Annual Festival of
Shri Karttikeya Ashram, Rishikesh,
with Presentation of Shri Adishankara's
"Atma Bodha" through Bharatanatyam
and Explanations in Hindi and Tamil,
on 28th & 29th October 2018

Front-Row, from left to right: Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati,
President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary and Bharatanatyam Dancer and Shri Sukumar, Trustee, had been invited to the beautiful
Annual Function of Shri Karttikeya Ashram, Rishikesh.

In the night of 28th October 2018 a special Programme was going to start
in the Temple Mandapa, where a nice Murti of Shiva Nataraja was placed along
with a Photo of Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.

Bharatanatyam Dance Guru, Dr. Ramani, and her students had come all the way from Chennai
to present a wonderful Bharatanatyam Dance Drama on Shri Adishankara's Atma Bodha.

Kumari Somashekhari – in a classical style – performed Bharatanatyam Temple-Dances.

The talented Bharatanatyam Guru, Dr. Ramani, seen on the right,
performed several dances along with her students.

The Audience, in the Temple Mandapa, is consisting of Members of
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and Members and Devotees of Shri Karttikeya Ashram
from Rishikesh and different places of Tamil Nadu.

Kumari Somashekhari in another Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance. The dance students
from Chennai were watching eagerly Somashekhari's dance from behind.

From left to right : Shri Swami Rakeshananda Saraswati, President Karttikeya Ashram,
Rishikesh, Shri Swami Sundara Chaitanya, General Secretary Karttikeya Ashram, Rishikesh,
and Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.
Swami Vishveshwarananda praised Swami Rakeshananda and Swami Sundara Chaitanya for organizing such a beautiful and divine Function. He also thanked all the
Bharatanatyam Artists for their wonderful contribution to this event.

For her divine dance-performance Kumari Somashekhari received a gift.

Dr. Ramani and her students from Chennai, as well as Kumari Somashekhari from
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, had been honoured with Certificates, presented to them
by Shri Swami Rakeshananda for their participation in this great event.

Also in the next night, on 29th October 2018, different Bharatanatyam Dances
were presented by Dr. Ramani and her students.

The lovely students of Dr. Ramani, from Chennai,
perform different Bharatanatyam Dance-Dramas.

Local people from Rishikesh and also many devotees from Tamil Nadu are sitting
in the Mandapa of Shri Karttikeya Ashram and watching the performances.

Shri Sukumar read out the meaning of Kumari Somashekhari's dances.

Before starting her dance-performance, Guru-Bhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari
offered flowers to her Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati
and to Lord Shiva Nataraja.

Kumari Somashekhari depicts Lord Parashuram in one of her Temple-Dances.

Somashekhari touches the heart of the audience with her beautiful Devi-Dance.

Bharatanatyam Guru Dr. Ramani and her students from Chennai (on the left) are attentively watching the graceful Bharatanatyam Temple-Dance by Kumari Somashekhari.

This divine event in Karttikeya Ashram was concluded by the Bharatanatyam item
Mangalam, danced by the students and sang by their Guru Dr. Ramani herself.
Next to Dr. Ramani (on the left) is seen her husband, a renowned Professor from Chennai,
who very capably and dynamically anchored the whole programme with
his deep knowledge in Sanskrit, Tamil Literature, Indian Classical Music and Dance.

Shri Swami Rakeshananda (left) had honoured Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda,
Kumari Somashekhari, Shri Sukumarji and Dr. Ramani with beautiful Shawls.
Then Somashekhari was requested to address all in a few words in the Tamil Language.