SRI KRISHNA JAYANTI

SREEKRISHNA  JAYANTHI CELEBRATIONS

The much-awaited Sreekrishna Jayanthi was celebrated on  12^th  of Sept ’17at Anandadham.    Mananeeya Lakshmi Deedi along with one of the 'tiny Krishna started the celebration by lighting the lamp.    She gave a short speech on how celebrations like this get imprinted on the children's mind and it helps them to think positive and live a life of values. The hall was buzzing with the sounds of the naughty Krishnas, dressed by their mothers. Some girls were also dressed as  Radhas.  There were a total of 32 Krishnas (including 7 babies) and 8 Radhas. All the children dressed nicely came on the stage and posed as Krishnas with their flute in hand or Radhas with their earthen pots on their heads.  It was a really beautiful sight to see the children happy and smiling.  After their posing was over and the judges had given their comments, children were treated with sweets and prasadam.  `Uriyadi`or 'breaking the pot', a traditional challenging game was the next item.  The children participated in it enthusiastically. At the last was the most interesting part. All the children received small gifts from Didi for their achievements!  

CHOWMASIK BAITHAK DAKSHIN PRANT-20TH AUGUST 2017

CHOWMASIK BAITHAK DAKSHIN PRANTH-20TH AUGUST 2017

Vivekananda Kendra Dakshin Pranth Chowmasik Baithak was held on 19th and 20th August 2017 at Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation, Kodungallur. Apart from karyakartas of Kodungallur, there were 31 karyakartas who had come for the Baithak. 21 members were from Tamil Nadu, 7 from Karnataka and Mysore, and 3 from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

The baithak began with Bhajan Sandhya in the evening at 6.30pm. At 7.30 Su. Radha Didi welcomed all karyakartas and introduced Ma. Hanumantha Raoji, Ma.Lakshmi Didi and Ma.Sudhakarji. It was an informal session in which self-introduction of all the workers was  followed by a sharing of experiences by the Ma. Didi and other elders.

On the 20th, the morning sessions included report reading of the various branch and project centres. After lunch session was kept for planning for the next four months. Concluding session was from 3.30 p m to 4.15 p m. Ma.Didi blessed all the karyakartas with tokens of her affection. Almost all the karyakartas left by 20th night.

GANESHA CHATURTHI AND ONAM AGHOSHAM-25TH AUGUST

On the auspicious day of Ganesh Chaturthi, there was Ganapathi Homam and Sri Chakra puja, by the students of at Anandadham.

Just as ' Onam' is celebrated in every schools and institutions, on the closing day of  10 days Onam vacation, here at Anandadham too there was 'Onaghosham' for the Shishuvihar tiny- tots, on the Ganesh Chaturthi day. The parents took full responsibility of the 

'pookalam' and also  'saddiya' or feast.

From 10 am in the morning preparations started.Yoga Varga group was also invited. All the ladies together created a beautiful pooklaam. From among the LKG kids, one was dressed as King Mahabali and another as Vamana. Next followed community feast. Each mother had cooked some delicacy, so there were many items.

100  coupons were distributed among the local poor residents on the occasion of Thiru Onam. Each coupon was worth Rs 300/-, with which the recipient could buy what they wished from a particular  Consumer shop directed by Vivekananda Kendra. Ma.Lakshmi Didi gave away the coupons.

RAKSHA BANDHAN, INDEPENDENCE AND RAMAYANA SAMAPANAM

RAKSHA BANDHAN DAY (7th August) 

Early morning, on the occasion of Rakhi Poornima, Ganapathi Homam and Sri Chakra Pooja were performed by Sri Sivanji and his assistant from Karumatra Matham.

Ma.Didi tied Rakhi on the hands of Sishuvihar Kids and their parents.What Raksha Bandhan really means, was explained by Didi.This was followed by prayer and distribution of sweets.

15TH AUGUST & RAMAYANA MONTH CONCLUDING PROGRAMME

This time Independence Day celebration and concluding programme of Ramayana month was clubbed together. The National flag was hoisted by Ma.Didi. The tiny-tots of Sishuvihar along with their parents and inmates of Anandadham were all present. Samskar Varga children too had come to watch the hoisting. For all children, the best part of Independence Day celebration is when they receive laddoos after singing of National anthem Ma. Didi spoke to the children and their parents regarding the speciality and importance of attending the Independence Day celebration.

