
The 11 days Omkarananda Mahotsava started on 22nd December 2010 in
Omkarananda Ganga-Mata Mandir, Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh, with a 3
days Katha function.
Shri Gopalacharya, a typical Katha Vachak, conducted the function.
Elaborate preparations by Shri G. Sukumar, Trustee, Swami
Omkarananda Saraswati Charitable Trust, and Shri R.D. Gaur, Member
of Omkarananda Educational Society, were made in and outside
Omkarananda Ganga-Mata Mandir. The dais was heavenly decorated
with beautiful flowers.
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The
Kathavachak Shri Gopalacharyaji and his musicians in
Omkarananda Ganga-Mata Mandir, Triveni Ghat. |

A few School Children from
Omkarananda Bal Vidya Mandir, coming from the interior
of the Himalayas for an educational tour after visiting
the Katha Programme at Triveni Ghat, Rishikesh |
Banners on different important roads in Rishikesh indicated the
start of this great event.
With flower malas and Deepas on the right and left sides, Gurudev
Swami Omkarananda's big size photo was ready for the celebration.
On the left side of the seat of Shri Gopalacharyaji were five
professional musicians, who accompanied Shri Gopalacharya during
the Katha.
On 22nd December Swami Vishveshwarananda and Kumari Somashekhari,
along with devotees from Mumbai, Delhi and also the local area,
attended the Katha programme.
By divine coincidence, a group of school children with teachers
and principal from one of the many Omkarananda Hill Schools came
to visit the Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and
later also joined the function. They had come for an educational
Tour from the newly adopted Omkarananda Hill School "Omkarananda
Bal Vidya Mandir", Bankhela (Kheda), District Rudraprayag,
situated deep in the Himalayas, near Gupt-Kashi, 3 days
car-journey to Rishikesh, one way. They were thrilled to see the
beautiful, clean and divine Omkarananda Ashram and its Temples.
All of them also joined for some time the Omkarananda-Mahotsava
Celebrations in Omkarananda Ganga-Mata Mandir, Triveni Ghat, where
they also met the President of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Shri
Swami Vishveshwarananda. After talking to Swamiji and Soma, they
had Prasad and refreshments and left in an extremely joyous mood.

Somashekhari is dancing
spontaneously to the rhythmic Bhajans played by musicians. |
The third day of Omkarananda Mahotsava, 24th December 2010,
brought many surprises. It was the concluding day of the Katha
programme. Powerfully as ever, Shri Gopalacharyaji started
spiritual discourses and Bhajans with his musicians. More and more
people visited the place to witness and to hear the words of the
Katha Vachak.
After two hours Shri Gopalacharyaji announced that Soma and her
students will give a dance performance. He praised Soma for her
talent in the spiritual field and appreciated the perfect skill
she has in speaking several Indian languages.
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Above:The audience
listening to the Katha on the last day. Left:A
devotional Krishna Dance by Kumari Somashekhari and her
students Neha and Pinky. |
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It was grand to see the smiling faces of the dancers wearing
glittering Lahangas. The sparkling atmosphere became more and more
powerful and when the musicians played, Soma started to dance
spontaneously to their rhythm and songs. Shri Gopalacharyaji had
to withhold his tears and he remarked: "Such scenes are not even
seen in the heaven." Not only Gopalacharya, but some people in the
audience too, got tears in their eyes. Soma concluded her dance
programme with the Omkarananda Arati Dance.
Finally our Priests and others offered Arati to Gurudev Swami
Omkarananda and to the great Katha Vachak.

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