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:

A brief report of relief work conducted from 23rd Oct – 31^st Oct, 09.

Koppala 23.10.2009 to 25.10.2009 –

In Koppala District’s 3 villages namely, Vakkana Durga, Rampura, Koppal slum area relief items were distributed to around 475 families. 25 kgs of Jower, 1 kg palm oil, 2 kgs of sugar, 3 Kgs of Bengal gram (Kadale Bele) were given to each beneficiary family.

In all a total of 1000 blankets, 11875 kgs of jower ( Jola), 475 kgs of Plam oil, 950 kgs of sugar, 1425 kgs of Bengal gram (kadale Bele) & 15,000 rupees worth of children’s garments were distributed in Koppala.  The above items costed around Rs 3,55,000/-(Three Lakh Fifty Five Thousand).

Bijapur –26.10.2009 and 29.10.2009

After the distribution of blankets and food materials in Koppala our relief team reached Bijapur in the morning of 26.10.2009. There they went to few villages to inspect the distribution of blankets. The beneficiaries there have been selected through extensive survey. A Network of dedicated volunteers had taken up the responsibility of the distribution.

About 1100 families from 10-15 villages were given one blanket each. Among them, Utensils sets were given to 126 families along with blankets. Also food stuff was distributed to few destitute families.  A total cost of the items came to    about Rs. 1,93,400/- (One lakh ninety three thousand)

Gulbarga _ 27.10.2009 to 28.10.2009

Our relief team reached Afzalpur Talulk in Gulbarga district on 27.10.2009. In three villages Alagi (B), Hinchagera &  Mashala 1 blanket each & utensils set worth Rs 400 were distributed to around 284 families . The vessels set consists of 1 Koda, 2 tambige, 3 lotas, 2 plates & 1 Jug.  Total amount spent is around Rs.1,50,000 /-

To view more images of the relief work kindly visit:

http://picasaweb.google.com/rkmissionashrama/RKMissionReliefServicesFrom24thOct31stOct09#

Dear All,

As you are awareRamakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum & Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore have jointly undertaken the relief work in the rain affected areas of Bellary, Raichur, Bagalkot, Belgaum & Koppal districts. We are relentlessly continuing in our endeavor to provide whatever is the immediate need of the affected people in the areas we are visiting.

A brief report of relief work conducted so far:

The relief work was started from, Monday 5^th Oct, 09, at Beeranagaddi village (Gokak Tq, Dt. Belgaum). Cooked food ( lunch & dinner) was provided daily, for 10 days, to about 170 affected villagers,

On Tuseday, 6^th Oct, 09, Swami Raghaveshanandaji Maharaj (Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, Belgaum) & Swami  Nityasthanandaji (President, Sri Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore) visited Bellary district & surveyed some badly affected villages. At one place hearing that a village, named Matur in Siruguppa taluk, has been totally washed off, they visited the village & were surprised to find that the villagers were staying on the main (tar) road making their own make-shift arrangements with plastic covers, etc just like nomads putting up a tent. There were about 150 families. On being asked what they need, the villagers requested to be provided with tent material. Immediately thick plastic tent materials (plastic tarpaulin sheets) & coir ropes were purchased & were distributed on the next day (Wed, 7th Oct, 09). In all about 150 tarpaulin sheets & coir ropes worth Rs. 40,000/- were distributed.

Both the Swamijis kept moving about surveying badly affected areas in Bellary, Koppal, Bijapur & Bagalkoot districts & tried to arrange whatever services possible, depending on the immediate needs of the people. During there visits they arranged for distribution of 150 sets of cooking utensils, worth Rs 60,000/-, at Mudlapur village in Koppal district.

Afterwards on Tuesday, 13th of October at Beeranagaddi village 60 families were given utensil sets ( 2 cooking vessels, 2 lids, 2 cooking ladels - all stainless steel) worth Rs. 20,000/-  &  137 villagers were given blankets worth Rs. 18,000/- & mats worth Rs. 12,000/-.

From 20th of October 09, a team of monastics & volunteers is traveling in Bellary & Raichur districts to provide further relief to the affected villages & also to find out suitable places for the construction of the new houses for the displaced villagers. The team visited Ola Bellary village in Sindhanur Taluk, Raichur Dist & Matur village & Sridhara Guda village in Siruguppa Taluk, Bellary Dist. Relief items such as blankets, garments for children, food items (Wheat powder, tea powder, milk powder, sugar & edible oil) were distributed at these places.

Extract of distribution from 20^th Oct – 23^rd Oct in:

Ola Bellary - Sindhanur Taluk, Raichur Dist.

For 500 families, 500 blankets, 5000 kgs of Wheat powder & 1000 kgs of sugar

Matur - Siruguppa Taluk, Bellary Dist for 175 families and 160 small children

a. 350 blankets

b. 1750 kgs of wheat powder

c. 350 Kgs of sugar

d. 175 kgs of palm oil

e. 43.7 kgs of milk powder

f. 43.7 kgs of tea powder

g. 140 sets of children garments

Sridhara Gudda – Siruguppa Taluk, Bellary Dist

To 52 families and 10 small children (25 families – full set, 27 families- only blankets)

a. 104 blankets

b. 250 kgs of Wheat powder

c. 50 kgs of sugar

d. 25 kgs of Palm oil

e. 6.25 kgs of milk powder

f. 6.25 kgs of tea powder

g. 10 sets of children garments

Bellary Town: 46 blankets to 46 families

In all

1000 blankets

7,000 kgs of wheat powder

1400 kgs of sugar

200 kgs of plam oil

50 kgs of milk powder

50 kgs of tea-powder

150 sets of children’s garments

were distributed & 773 families were benefited by it. More than Rs.4,00,000/- was spent for these distributions

It was found, by our personal visits to these places, that they all require houses to be constructed. Presently, we have decided to construct 100 houses. Each house would cost about Rs. 75,000/-. We shall take up more no of houses as per the availability of the funds.

Shortly, we will be taking up the rehabilitation work by constructing houses in badly affected areas.

To view the images of the relief work kindly visit:

http://picasaweb.google.com/rkmissionashrama/
RamakrishnaMissionAshramaBelgaumFloodReliefServices#

Vasanta Vihara 2009

(A personality development summer camp for boys)

Like previous years this year also a summer camp, viz., Vasanta Vihara for boys in the age group of 10-16 yrs was held in the Ashrama in two batches from April 15th to May 10th 2009.

More than 50 students participated in the first batch which concluded on 31st April & 90 students participated in the second batch which concluded on 10th May.

The main features of the camps were:

Educative -Work Shops & Interactive Sessions, in which were organized

*Personality Developement modules

*Samskrit & lndian Culture “Language Developement Series

*Creative Thinking

*Role-Play

*Story Narration

*Library Hours

*Audio/Visual Presentation

There were also classes for Vedic Chanting, Bhajans, Subhashitams, Bhagavad Gita chanting, Yogasanas, Meditation and other subjects. Lectures and presentations were also organized on many themes like personality development, our epics & great characters, life & teachings of Swami Vivekananda, etc which were emphasized through audio visual presentations. These classes were conducted by Swamijis and eminent members of the society in the pure and elevating atmosphere of the Ashrama.