Omkarananda Jayanti Celebrations,
on 25th December 2024

It is the tradition in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas to commence the Omkarananda Jayanti Celebrations with the recitation of the beautiful Sundarkand. In the morning of 25th December 2024 the Sundarkand recitations took place in the Headquarters of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, in front of the Omkarananda-Hanuman Mandir.

All are enjoying the melodious and rhythmic Recitations of Sundarkand.

Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, performs Arati for Lord Omkarananda-Hanuman.

Here one can see Arati by Shri Swami Satchidananda Saraswati, Treasurer, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.

To the happy surprise of all, the cute, almost 2-year-old boy Narayana, enthusiastically welcomes Kumari Soma­shekhari, when she arrived at the Auditorium for the cultural program in Honour of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati. Narayana's lovely Mother stands smilingly behind him.

Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda is in the Auditorium, waiting for the program to start.

Shri Swami Satchidananda and his assistant Shri Surendra, are making sure, that the professional sound system in the Auditorium works with full perfection.

The Master of Ceremonies, Shri Swami Paramananda Ji, welcomes all for the cultural part of the Omkarananda Jayanti Celebrations.

Lighting of Deepas at the Altar of Gurudev by H.H. Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati (left) and Shri Venu Gopal Sharma (right).

Nicely dressed Vedic Students of the Gurukul Omkarananda Gayatri Ved Vidyalaya are reciting Vedic Hymns in the beautiful Shukla Yajurveda Style for the welfare, happiness and good health of each and everybody.

Shri Madhav Ananda Ji rewarded the Vedic Students with gifts and Dakshina.

Guru-Bhakti-Ratna Kumari Somashekhari performs a powerful Bharatanatyam Temple-dance, a Pushpanjali with Ganesha Vandana, in Honour of her adorable Sadgurudev His Divinity Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.

Kumari Somashekhari puts flowers into the hands of her youngest dance student, Kumari Arohi, and encourages her for her upcoming performance.

Kumari Arohi in a lovely Devi Dance.

Shrimati Vandana Vaid congratulated Arohi and rewarded her with a gift, Dakshina and a beautiful flower bouquet.

The popular folk-singer, Shri Ramesh Uniyal, presented a wonderful song in praise of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati and His works.

Dr. Praveen Kumar Rathi, Director, Omkarananda Institute of Management & Technology (OIMT), honoured Shri Ramesh Uniyal for his beautiful song.

After offering flowers to her adorable Sadgurudev, Kumari Somashekhari performed another Bharatanatyam Temple- Dance, dedicated to Divine Mother Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi.

Shri I.D. Joshi, a very great Senior Educationist from Rishikesh and President of Omkarananda Saraswati Nilayam (OSN) Management Committee, held a very heart touching speech, in which he expressed again and again his great admiration for His Divinity Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati and His immense contribution to Education, true Spirituality and divine Culture in the Garhwal Himalayas. Shri I.D. Joshi Ji also expressed his deep reverence for Swami Omkarananda's Successor, H. H. Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, whose great and selfless works for the Mission of his Gurudev have been constantly witnessed by Shri I.D. Joshi Ji since the last more than 40 years.
Shri I.D. Joshi Ji emphasized again and again in his speech, that he has never ever heard in all these years, that Swami Vishveshwarananda has taken any credit for the great works for Swami Omkarananda's divine Mission. Though Swami Vishveshwarananda is working extremely hard and in a completely selfless manner, he exclusively gives the credit of all extraordinary works and accomplishments to His beloved Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati. Joshi Ji said, that to meet such a rare, humble and selfless Saint like Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda, is a great Blessing and all should try to learn from him and follow his footsteps.

Towards the conclusion of his wonderful speech Shri I.D. Joshi announced, that honourable prominent Senior Citizens of Rishikesh would like to honour Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda for his enormous, selfless works in the field of Education, Culture and Spirituality, which benefit countless students and devotees in India and all over the world. With great love the Senior Citizens honoured Swami Ji with a shawl and several flower bouquets.

On this auspicious day of Omkarananda Jayanti, prominent Senior Citizens of Rishikesh, full of love and affection, presented a surprise gift to Swami Vishveshwarananda, the "AWARD OF EXCELLENCE", along with a beautiful Citation, praising Swami Ji and his works. Among many positive attributes, mentioned for Swami Ji in the Citation, they called him the "Pride of Uttarakhand".

Shri Swami Satchidananda Saraswati, Treasurer, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas (left) and Kumari Somashekhari, General Secretary, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas, and Indian Classical Dancer and Singer, also had been called on the stage and were honoured by the Senior Citizens of Rishikesh with beautiful shawls. Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Ji deeply thanked Shri I. D. Joshi Ji and all the great and loving Senior Citizens from Rishikesh, for their unforgettable, heart touching gesture and words.

Shri I.D. Joshi ji was honoured with a shawl, a gift and a flower bouquet by Dr. Anupam Vaid, an important Trustee of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas.

In Honour of her Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati Kumari Somashekhari performed a third devotional dance.

Here one can see Kumari Somashekhari in the pose of Divine Mother Mahishasuramardini, who conquered the mighty Demon Mahishasura.

Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati (right) thanked and honoured Shri Venu Gopal Sharma, Chief-Priest of Pancha Mukha Sivan Temple, Chennai, for his speech.

The charismatic, divine Speaker and great Karma Yogi, H.H. Mahant Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Saraswati, President, Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas and appointed Successor of Sadgurudev His Divinity Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati, inspired all with his lively, divine speech.

The content of Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Ji's speech was deeply spiritual and at the same time also very practical. Therefore the audience reacted several times with spontaneous applause.

Shri Madhav Ananda Ji honoured Shri Swami Vishveshwarananda Ji with a shawl after his wonderful speech.

The Master of Ceremonies, Shri Swami Paramananda Ji, happily received a shawl from Shri Swami Satchidananda Ji.

The Omkarananda Jayanti Celebrations were concluded with the Omkarananda Arati, sang by Omkarananda Ashram Priests and performed by Chief-Priest Shri Suresh Joshi.

The audience stood up for the Arati.

Pushpanjali for Sadgurudev Shri Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati.