Datta Retreat Center Birthday Celebrations 2001

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Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamij's Birthday May 26-28, 2001 - Datta Retreat Center
Saturday morning - VIOLIN CONCERT by MYSORE M.NAGRAJ and MYSORE M. MANJUNATH
brothers accompanied by SRIMUSHNAM RAJA RAO on mridangam.
Afternoon - Bhajans led by Canadian Devotees.
Evening - Sadguru Paduka Puja & Anagha Vratam.
Sunday Morning - Vendanta Lecture-1 by special guest speaker from India, Vishwanath Sharma
- Name that Bhajan contest
Afternoon - What is your Datta IQ
- Bhajan Singing Competition for kids
Evening - Vedanta Lecture-2 by Venkateshwara Pidimarri
Complete Details of the program
The Birthday celebration at Datta Retreat Center, honoring Sri Swamiji's 59th
Birthday, was quite a full and wonderful weekend. Many of you might like to
know how it all went, so we will give a detailed account here, especially for
anyone who may have missed the event.
Mysore musicians and entourage arrived late Friday night as well as several
other devotees who helped until the wee hours with final preparations. These
same devotees and others happily assumed important seva tasks to help with the
program throughout.
To begin the program in honor of our beloved Guruve, Paduka Puja was performed
by Venkateshwara Pidimarri and Ganapathi Homa was performed by Chandru
Chaganti. Then came the musical performance by the Mysore Brothers which was
really breathtaking. Everyone was feeling so happy and lucky to experience this
performance, which featured many of Sri Swamiji's bhajans and compositions in
honor of the occasion. They also played 'Happy Birthday' so we really felt as
though we were in Mysore Ashram. The added feature was that the rain which had
continued relentlessly through Friday, and predicted to continue throughout the
weekend, stayed away on Saturday and we had a sunny day for the whole of 26 May.
Considering that much of the available seating was outdoors, this was a very
sepecial Blessing.
After a delicious feast featuring South Indian fare prepared by Sree Catering,
the next program was a beautiful bhajan session performed by the Canadian
Musicians and Singers which was very rousing and inspiring. Most of them had
done a big marathon - travelling from early morning to arrive by 10 am,
performing the afternoon music session, then travelling back to Canada and
being there for their own main program on Sunday, with their usual enthusiam!
About 35 Canadians attended the programs here.
For the evening program we had the two main pujas - first the Guru Paduka puja
performed by Venkat and Satyam, followed by the Anagha Vratham performed by
Mani Chaganti from Mysore ashrama, with everyone present also participating,
and elaborated upon by Satyam. Then again there were bhajans in the prayer
hall, followed by dinner. The little shelter outside became the food service
area, which worked out very well. We also had a shamiana with chairs in front
of the temple, and one below the prayer hall - the musicians played by the
large open door, where Sri Swamiji performs His music.
Sunday morning started out with the Guru Paduka Puja, and then an inspiring
Vedanta discourse by special guest speaker from India, Vishwanath Sharma. This
was held in the Prayer hall, as were most of the programs that day. Then began
some games - there were several which continued on for half the day, and people
very enthusiatically participated with a great deal of fun - 'Name that Bhajan',
'What's your Datta IQ' and of course the Bhajan singing contest for the
youngsters. Another special feature was a scholarly recitation of chapter 11 of
the Bhagavad Gita, by Prabhava Upadrashta, which amazed everyone. He recently
won first prize in competition at Chinmaya Mission. Meanwhile the combination
National Board Meeting and DRC Advisors meeting was going on in the Guru
Nilayam living room. It was a more relaxed day, but still very full. In the
evening Venkat gave the Vedanta discourse, and he was a very captivating
speaker - obviously spoken very much from the heart. Later again were bhajans
in the prayer hall. Of course we had the usual meals on Sunday as well! In fact
the meals were all very delicious.
After Puja on Monday some devotees stayed to help clean up.
There were about 100 to 125 persons in attendance at any one time, 40 to 50
staying on the Center itself.
Reportedly all had a very inspiring and devotional experience as well as a lot
of fun. As usual, always good when the Datta Family has a chance to spend some
time together to focus on our Beloved Sri Swamiji.