Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama @ Belgaum

The 157th Jayanti of Holy Mother Sri Sharada Devi was celebrated in the Ashrama on Tuesday, 8th 2009, December with due solemnity.

The pictures of Holy Mother in prayer hall & in Shri Sarada Mantapa were tastefully decorated with garlands & flower vases. so were the pictures of Sri Ramakrishna & Swamiji.

In the morning programme there were recitation of Shri Lalita Sahasranama, Vedic chanting, Special Homa, Bhajans, discourse on life of Holy Mother & Mahamangalaarati. After these, cooked prasada was served to more than 700 devotees who participated in the programme. In the evening there was recitation of ‘Sri Devi Stuti’ and bhajans were sung in praise of the Holy Mother.

Some of the images of the celebration are given below:

Also, like the previous years, this year on Sunday, 6th of December 2009, sarees were distributed to about 325 poor women as a part of the 157th Jayanti celebrations of Holy Mother Shri Sharada Devi. The recepients included 200 women from the flood affected families & also the ‘Dravya Yajna’ recepients. All the beneficiaries were served with cooked prasda, sweets & buttermilk. Many devotees participated in the saree distribution programme & were later served with the sweets & prasada.

The Chief Guest of the programme, Brig. Sanjay Holey, VSM, (Commandant, the Maratha LIRC, Belgaum) distributed sarees & ‘Dravya Yajna’ bags to the selected beneficiaries & also gave a short talk to the assembled devotees & beneficiaries. He also expresses appreciation for the welfare services being carried on by the Ashrama. The Guests of honour, Sri Haresh M. Mehta & Smt. Shaila H. Mehta (Proprietors of M/s. Jyoti Tyres, Belgaum) also distributed sarees to few of the beneficiaries.

Some of the images of the event are given below:

Sri Sri Chandi Homa was performed in the Ashrama, on Friday 21^st of August, 09 for the welfare of the devotees. This is a very unique and elaborate homa which takes about more than 6 hrs & is done to ward off evil, acquire good merit & to invoke blessings of the Divine Mother on those who participate in it. The Homa involves recitation of Sri Sri Durga Saptashati (popularly called as ‘Chandi’) which comprises of 700 shlokas culled from 13 chapters of Markandeya Purana. The chapters are devoted to the praises of Mother Durga, Mahalakshmi & Mahasarawathi.

The Homa was conducted by Dr. Krishna Murthy Bayari ( a disciple of Sri Sri Narayanashrama Swamiji, Kodandashrama, Hebbur) & his associates.

Large number of devotees from Belgaum, Bangalore & nearby areas participated whole heartedly in the Home. All the devotees were also served with cooked prasadam after the Homa.  

Sri Ganesha festival was observed in Ashrama for 3 days from 23rd - 25th August, 2009. The image of Lord Ganesha was installed & worshipped ceremoniously during the festival.  The programme consisted of daily special puja, offering amidst Vedic chanting and Bhajans. On the last day the image of Lord Ganesha was taken in a colorful procession around the Ashrama and was immersed in water towards the end. (Visarjana). Many devotees participated whole heartedly in these programmes.

Some of the images of Sri Ganesha Festival-2009

Sri Krishna Janmaashtami was observed in the Ashrama on 13th & 14th of August. The Baby Krishna (Bala Gopala) was worshipped in a beautiful picture ceremoniously. There were special programmes (given below) both in the morning & evening.

The programmes for the celebration were as follows:

August 13th – Sri Krishna Janmashtami

5:00 pm - Special Puja to Sri Krishna
6:00 pm - Vedic Chanting & Ashtottara Archana
6:30 pm - Arati to Sri Ramakrishna & Sri Krishna
7:05 pm - Bhajans, Stotras and Namavali
7:45 pm - Prasada

August 14^th – Sri Krishna Jayanti

10:30 am - Special Puja to Sri Krishna
11:00 am to 12:00 pm - Vedic Chanting, Stotras and Bhajans & Arati to Sri Krishna
6:00 pm - Vedic Chanting & Ashtottara Archana
6:30 pm - Arati to Sri Ramakrishna & Sri Krishna
7:05 pm - Bhajans, Stotras and Namavali
7:45 pm - Prasada