Report of Activities 2009

New Year
As the New Year dawned, hundreds of guests, residents and devotees had their new year wish fulfilled and were graced by the darshan of Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati. This most auspicious beginning to the New Year filled all with hope, joy and optimism for the year ahead. During the darshan the kanyas invoked the grace and blessings of Devi for 2009, by performing a beautiful traditional Bharatnatyam dance which was an offering to Tripura Sundari, the benevolent form of the Cosmic Mother.

A havan dedicated to Vishnu, the sustainer of the universe was also conducted by the kanyas by chanting Sri Vishnu Sahasra Namavalih, the 1,000 names of Vishnu.

The innocence and sincerity of the kanyas' New Year message touched the hearts of all. "In 2009, may the seasons be favourable. May the rains arrive on time. May there be a bumper harvest. May your children be happy and successful. May your family be healthy strong and prosperous. May Goddess Lakshmi favour you with wealth, Goddess Saraswati bestow you with wisdom and Goddess Durga grant you power. May you get good jobs and good earning so that your children can be better educated."

After the morning darshan, a grand-scale bhoj was conducted for the kanyas and batuks, gramins, senior citizens, ashram guests and residents. This bhoj, the first for 2009, was particularly significant as it renewed the momentum for the mammoth undertaking to construct the Annapoorna Kshetram Kanya Kitchen which had been going on relentlessly throughout 2008. This grand venture is the latest project of Sivananda Math and is due to be completed soon. Annapoorna Kshetram Kanya Kitchen is being developed in a disused factory; this huge structure is being completely transformed into a modern and spacious dining area, with cooking and storage facilities, which will enable the fulfilment of Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati's sankalpa to feed the kanyas and batuks of Rikhia panchayat, who number over two thousand, daily in rain, hail or storm.

On New Year's day, everyone was asked to make a sankalpa for the year ahead and to reflect upon the sankalpa of Sri Swami Satyananda Saraswati in which he said: "I have always prayed for the wealth, long life, good health, success and prosperity of everyone. Let everyone be happy, let everyone be healthy, let everyone look upon everyone else with equanimity and may no one ever feel any pain or sorrow. May all be happy, may all be free from disease. May all receive the auspicious blessings of God. May no one experience suffering and if there is suffering then feel happy because God's grace, Mother's grace, the grace of the divine is within us all."

With this profound sankalpa as the driving force behind the activities of Sivananda Math, all present were ready to face the year ahead with renewed enthusiasm and dedication.

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