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.

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.

	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.

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.