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Omkarananda Jayanti, 25th December 2011

On 25th December 2011, Omkarananda Jayanti, the Birthday of Beloved Sadgurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, was celebrated from early morning, with deep devotion, in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.

As in earlier years the Celebration started with Sundarkand Path. Since in the meantime a beautiful Omkarananda-Hanuman Mandir had been established at the Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, the Recitation of Sundarkand took place in and around the lovely new Temple.

Shri Omkarananda-Hanuman and His Mandir are nicely decorated and ready for starting Omkarananda Jayanti with Sundarkand Recitations.

Sudhakar Sharma, Gopalacharya, Musicians and Priests during Sundarkand.

Gopalacharya addresses the people who joined Sundarkand.

Sudhakar Sharma chanting Shlokas in front of Omkarananda-Hanuman Mandir.

Guests are going to attend the Omkarananda Jayanti Celebrations.

At 11 AM the cultural programme in Honour of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati started in the Auditorium "Omkarananda Vidya Bhawan".

After a warm welcome to all the guests by the charming and dignified Masters of Ceremony, Shrimati Indu Gautam and Shri Apurva Trivedi, both Lecturers of Omkarananda Institute of Management and Technology, Deepas were lighted in front of Gurudev's beautiful Photo.

Then small Sankrit-Students made the Hall vibrating with the Recitation of Shukla Yajurveda. The students accompanied their Sanskrit Recitations with traditional hand gestures.

The next item was a Pushpanjali and Bharatanatyam Solo dance by Gurubhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari in honour of Gurudev.

Swami Narasimhuluji lighting the Deepas in front of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.

Sanskrit Students chanting in typical ancient Vedic style.

Kumari Vidushi, a bright student of class 9 of Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam Inter-College, read out Words of Divine Wisdom by H.D. Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati: "How to develop Love for God?"

This was followed by a joyous Radha-Krishna Dance, "Sapne men", performed by Guru­bhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari and her students Neha and Pinky. The audience responded with a huge clapping.

After this all devotees and guests had the golden opportunity to listen for a few minutes to a recorded speech of Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati: "The Divinity manifests Itself in Extraordinary Works". There was pin-drop silence in the auditorium, when the beautiful voice of Gurudev inspired all with most precious divine Wisdom.

Kumari Somashekhari in a graceful way is performing a dance.	Kumari Vidushi, Student of Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam Inter-College, is reading out Words of Divine Wisdom by Gurudev.

Col. Sachdeva, Principal, Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, is offering gifts and blessings.

Then Shri Gopalacharyaji and his musicians entertained the audience with Bhajans, Kirtan and a short Katha.

A new book, titled "Who is a Guru? and Other Inspiring Speeches"  by Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati had come out recently, which is distributed worldwide by Motilal Banarsidass, and which is also available from the world biggest on-line Bookseller Amazon (U.S.A.) and other Book-Agencies.

Kumari Somashekhari and her well-trained Students Neha and Pinky presenting a Radha-Krishna Dance.

Shri Gopalacharyaji performing Katha to honour Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati. On the left side are his Musicians.

Gopalacharyaji with Sudhakar Sharma and Swami Vishveshwarananda.

Kumari Somashekhari praising the Acharyaji for his great Katha.

Release of the great book "Who is a Guru? and Other Inspiring Speeches" by Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, compiled by Kumari Somashekhari.

Since Omkarananda Jayanti is a most auspicious day for all Devotees of Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, the great Veda-Pandit, Shri Sudhakar Sharma, was requested to offer this new book with powerful Vedic Prayers to Gurudev and then Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari and some selected Devotees and guests were releasing Gurudev's new book in an informal way. Afterwards Swami Vishveshwaranandaji threw light on the salient features of this book. He praised Kumari Somashekhari for her outstanding and most difficult work in compiling, editing and formatting the Wisdom and Knowledge of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.

Beautiful Arati Dance by Kumari Somashekhari, Neha and Pinky.

Director OIMT offered a garland to Swami Vishveshwarananda while Sudhakar Sharma was chanting Shlokas.

The cultural programme neared conclusion with the "Omkarananda Arati Dance", performed by Gurubhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari and her students in adoration of Gurudev.

Then it was the turn of Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, President Omkarananda Ashram, who was supposed to take the mike for giving the Vote of Thanks. But the charming Masters of Ceremony, Induji and Apurvaji, had a small surprise in store for Swamiji. Before handing over the mike to Swamiji, they informed the audience in short about the inspiring life and great divine works of Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and then requested Dr. Aditya Gautam, Director of Omkarananda Institute of Management and Technology, to offer a beautiful flower-garland to Swamiji, which was done among huge clapping and a short and powerful Mantra-Recitation by Sudhakar Sharma.

Swami Vishveshwaranandaji was totally unprepared for this kind gesture of love and affection, but since Swamiji always thinks only of the welfare of others and not of himself, everybody felt, that he was definitely very much deserving it.

Swami Vishveshwarananda, in his wonderful and intense speech, threw light on the importance of a real spiritual Guru and a good, divine and spiritual lifestyle. The powerful speech of Swami Vishveshwarananda reflected his divine character, thoughts and feelings and his great Devotion and Reverence for his Sadgurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.

Swami Vishveshwarananda addressing the audience and giving his Vote of Thanks to all who helped to make Omkarananda Jayanti successful.

Everybody gets ready for the Omkarananda Arati.

Arati by Swami Vishveshwarananda.

Arati by Sudhakar Sharma.

Swami Vishveshwarananda and Gopalacharya offering flowers to Gurudev.	Swamiji is being garlanded by a devotee. Behind him are Kumari Somashekhari and Shri Dimple.

Prasadam in form of a delicious lunch is served to everybody.

This auspicious programme was concluded with Omkarananda Arati and Pushpanjali, followed by a delicious Bhandara (lunch) for hundreds of guests and devotees.

In the late afternoon a very special Hawana was performed in Honour of Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, conducted by Shri Sudhakar Sharma with the help of other Priests and in the Presence of Swami Vishveshwarananda, Gurubhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari and Shri G. Sukumar. The divine fragrance of this wonderful Hawana spread everywhere in the surroundings of the headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.

Puja and Prayers before a special Yajna for Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati with Sudhakar Sharma.

Yajna by Sudhakar Sharma, Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari, Shri Sukumar and Mukesh Vyas.

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