Foundation Day Celebrations
in Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam Inter-College (OSN),
Muni-ki-Reti, on 1st December 2013

Report by Mrs. Alka Rakwal, Teacher Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam

With the Blessings of Sadguru Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, the English Medium School Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam was founded in the year 1983, on 1st December, with only three Students, in Muni-ki-Reti, via Rishikesh, Distt. Tehri Garhwal. During that time English Medium Schools in Rishikesh and Tehri Garhwal were very rare and of utmost need for the progress of the children of this neglected area.

Nobody in Rishikesh expected at that time, that Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, which took such a humble start, would grow into such a prestigious and great Institution. Over the years, Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, which is affiliated to ICSE New Delhi, developed into a grand Inter-College, starting from Nursery Classes up to Classes 12.

Presently it has got a strength of 2500 Students, 85 Teachers, 35 Staff Members and is running 4 School Buses.

Many former Students have obtained high class jobs in India and abroad because they got excellent education in this wonderful Inter-College, by Gurudev Shri Swami Omkarananda Saraswati's Grace, the constant support of Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati and the efforts of Principal and Teachers.

On 1st December 2013, Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam Inter-College, Muni-ki-Reti, via Rishikesh, celebrated its 31st Foundation Day.

For this great event, Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji Maharaj, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Kumari Somashekhariji, General Secretary Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Shri Sukumarji, Trustee, Usha Mataji, Shri Mahavir Singh Negi, Shri D.K. Varshney, Shri I.D. Joshi, Shri R. S. Rawat and other esteemed Members of the School Managing Committee, had specially come to celebrate the occasion along with Principal, Teachers, Students and Parents of Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam.

Sudhakar Sharma and Swami Vishveshwarananda being honoured
with a flower bouquet on the arrival.

The cute OSN kids which garlanded the dignitaries, standing behind.

The function was also blessed by the presence of Shri Sudhakar Sharma, an extraordinary Vedic Pandit from South India, who is an expert in Shri Vidya. He was accompanied by two of his assistants, Shri Manikanthan and Shri Prashanth.

The Foundation Day Celebration was organized in the newly built Omkarananda Saraswati Hall.

The celebration started with the lighting of Deepas by H.H. Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji Maharaj, Kumari Somashekhariji, Shri Sudhakar Sharma, OSN Principal, Col. (Retd.) D. L. Sachdeva, assisted by OSN Teachers Mrs. Kiran Taneja and Mrs. Nalini Sharma.

 

Swami Vishveshwarananda, Sudhakar Sharma and Kumari Somashekhari in front of the entrance of the newly built Omkarananda Saraswati Hall.	Kumari Somashekhari lighting the Deepas before the start of the function.

Swami Vishveshwarananda and Sudhakar Sharma lighting the Deepas.

This was followed by a beautiful and divine invocation dance, the Saraswati Vandana, presented by the OSN Students of the Primary Wing.

Thereafter, there was a plethora of cultural programmes by OSN Students of different age groups, depicting dances and songs from various areas of India: there was the Bihu dance, the Lavani dance, the Garhwali dance, a Garhwali group song, and a song about the plight of the victims of the Himalayan Tsunami.

Saraswati Vandana in front of Gurudev's photo by Students of Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam.

Songs by the OSN School-Choir.

A graceful dance to a patriotic song.

The highlight of the cultural programme was the Ganesha Vandana Dance, by small OSN Students of Kindergarten Classes, who earned a rousing applause for their performance.

A heart-touching Ganesha Vandana Dance by enthusiastic
Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam Students of the Junior Wing.

A successful OSN kid has been awarded with a certificate and a cash prize for her achievement by Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda.

When the School Coordinator, Dr. Quaylee Chakravorty, announced, that it was time for the Prize Distribution for meritorious OSN Students, everyone waited with bated breath. Each announcement of the names of outstanding Students was applauded loudly by one and all. Our 'Shining Achievers' were specially blessed by Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and honoured by him with cash awards for their academic excellence.

It was also a proud moment for the Parents of ISC Students, who were there to receive awards on behalf of their wards.

It is important, that not only Students but also our deserving and talented Teachers should receive appreciation.

So to keep the flame of enthusiasm burning, one of the senior-most, committed and excellent OSN Teachers, Mrs. Kiran Taneja, who has been with Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, growing from strength to strength since 1984, was presented with a souvenir by Swamiji for her long-standing services to the institution.

Ms. Seema Chaudhary also received a souvenir for being the most regular Teacher in Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, and for her extraordinary dedication to the service.

