The sun shone brightly over the beautiful Ashram of His Holiness Swami Omkarananda. Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir was decorated with flowers and garlands and looked exceptionally stunning. People of all ages, from different walks of life and from different nations began to arrive. Many respected sadhus from the local area were also present. The Omkarananda auditorium quickly filled up in readiness for the delights ahead. We had all come to celebrate this most auspicious appearance day of Swami Omkarananda together and eagerly awaited the spiritual offerings of drama, dance and music.

The programme began with a welcome address by Smt. Meenakshi Gupta. She greeted us perfectly with her warm and clear voice. Deepas were lit on stage by the honorable Swamis and Pandits of Omkarananda Ashram to mark the auspiciousness of this wonderful occasion.

We were welcomed by the singing of the beautiful young children or should I say angels from the Omkarananda Preparatory School. Dressed in white flowing outfits these young children looked as if they had descended from the heavens. The boys held offerings contained in lotas whilst the girls held deepa offerings. The little girls looked especially divine with their deepas. The children's voices were so sweet and pure that we all felt uplifted.

A devotional Vandana (prayer) by the students of Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam followed. The musical accompaniment to the dance was the tune of the Arti "Om Jaya Jagadisha Hare", played on flute. The music was deeply soothing and the students danced with such serenity and grace that the whole atmosphere became instantly still and calm.

The next artistic offering to Swami Omkaranandaji was a drama entitled 'An amazing discovery of NASA' enacted by the talented young boys and girls of Omkarananda Preparatory School. The acting was truly superb and the children looked quite grown up and intellectual in their various roles as international doctors and scientists. The lab coats, beards and moustaches also helped. Their command of complicated English at such a young age was highly commendable. For this we must also give their teachers credit. So what was to be the discovery of NASA, I wondered? It was, in fact, an extraordinary, out of this world star!!! The star was sighted by international members of NASA and detailed discussions took place to discuss the other worldly nature of this star which shines much more brightly than all the other stars. After much observation, and brainstorming, it was decided by NASA that this star had to be spiritual in nature and that it must be connected with a great spiritual personality. So who might this personality be, I pondered. Well, it did not take long for me to work it out. It could be no other than the divine Swami Omkarananda himself, announced NASA. A press conference was then beautifully enacted to emulate the infinite glories and achievements of Swami Omkarananda.

Of course, no offering to Swami Omkarananda is complete without the divine dancing of Kumari Somashekari. The ensuing dance by Somaji and six of her students in glorification of Devi as Ma Bhawani was performed with such elegance and grace. Somaji and the girls looked like Goddesses. The beauty of Ma Bhawani could be felt from the mudras and flowing movements. The devotional musical accompaniment was beautiful and each word of the music was perfectly translated into movement and expression.

We were then blessed with a beautiful bhajan entitled "Man Basiya oh Kanha" (Krishna dwelling in the heart) by Bhawana, a student of Omkarananda Institute of Management and Technology. Bhawana mesmerized the whole audience with her deeply powerful and devotional voice.

A beautiful Guru Vandana and Ragas by the students of Plaza Music Academy followed. The highly talented group offered their music with an amazing array of instruments including the violin, tabla, sitar and guitar. In fact their music had an almost far Eastern oriental feel to it which was rather refined and beautiful.

Following on was the Rajasthani folk dance of the brightly clad teachers from Omkarananda Preparatory School. They gave us a feel of Rajasthan with their traditional vibrant outfits and their lively dancing with dandiya. We even got to see a teacher dressed up as a camel.

The young students from Omkaranda Preparatory school reappeared with their sequel entitled "celebration of NASA's discovery". Again the acting was superb.

Our hearts were then captivated by the divine voice of Rim Banna, a Palestinian lady. Accompanied by her husband on guitar, she meditatively chanted invocations to the Guru and other sacred mantras.

The day's varied offerings of music, dance and drama ended with the Omkarananda Song by Somaji and her students. They were all beautifully but simply dressed in white sarees with red borders. They all looked and sang like Goddesses. Soma's singing as always was highly devotional and full of love for her Guru, Swami Omkarananda. The audience became inspired and began to sing along with Somaji and her students. There was happiness and joy all around.

Prizes were distributed and then we took part in Omkarananda Arati and Pushpanjali. We all sang with joy and devotion. Our hearts were flowing with bliss and we felt highly satisfied with all the divine offerings of the day. And yet there was more to come. A Bhandara was held in the Omkarananda auditorium for all present. The Sadhus were respectfully seated first. The Sadhus chanted prayers and then we all began to savor the delicious holy food which was offered to us in abundance. After the Bhandara, each one of us left with our hearts overflowing with the delights of this great day. We remain forever grateful to Swami Omkaranandaji for giving us such a beautiful day. 

H.H.Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda
blesses all in his Vote of Thanks