Report on Dolothsavam Celebrations of Sri Venugopala Perumal in Greater Boston Area held on Feb 26th/27th 2005

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Sri:

Srimathe Rangaramanuja Mahadesikaya Namaha:

Srimathe Srinivasa Ramanuja Mahadesikaya namaha:

Srimathe Vedantha Ramanuja Mahadesikaya namaha:

Srimathe Nigamantha Mahadesikaya Namaha

Srimathe Bhagavathe Bhashyakaraya Mahadesikaya Namaha

Sri Rukmini Sathyabhama Sametha Sri Venugopala Parabrahmane Namaha:

Dear bhagavathas,

Here's a brief writeup on the grand dolothsavam celebrations that took place in Greater Boston area during the weekend of Feb 26th -27th 2005. Six families hosted Sri Rukmini Sathyabhama Sametha Sri Venugopala Perumal. The events were celebrated under the auspices of Sri Ramanuja Mission of Srirangam Srimath Andavan Ashramam. These events were organized in coordination with Sri Sunder Kidambi of Boston.

Feb 26th 2005

Perumal left for Boston on Saturday morning as early as 4:30 AM from New Jersey and reached Boston about 9 AM. The first stopover was at Sri Sunder and Smt. Rama Kidambi's house. Sri Venugopalaswamy was welcomed home with purnakumbham maryaadai and singing. After the reception, Bhagavadaaraadhanam of resident Perumal was performed by Sri Sunder followed by the Salagrama (from NJ) aradhanam and Paduka aradhanam for the padukas of all the 11 Acharyas of Srirangam Srimath Andavan Periasramam. During the sevakalam recitations, 100 pasurams of Periazhwar Thirumozhi was recited. Gopala Vimsati led by Sri Sunder was also recited very beautifully in a musical tone. There were a lots of bhagavathas who participated and got the blessings of Sri Venugopala Perumal and His divine

consorts.

Stotras were recited by Mukund Kidambi, Sriram Kidambi, Shilpa Narayanan,Pavithra Devarajan, Nirmal Devarajan,Anirudh Rangaswamy, Rupa Ravi, Neela Kaushik, Srinidhi Kaushik, Vikram Krishnamachari,Sruthi Krishnamachari. The stotras recited by these children were Krishnaastakam, Achuthaastakam, Hariastakam, Panchaayudha stotram, Hayagreeva sampaada stotram, Sri venkateshwara Mangalaashaasanam, Sudharshaanastakam, Sudharshana shatgam followed by Satthumurai.

There was also a dance by Rupa Ravi. This was the very first time that a dance was performed in front of Dolai Sri Venugopala Perumal since Prana Pratishtapana took place. Songs were sung by Pavithra Devarajan, Rupa Ravi, Neela Kaushik and Pavithra Chari.Also Savitha Keshavan , Sunder Kidambi rendered songs praising the glory of perumal.Delicious Prasadam (lunch) was preparedby Rama Kidambi, Vasundhara Ramarajan and Savitha Kadambi. The whole program lasted about 4 to 4.5 hours.

Perumal then proceeded to Smt. Vaidehi and Sri Raja Krishnaswamy's residence where He was welcomed with traditional Purna Kumbham maryaadhai. Recitation of Periazhwar thirumozhi continued where another 100 pasurams were recited. Sri Raja Krishnaswamy rendered beautiful songs on Perumal. Prasadam prepared by Sri Raja's family was offered to Perumal followed by Satthumurai.

Perumal then proceeded for an evening of Dolai to Sri.Sumanth and Smt. Bhuvana Kaushik's residence. Recitation of Periazhwar thirumozhi continued where another 100 pasurams were recited.

Shilpa Narayanan,Pavithra Devarajan,Rupa Ravi, Neela Kaushik, Srinidhi Kaushik, Pavithra Chari, all aged between 7 and 10 sang songs on Sri Venugopalaswamy. There was also a bhajan by Sri Narayanan and Smt. Nandini Srikanth. This was followed by kirtans by Savitha Keshavan, Sumeetha Krishnamachari,Sangiita and Sunder Kidambi.Bhuvana Kaushik and Padma Chari provided wonderful prasadam (dinner).

Feb 27th 2005

On the next day morning, Salagraama Perumal aaradhanam and Paduka aaradhanam was performed at Smt. Ramani and Sri Vasudevan's residence. Another 60 pasurams of Periazhwar Thirumozhi were recited.

During Tirumanjana, Srinivasan and Kaushik (children of Ramani and Vasudevan, aged 13 and 12, respectively) recited the entire pancha suuktam, narayanopanishad, pancha shanti and mantra pushpam. Songs by Smt. Geeta Murali's disciples brought out wonderful talents in them. Smt. Geeta too sang a very soul stirring song towards the end of the program. Excellent Prasadam (breakfast) was provided by Smt. Ramani Vasudevan and their friends.

Perumal then proceeded to Smt. Shalini and Sri. Muralidhar Rangaswamy's residence to witness a grand dolothsavam performed for him: Perumal was welcomed with a traditional Poorna kumbaham and to the singing of "Varuvai varuvai kanna.." by Lakshmi and PavithraDevarajan along with a wonderful ghanam by Sri Muralidhar Rangaswamy.

Slokams were recited by Mukund Kidambi, Sriram Kidambi, Shilpa Narayanan,Pavithra Devarajan, Nirmal Devarajan,Anirudh Rangaswamy, Rupa Ravi, Neela Kaushik, Srinidhi Kaushik, Vikram Krishnamachari,Sruthi Krishnamachari. Songs were sung by Anirudh Rangaswamy, Varun Shankhavaram, Shilpa Narayanan, Mukund Kidambi,Neela Kaushik, Pavithra Devarajan and Rupa ravi. There was a dance performance by Rupa Ravi.

Adult singing included Hema Ramesh, Usha and Shalini Rangaswamy. While the aarati was performed, mangalam was sung by Sunder Kidambi. Wonderful prasadam (lunch) was provided by Shalini Rangaswamy, Lakshmi Devarajan and Vasundhara Ramarajan.

The eventful and memorable trip concluded with a dolothsavam celebrations arranged at Smt. Padma and Sri Kannabiran's residence:

The sponsors of this Dolai are: Smt. Padma Kannabiran and Sri R. Kannabiran,Smt. Vasundhara Ramarajan and Sri. Ramarajan and Smt. Sridevi Sureshbabu and Sri. Sureshbabu.

Singing was performed by Vishnu Kannabiran, Hema Ramesh, Savita Kadambi, Neela Kaushik and Violin was rendered by Dhivya Kannabiran. The event concluded with a grand sathumurai where recitation of Periazhwar thirumozhi concluded with pasurams from Senniyongu. Wonderful prasadam was provided by Smt. Padma Kannabiran and Smt. Vasundara Ramarajan. Abundant pictures were taken to capture most activities, our thanks to Sri Narayanan and his family.

In the entire trip, amidst all the other things adiyen enjoyed, the foremost thing that still lingers in adiyen's mind is the active participation of young children aged between 5 -15 years old, be it recitation of slokams, sookthams,chanting of veda, Sathumurai, rendering of music, bharatanatyam performance. It was truly a divine and a blissful experience for all the fortunate people who witnessed the celebrations.

Srimath Andavan Thiruvadi,

Venkat Sreenivasan

 

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