BADARIKASHRAMA CELEBRATES 29 YEARS

Founded by Swami Omkaranandaji, Badarikashrama is a spiritual and cultural center that hosts daily worship, Sunday services and special events promoting Vedic culture and spiritual values. It provides a peaceful atmosphere to worship and ensures sanctity to visitors through many religious, cultural and educational programs. Badarikashrama was originally dedicated on Mother’s Day in May of 1984, and every year since the ashrama celebrates its anniversary with cultural programs and a group worship of Sri Satyanarayana Swami.

This year’s celebrations spanned two days of cultural and spiritual programs. On Saturday, June 8th, 2013, the festivities began with a presentation by students from the ashrama’s children’s school, Balasamskara Kendra. The students performed a play explaining what they had learnt at Badarikashrama. A Karnatik instrumental concert led by Susheela Narasimhan followed this.

The afternoon started with an Odissi dance performance by the Nataraj School of Dance’s Artistic Director, Sima Chakravorty. It was followed by Aarti and Mahaprasad.

Rita Sahai and her senior students performed Hindustani music, accompanied by Pradosh Sarkar on tabla.

The afternoon continued with a panel discussion on “Atmano Mokshartham Jagadhitayaca” –one’s own salvation and the service of humanity. Panelists included Swami Tattwamayanandaji from the San Francisco Vedanta Society, Swami Prasannatmanandaji from the Vedanta Society in Berkeley, Suman Shah, math professor at Laney College and Sargam Shah, former English professor at UC Berkeley. The two Vedanta Society sanyasas have both made exceptional marks on the community.

The day closed with a sitar concert by visiting artist, Susmita Banerjee, on sitar, accompanied by Jerry Baar on tabla. She plays in the style of Maiihar gharana.

Sunday, June 9, 2013, began with Hindustani bhajans sung by Rita Sahai and her students. She began the Samuhika 108 Sri Satyanarayana Swami Puja and Katha—a tradition that has lasted 25 years. The puja is performed anually as part of the ashrama’s annual celebrations for the health, peace, spiritual and mental welfare of all its constituents.