The beautifully decorated Altar of Gurudev Shri Swami Omkarananda is completely surrounded by the water of the holy river Ganga

1st January 2010:
Puja, Hawana and Arati
at Omkarananda Public Ghat,
Muni-ki-reti

Every year, during Omkarananda Mahotsava time, the new year was started with Puja, Hawana and Arati at the holy river Ganga, on the Omkarananda Public Ghat, Muni-ki-reti. A wonderful Altar was erected by the Chief Priest Suresh Panditji and his colleague Sanjay Panditji, right on the sandy bank of Ganga Maa. To the surprise of all - totally unexpected - the holy river, during that particular period, started slowly rising, and suddenly, like a wonder, the entire Altar of Gurudev Shri Swami Omkarananda was standing right in the water, surrounded from all sides by the Ganga. It was a tremendous scene and truly a very rare sight, when the holy water started touching the Altar base plate on which the pictures of Gurudev Swami Omkarananda and other Deities were installed. Yagna was conducted by Suresh Panditji, Sanjay Panditji and Kumari Somashekhari.

After the Yagna, Bhajan and Kirtan took place and then Arati was offered to the holy river Ganga and Gurudev Shri Swami Omkarananda. Finally everybody, who attended this holy function, could offer a small flower bouquet with a Deepa to the river Ganga and the new year started in a humble, but extraordinary way. Then Prasadam was distributed to everybody.

The heart-touching sight of the shining Altar of Gurudev Swami Omkarananda, surrounded fully by the holy Ganga, the Prayers, Bhajans, the fragrance of the Hawana, the Arati and the shining Deepas and flower boats, floating on the Ganga, evoked in the hearts of all participants feelings of deep joy, spiritual bliss and peace.

In spite of the unusual cold weather, the 11 days of Omkarananda Mahotsava Celebration, dedicated to beloved Gurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, left a magical spell of divine joy and wonder in the hearts of all participants.

OM Shri Sadgurudev Paramahamsa Omkaranandaji ki Jay! OM

	Sacred Yajna by Kumari Somashekhari, Suresh Panditji and Sanjay Panditji

Purnahuti

Arati was offered to Gurudev and Ganga

Flower offerings for Swami Omkarananda and Ganga Ma

	Deepas with flowers and incense were offered to Ganga