Mrs. Kiran Taneja, who is already teaching since 1984 in Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam, was honoured with a shawl by Swami Vishveshwarananda and Vice-Principal Mrs. Chaturvedi.	OSN Teacher Ms. Seema Chaudhary was honoured by Swami Vishveshwarananda and Mrs. Chaturvedi for having the most regular and highest attendance in the School.

(From left to right) Usha Devi, Kumari Somashekhari, Sudhakar Sharma,
Swami Vishveshwarananda, Principal Col. Sachdeva, Shri G. Sukumar.

A joyous Garhwali Folk Dance.

Beautifully dressed OSN girls performing a nice dance.

Another highlight of the event was the release of the annual OSN School Magazine 'Prayatnasheel 2012-13' by Swami Vishveshwaranandaji, Kumari Somashekhariji, Shri Sukumarji, Usha Mataji, Members of the Managing Committee, honourable Principal, Col. (Retd.) D.L. Sachdeva, Vice-Principal, Mrs. Mridula Chaturvedi, Coordinator, Dr. Quaylee Chakravorty, in the presence of the Editorial Board.

Release of the yearly School Magazine by Swami Vishveshwarananda,
President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas. 

Some selected Students, Teachers, Principal, Members of Management Committee,
Usha Devi, Sudhakar Sharma, Kumari Somashekhari and Swami Vishveshwarananda,
presenting the newest edition of the OSN School Magazine "Prayatnasheel". 

Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, Chief Guest, addresses the audience.

Then Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji Maharaj, Chief-guest of this Function, was requested to bless the Students and address them. In his heart-warming and thought-provoking speech Swamiji emphasized on the importance of discipline and purity in life. He advised the Students to imbibe moral values so that they can distinguish between right and wrong and become good human beings. Swamiji also pointed out the advantages and disadvantages of the mass-media, like TV, Inter-Net, etc., and he requested the Students to use these Media with discrimination and for constructive and good purposes only. He appreciated the well-organized programme and congratulated the Principal for having a dedicated and hardworking team of Teachers.

After Swami Vishveshwaranandaji's inspiring speech, Dr. Quaylee Chakravorty introduced the great Vedic Pandit from the South, Shri Sudhakar Sharma, whose father already was an extraordinary Expert in Vedas, who used to come from time to time since the early 1960s, to conduct beautiful Pujas and Hawanas in the first established building of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, in Omkarananda Shanta-Durga Mandir, Muni-ki-Reti. Dr. Quaylee Chakravortyji explained to the audience, that it is a very rare opportunity to hear a Vedic Expert with such a clear, correct, powerful and mesmerizing pronunciation of Vedic Hymns, like Shri Sudhakar Sharma.

Dr. Quaylee Chakravorty introduces the Guest of Honour, Pandit Sudhakar Sharma.

After the informative introduction by Dr. Quaylee Chakravorty, Shri Sudhakar Sharma, along with his two disciples, made the whole Omkarananda Saraswati Hall vibrating with the extraordinary and powerful chanting of rare Vedic Hymns and Mantras, by which an atmosphere of Divinity was created. The mystical Power of the Mantras deeply penetrated the hearts of all.

For his outstanding recitation Shri Sudhakar Sharma was very much thanked and honoured by Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji and the Principal Col. Sachdevaji.

Shri Sudhakar Sharma blessed the audience with his powerful Vedic Recitation.

Sudhakar Sharma was honoured with a shawl by Swami Vishveshwarananda and Principal Col. Sachdeva.

Sudhakar Sharmaji blessed Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam Students, applying sacred Kumkum on their forehead, and chanting special Prayers for their progress and welfare. The Students were very grateful for getting such great divine Blessings.

OSN Students are being blessed with a Tilak and Prayers by Shri Sudhakar Sharma.

Sudhakar Sharma offers a shawl to Principal Col. Sachdeva.

Principal Col. Sachdeva is highlighting the achievements made by the School in the last five years. He offers his thanks to everyone attending the function.

Then it was time for the Vote of Thanks by the Principal Col. Sachdeva. He thanked the OSN Students and Teachers for preparing a wonderful cultural function to celebrate the 31st Foundation Day of this School. He also remarked, that Uttarakhand is gifted with natural beauty, and the faces of the children of this State reflect purity and innocence, which is also visible in our OSN School Students.

The Principal further expressed his deep gratitude to Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji Maharaj for always rendering unfailing support and help to him and his team for the constant development of Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam and for providing him the opportunity to serve this wonderful Institution.