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Report about
Maha-Shivaratri
Celebrations
in
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas,
on 24th February 2017
On 24th February 2017 Maha-Shivaratri was celebrated in
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas in all its Shiva-Temples and
special Shrines of Lord Shiva.
The Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, under the
guidance of Chief-Priest Suresh Panditji, had nicely
decorated the different Temples with fresh
flower-garlands, shining lights and flower-rangolis.
During daytime many fresh Bilva-leaves had been collected
by the Priests from the Bilva-Trees in the Head-Quarters
of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, which afterwards, in the
night, were offered to Lord Shiva, along with special
Prayers.
 In order to worship Lord Shiva on this special Holy Night,
Guru-Bhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari performed several
beautiful and divine Bharatanatyam-Temple-Dances in the
Mandapa of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi-Mandir. Lord Shiva,
Who is Himself the Creator of the Holy Dance, was surely
pleased to see the excellence in Soma's dances, which were
performed by her with all perfect details.
Ashramites, Priests and some Devotees from Rishikesh, New
Delhi and also from abroad, took part in this event.
Before starting her Temple-Dance-Performance Kumari
Somashekhari offered a Mandara-flower, dear to Lord Shiva,
and other fresh flowers to her beloved Sadgurudev Shri
Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati and to Lord Shiva.
Shri Sukumarji was the Master of Ceremony, who read out
the meaning and essence of each of Soma's dances.
Then the President of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Shri
Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, addressed all Devotees,
who had assembled in the Temple, and inspired them with a
wonderful speech on the Greatness of Lord Shiva and how
one can derive immense Blessings and good Luck by merely
showing a little bit divine Love and Devotion to Lord
Shiva.
Swamiji emphasized how important it is, that we all cling
ourselves to the infinite, immortal Supreme Self, which
alone is everlasting.
He further said, that holy events like Maha-Shivaratri are
a great Blessing for us, since we get the opportunity to
think and contemplate on Lord Shiva more than usual and
thereby make our lives pure and blessed.
Swami Vishveshwaranandaji explained, that Lord Shiva has
such a tender Heart, that He is easily pleased, even if
one offers only a simple leaf to Him, provided this is
done with great Devotion.
Swamiji nicely elucidated this fact through a special
Story about two different Shiva-Bhaktas, in which it was
made clear, that Lord Shiva's Heart is touched only by a
divine attitude and real deep Devotion and not by mere
outer pomp and show.
All Devotees felt blessed and inspired by Swami
Vishveshwaranandaji's heart-touching Words of Divine
Wisdom.
Swamiji also thanked the Priests of Omkarananda Ashram
Himalayas, specially Chief Priest Suresh Panditji, Sanjay
Panditji and Mukesh Panditji, for their constant and
praise-worthy efforts to maintain an utmost pure and
divine atmosphere in the Temples of Omkarananda Ashram
Himalayas and he expressed his Gratitude to them by
garlanding them with flower malas.
On behalf of all Ashramites, Shri Swami Pragyanandaji, a
senior inmate of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, honoured
Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji with a flower-mala.
Then Swamiji requested everybody to take a wonderful
Prasadam, which was prepared by the Temple-Priests.
Throughout the whole night of this special Maha-Shivaratri
Celebration in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Worship for
Lord Shiva continued in form of Vedic Chanting, Abhisheka
for Lord Shiva with sacred Ganga Jal, Cow's Milk and other
holy ingredients, offering of flowers and fresh
Bilva-leaves, Arati, etc., till 4 AM in the morning of
25th February 2017.
Om Namah Shivaya Om
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