The next programme was at 10 a.m as a part of concluding of the Ramayana month, a talk on the need to know Ramayana was arranged. The talk was delivered by Prof. Shantha Kumari of Rashtriya Samskrita Pratisthan, Puranattukara, invited as Chief Guest. She started with the Karma Theory and how one is responsible for one's own karma. For example, Sita Devi was kept enclosed in Ashoka vanam because she had kept a pet bird enclosed in a cage. She stressed the importance of perseverance and contentment.She gave the example of Sumitra who received the yajna Prasad from both queens Kausalya and Kaikeyi because she showed no reaction when King Dasaratha forgetting her, divided the Prasad between the first two queens. With examples from Ramayana, she tried to convince the audience, the need for studying Ramayana and conveying the message to the next generation, in order to build up a healthy environment.

After the talk, prize distribution followed. On the 13th August (Sunday), a quiz competition on

Ramayana was conducted at Anandadham. It was in three categories. For the first category, it was an oral quiz for the children, right from Sishuvihar to the Samskarvarga group i.e. from UKG to class IX.The second category was kept as a detailed narration of all the 35 panels of the mural painting showing some of the scenes from Ramayana which was kept in the hall. This was for class XI and above including SKIE children. The elderly ladies and gents fell in the third category and they were given a questionnaire on the whole of Ramayana, which they had to answer in writing. Thus all people could participate. Master Abhiram of class III, Samskar Varga participant, won the first prize in the first category level I and Kum.Anushree of Class VII, Samskar Varga Shikshak, won the first prize from level II. Kum Drishya again Samskar Varga Shiksak, of class XI, got the first prize in the second category and Kum Bindu, Sishuvihar teacher and one behind popularizing Ramayana Parayana house to house during the Ramayana month, received the first prize in the third category. Ramayana parayanam was also kept for those who were interested in chanting from Adhyatma Ramayana. Prasad distribution was done at the end of the programme.

UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD DAY CELEBRATION

On the auspicious day of 11th September in the morning hours, the inauguration of the six-month Yoga Certificate Course in Malayalam, under Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari, was done by deepa prajwalanam from the hands of Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi. 10 participants (7 ladies and 3 gents) were enrolled. The last day of registration is  30th September. The course begins from 7th October

Ma. Didi spoke to the participants regarding the uniqueness of this course. It will not only give an opportunity for systematic study but also unfold the inner capacities or potentials of the practitioners and expand their outlook. It would give them an opportunity to come out of their individual shells and become a part of the society, understand their relationship with the society.

They were given a brief explanation about the 6 months course and introduced to the organizing team by the course coordinator Sri P.C.Sudhakaran, a close well-wisher of Vivekananda Kendra Vedic Vision Foundation.

In connection with the U. B. Day, a series of competitions for school students were held at Anandadham, after the Onam vacation on the 18th, 19th and 20th of September. 20 schools (CBSE and State board) were approached out of which 15 responded. 150 students took part in various competitions in the junior and senior level.

On  18th September, there was painting competition for students from classes V to X. 40 children took part.The topic for the juniors was ' My beloved Pet' and for the seniors ' Water'. 

On  19th  September, English and Malayalam elocution for the Junior and senior sections were conducted. 114 students were present to participate.

On 20th September, two quiz contests were conducted.One for the high school level students, the topic for which was 'India's contribution to space science'. The second was for the Upper Primary level and the topic was 'Ramayana'. Seven schools were present for the quiz meant for seniors, whereas twelve schools were present for the junior quiz contest.Total 95 students participated.

Concluding programme of UB Day celebration was on Wednesday, 27th September. Srimad Swami Sadbhavanandaji, Mathadhyaksha of Ramakrishna Math Thrissur, was the Chief Guest.The programme included a short prayer by the UKG tiny-tots followed by a short speech by Master Ananthashree of UKG, dressed as 'Chicago Swamiji' from Kendra's balwadi-Sandeepani Sishuvihar; speeches of Swamiji recited in English and Malayalam by the prize winners of the elocution competitions held for the juniors and seniors on 18th September and Swamiji's quotations recited by the tiny tots of Sandeepani Sishuvihar. Revered Swami Sadbhavananda and Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi spoke to the children about the significance of Universal Brotherhood day.At the end, prizes were given away to the winners by the Chief Guest. This year, because of their excellent performance and total participation, students of SN Vidya Bhavan, Chentrapinni, were the winners of the rolling shields for both Malayalam and English elocution competitions.Hira School, Kaipamangalam from the junior group and SN Vidya Bhavan, Chentrapinni from the senior group were the first prize winners in Painting competitions.The group from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Kodungallur were the winners of seniors Quiz contest and S N Vidyalayam were the winners from the junior group.