Special Puja, Hawana, Bhajans, Devotional Dance by Kumari Somashekhari, Blessings by Mahant
Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda and Ganga-Arati,
in Honour of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati,
at Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya,
on 31st December 2019

The 7-Day Festival, "Omkarananda Mahotsava 2019", was concluded in the most divine
and beautiful place at the Ganga, the Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya,
which is the Gurukul of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.

The Chief-Priest of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Shri Suresh Panditji and
another very important Ashram Priest, Shri Sanjay Panditji, conducted special Prayers,
Pujas and a Hawana in Honour of Gurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati
at His Altar, with the holy, peaceful Ganga in the background. A few bright students
of the Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya happily assisted the Ashram Priests.

In Honour of Her Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, Guru-Bhakti-Ratna
Kumari Somashekhari performed Bharatanatyam Temple-Dances. Here one can see her,
depicting Ganga-Devi flowing down from the matted locks of Lord Shiva. In the Background
are visible Agni-Devata in the Hawana-Kunda, Gurudev's Altar and the Ganga river.

Senior Educationist of Rishikesh and Master of Ceremonies of this holy event,
Shri I.D. Joshiji, thanked Kumari Somashekhari for creating a blissful atmosphere
through her divine dance, which - he said - she presented with perfection in rhythm
and an artistic, beautiful and graceful manner. He described Somashekhari as
"Sweetness embodied". Shri Joshiji continued to guide the audience through
further programmes in his soft-spoken, noble and highly dignified way.

After the students of Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya, the Gurukul of
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, had recited some Vedic Shlokas, they sang the
"Ganesha Pancha-Ratnam", a composition by Shri Adi Shankaracharya.

The popular Folk-Singer, Shri Ramesh Uniyal, glorified Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati and His divine Activities through a joyous Garhwali song, written by himself.

Shri D.K. Varshneyji, another important Senior Educationist of Rishikesh, addressed
the Audience, highlighting the selfless contribution of Paramahamsa Omkarananda
Saraswati, his Prime-Disciple, Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati and his team,
to real Spirituality, Culture and Education in the Garhwal Himalayan Area of Uttarakhand.
He not only mentioned the many Omkarananda Hill Schools, which are supported by
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, but he also dwelt on the example of the big, beautiful
and divine area at the Ganga, where the Gurukul Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya
is situated. He emphasized, that this area, if it would have been used for
commercial purposes, would have been a source of a lot of money for the
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas. But instead, it is used for the charitable, selfless
and divine activity for an ideal Gurukul for Vedic Students, which shows the
Greatness of Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati and His Successor
Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati.

Kumari Somashekhari performed another Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance in
Honour of her Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.
It was a graceful Devi Dance, interspersed with powerful rhythmic patterns.

Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji heartily thanked the Devotees, Priests, the Gurukul
Students and all Artists, for braving the severe cold and still giving their best, to contribute
to this extraordinary holy and wonderful Function. He said, that all those, who are
associated with Gurudev Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, and all those, who can
take part in Functions, dedicated to Him, are extremely lucky. And surely Gurudev is seeing
and blessing everybody and everything.

The Principal of Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya, Acharya Shivkumar Malviya,
was honoured with a flowermala, Shawl and Dakshina by the Director of Omkarananda Institute
of Management & Technology, Dr. Rajul Dutt, assisted by Swamiji and Suresh Panditji.

The divine and inspiring speech by Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, was the Crown Jewel of the concluding Function of the Omkarananda Mahotsava 2019, which also was the last day of the year 2019. Swamiji requested all, to introspect and find out, what we could have done better in the past year, before we enter the next year and hope for good things in the next year. We should ask ourselves, how we can improve ourselves and struggle very hard in the new year to realize our good resolves. If we want to make spiritual Progress, we have to concentrate our thinking and feeling on the Divine. He reminded, that life is too short and too precious to be wasted, and therefore - before we leave the earth - we should be able to contact the Truth, which is only possible, when we contact the true Self in us, when we always pray. We should try to forgive and forget, even if it is more difficult, than to insist in remaining angry. Swami Vishveshwaranandaji further said, how important it is, that we control our mind, our thinking. If we are able to do that and concentrate ourselves on the Divine in everybody and everything, then one day we will actually see the Divine standing in front of us, and then we will enjoy constant great Happiness and be an indescribable Peace in ourselves. Finally Swamiji warned, that the world is too dangerous. "Shaking hands" with the world is least advisable, since a worldly life is going to damage us. Therefore we should "shake hands" with the Divine. Swamiji cited the famous Proverb : "Tell me, with whom You are walking (associating Yourself), and I tell You, Who You are." So we should be accompanied by good and holy people, listen to the voice of the Saints, of the Sages. Swamiji explained, that a spiritual life is always uplifting and makes us feel immediately, that true Happiness enters the Heart. Finally Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda expressed His deepest Gratitude to His Gurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati for providing such beautiful and heavenly places like Omkarananda Gayatri Sadan and its surrounding area, which are used exclusively for divine purposes.
The deeply spiritual speech of Swamiji, coming from the depth of his Heart, was the right impetus for the audience to start the year 2020 with a new and better vision of life and the firm resolve to realize that vision.

Since the sun was setting and it became dark, Arati was performed for
Gurudev Swami Omkarananda and Ganga Maa.

Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari and
others offered fresh flowers to Gurudev.

The Gurukul students, Ashramites, Priests and Devotees went down the staircases
towards the Ganga and joyously showered flower-petals.

While the students of the Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya were singing the beautiful and melodious Dakshinamurti Stotram by Shri Adi Shankaracharya, Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari, Priests and Devotees rewarded the saintly Bal-Brahmacharis with
Dakshina, warm, soft blankets, fruits and chocolates. Thus the extraordinary divine and
heart-touching Omkarananda Mahotsava 2019 was successfully completed.

ॐ
SHRI SADGURUDEV
PARAMAHAMSA OMKARANANDA SARASWATIJI KI JAY
ॐ