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10th Commemorative Celebration of Gayatri Mata Pratishthapana
in Gayatri Nagar, Tadas, Hubli, Karnataka, from 26th to 28th January 2010

The 10th Brahmotsava, or 10th Commemorative Celebration of Gayatri Mata Pratishtha­pana, was held on 26th, 27th and 28th January 2010, at Gayatri Nagar, Tadas, Hubli, Karnataka.

The whole area of the beautiful Gayatri Tapobhumi Ashram was decorated in a grand way and many Hawana-Kundas for performing Yajnas had been established.

A big tent had been erected for hundreds of devotees, who joined the spiritual functions.

On 26th January the programme started with Udak Shanti and discourses of Pravagada Prakash Rao on Gayatri Mantra.

On 27th morning, after Dwajarohan, Punyavachan and Devata Sthapana, Yajna-Prarambha was done by many Expert-Priests.

Great Saints from Himalayas and Karnataka sitting on the dais to bless the devotees. From left to right: Yogini Subhadra Mataji, Shri Swami Vallabha Chaitanyaji, Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and others	A huge crowd of devotees had assembled in Gayatri Tapobhoomi Ashram

The Heart and Soul of this beautiful Ashram, the great Saint Shri Vallabha Chaitanyaji, had invited many Saints and Mahatmas from different parts of India, to make this event even more powerful. The Saints, who had come from the far away Himalayas, belonged to the Main-Attraction. Among them were Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram, Rishikesh, Muni-ki-Reti, Shri Swami Premananda Saraswati and Swami Gambhirananda Saraswati from Uttarkashi, the great Yogini from Gangotri, Subhadra Mataji and others. Among prominent Swamijis from Karnataka, attending the function, was Shri Swami Pranavananda Teerthji.

Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji inspired all with his divine speech.

All these great Saints and Mahatmas graced the beautiful dais, with a huge, colourful picture of Gayatri Devi as back-ground.

In the afternoon of 27th January, all the Saints gave their Blessings to the audience through their speeches.
Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, President of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, got a lot of spontaneous applause from the audience for his intense and heart-touching divine speech.

Exactly during this time the warm winter-sun moved slowly towards the horizon and enveloped the beautiful Gayatri Tapobhumi Ashram with a red-golden mystical Light. It was, as if Gayatri Devi Herself, in form of the huge, radiant, golden Orb of the Sun, was observing the function and giving Her Blessings.

Prof. Sadanand Murthy, Kumari Somashekhari, Randhir and Rupa Rane and others with the great Yogini Subhadra Mataji

After the Saints had completed their speeches on the dais, devotees could have the opportunity to meet each of them personally and take their Blessings.

In the evening, after sunset, Deepa-Utsava was held on a huge open ground of the Ashram. Thousands of Deepas were lighted. Their glowing light and the shining Moon above transformed Gayatri Tapobhumi into a galaxy of stars.

After all devotees had refreshed themselves with a wonderful dinner, available in the Ashram itself, they could enjoy beautiful cultural programmes, which continued throughout the whole night, till next morning, 1 AM.

Professional Musicians, Bhajan-Singers and Indian Classical Dancers from different parts of India delighted the audience with their extremely melodious and devotional performances.

Two very beautiful Bharatanatyam-Dances belonged to the main-attraction of this evening, a Shiva-Dance by Kumari Varsha, residing in Hubli, Karnataka, and a Krishna Dance from Kumari Meghana, having come from Mumbai. Kumari Meghana is also a gifted classical singer. The two young girls danced extremely gracefully, and the divine expression of their beautiful dances lingered on as an unforgettable experience in the hearts of the spectators.

Kumari Somashekhari, from Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, had the honour to award the two beautiful Bharatanatyam-Dance-Artists with gifts and Dakshinas. Somashekhari, being herself an Indian Classical Dancer, was overwhelmed about the beauty of the performances of these two charming Bharatanatyam Dancers and she wholeheartedly thanked the two artists and was full of praise for them.

In the evening beautiful cultural programmes took place.	Kumari Somashekhari honoured Kumari Varsha for her beautiful dance-presentation and was full of praise for her divine art.

The whole evening and night, till early morning hours, the area of the Gayatri Tapobhumi Ashram was filled with divine music by great classical musicians. The devotional melodies and expressions of the music and songs were penetrating deeply one's heart. One could really feel, why Indian Classical Dance and Music are a purely divine Art and how this spiritual Art can be a divine inspiration and even a means for God-Experience.
On the next morning, the 28th January 2010, a grand Maha-Abhishekam was performed for the Pranapratishtha Murti of Gayatri Mata in the Sanctum Sanctorum. Shri Vallabha Chaitanyaji himself, along with a few of his main Priests, was standing in the small Garbhagriha and offered the most beautiful Abhishekam to Devi, one can imagine. Huge baskets of colourful fragrant flowers were showered upon the Deity, and also milk, curd, honey and Ganga Water, along with fragrant ingredients, like Sandalwood-Powder, Turmeric, and many things more. A "water-fall" or "rain" of hundreds of silver coins was offered to the Devi, which gave the impression of a heavenly experience to the spectators.

Saints, devotees and guests taking part in the Maha-Yajna

The spiritual vibration of this event was multiplied by the most powerful and enthusiastic Mantra-chanting of many priests.

After this extraordinary Abhishekam everybody proceeded to the nearby Yajnashalas for the final Purnahuti, which was performed with Chanting of Mantras from all the Vedas.

Then all Sannyasis and Mahatmas were led to the dais, where they were felicitated and thanked for honouring this auspicious event with their divine presence.

The 3-days Festival concluded on 28th January night with an Indian Classical Dance Performance by Kumari Somashekhari from Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas. She was introduced to the audience by Prof. Sadananda Murthy, a Member of Omkarananda Ashram.

On the last day of the holy event all Saints and Mahatmas were felicitated. From left to right: Swami Gambhirananda, Swami Vishveshwarananda, Shri Vallabha Chaitanya, Swami Pranavananda Teertha and others	Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda expressed special praise for Shri Vallabha Chaitanya and his divine work.

Somashekhari addresses the audience in Kannada, the language of Karnataka	Kumari Somashekhari performs special Temple Dances in front of the audience.

The people in the audience were astonished and thrilled, when Soma, before starting her dance, addressed them in their own language, "Kannada" or "Kannarese", the language of Karnataka.

Somashekhari presented four devotional Temple-Dances, two dances were dedicated to Devi, one dance to Lord Shiva and one dance to Lord Krishna. Her appearance in a colourful shining Lahanga (traditional Dance-Dress) and her classical and graceful dance-movements were the top of the evening.

One the Chief Trustees of Gayatri Tapobhumi Ashram honoured Soma for her excellent performances.

Many ladies and local children approached Soma, and expressed a lot of love and affection towards her, which was equally reciprocated by her. It was a heart-touching sight, when so many children assembled around Soma, and Soma herself enjoyed very much to be with them and talking to them.

The 10th Commemorative Celebration of Gayatri Mata Pratishthapana in Gayatri Tapobhumi had come to an end. But the memories and impressions of this wonderful holy event will last forever.

Children were eager to interact with Somashekhari.