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Contents:
 Devotional
Dance Performance in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir, on 26th September 2006
Navaratri would not be the same if the highly devotional and purely divine
dances of Kumari Somashekhari and her disciples would not have taken place.
Truly, the evening was sparkling with tremendous vibrations, when everybody
appeared in front of the most beautifully decorated Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi.
We could read from the faces of the children that they were filled with strength
and devotion and wanted to give an excellent performance in front of the Deity.
Kumari Somashekhari, the Guruji and teacher and a highly trained Bharatanatyam
dancer, appeared with a glittering Lehenga*, whose every
movement made it very shining and sparkling. Soma and her children paid their
tribute through dance in such a smooth way that the audience was astounded to
see their performance. Most of the people appreciated that the children could go
fully synchronised in line with the actions of Somaji.
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Offering of flowers and light to
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi |
The items which she and her students performed were exclusively devotional
dances through which they worshipped the Divine Mother, Her infinite Beauty,
infinite Love and infinite Power. They also performed two Arati-dances for the
Devi in which they worshipped Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi with flowers and many
shining Deepas.
Though this function was meant as a pure dedication to the Divine Mother
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi, and nobody was formally invited, surprisingly a great
number of devotees had assembled to enjoy the colourful dances.
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Shri Swami Narasimhuluji awards the dance-students |
Swami Vishveshwarananda guided the people through the function. In the end H.H.
Shri Swami Narasimhuluji Maharaj - being touched by these excellent children -
offered gifts to all of them. Swami Vishveshwarananda appreciated the tireless
and hard work, which Somaji has done, and he focused specially on the point,
that her dances were nothing but a flower to the holy feet of Gurudev
Paramahamsa Omkarananda and a way to attain spiritual heights.
Bhajan
Evening by Omkarananda Bhajan Mandali, on 28th September 2006
Navaratri this time brought
even more surprises. After the holy prayers the audience could watch the start
of new items by the "Omkarananda Bhajan Mandali", initiated and established by
Kumari Somashekhari. She and her children are not only trained in Indian
Classical Dance but they also had the experience to learn the excellent way of
devotional singing, the art of the Indian culture, which is presented by Bhajans
and Kirtans. In a very joyous way the Bhajan Mandali started with a song to
honour the great Lord Ganesha, followed by songs dedicated to
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi. The spirit, when these pure hearted souls were
singing, touched the devotees so much, that they automatically also felt to join
in the rhythm of their songs. So, the whole temple was filled with great joy and
it was no doubt a memorable and happy moment, which the people will not forget.
Right:
Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji thanked the students of Omkarananda
Bhajan Mandali
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The Omkarananda Bhajan
Mandali was enriched with the help of the Omkarananda Ashram Pandits, who joined
with different musical instruments, which gave great colour to the beauty of
their songs.
Swami Vishveshwarananda
thanked all of them and rewards were given to the children for their beautiful
performance.
Dushehra
Celebration at Omkarananda Preparatory School: Fancy Dress Competition
Dushehra or Vijaya Dashami,
the adoration of the Divine Mother, can be described as the triumph of Sita,
symbolizing the divine soul, over Ravana, representing the sense distractions
and attachments, as told in the timeless epic Ramayana.
To honour this memorable
occasion, Swami Omkarananda Preparatory School in Rishikesh held a fancy dress
competition on 29th September, 2006. Under the able guidance of Mrs. Meenakshi
Gupta, Principal, approximately 150 of the young students appeared in various
roles imitating Hindu mythological characters: Rama, Sita, Lakshman, Shiva,
Parvati, Vishnu, and Indra were just a few of the many legendary figures enacted
by the students in this fancy dress competition. An appropriate evaluation by
qualified judges was carried out by Mrs. Anuita Dabral, Mrs. Bharti Uniyal and
Mrs. Nidhi Singh of S.B.M.P. School; they assessed the students' success in
achieving accurate representations of each mythological character.
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A scene from the Ramayana |
In her address to those
students and invited guests assembled, the School Principal, Mrs. Meenakshi
Gupta, described the importance of this event. She said: "God set the world in
families, and families in nations, in order that we might learn to live as one,
by living with relations. If you and I can make our home a friendly sort of
place, then we could make one family of the human race." The Principal
encouraged the students to live these values, to cultivate virtue in all walks
of daily life, leaving behind vices altogether; this was the real understanding
of the day's festivities.
Another inspirational
message was given by the school correspondent, Mrs. Usha Devi Mataji, who told
the assembly the true meaning of the word Dushehra, which comes from Dasha-Hara:
"Dasha" means 10 and "Hara" means annihilation. When we overcome the 10-headed
demon Ravana with the arrow of spiritual knowledge, only then are we able to
experience the eternal bliss of the Divine Mother and fully enjoy the Dushehra
festival. She reminded audience that the reason for ceremonies and events on
holy occasions is to "make the good among you better and the better among you
the best." The school's primary objective is the dedication of the faculty and
students to the service of humanity; this is the original vision of renowned
Sage, Saint, and Mystic Sri Swami Omkarananda, as carried out by Sri Swami
Vishveshwaranandaji, the President and Mahant of Omkarananda Ashram. At the
conclusion of her speech, Mrs. Usha Devi thanked all who worked tirelessly to
make the grand show a success.
The festival finished with
the symbolic annihilation of the demon Ravana by bursting firecrackers. All
participants left with bliss-filled hearts and tranquil minds after this
wonderful remembrance of the spiritual triumph, strength, and grace of the
Divine Mother.
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* Beautiful, long, traditional Indian skirt, worn
for special celebrations
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