrita VIdyalayam and  the Rolling trophy for Malayalam elocution went to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.