Preliminary Announcement - VMS Retreat, Laurel Hill State Park & Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshwara Temple, Pittsburgh, Memorial Day Weekend

[Guest guest]

Dear Devotees Sri Hari,

 

By the grace of our Sri Hari, Vayu, Gurugalu, the annual Vishwa Madhva Sangha

(VMS) spiritual retreat will be held in the Organized Group Camp-5 in Laurel

Hill State Park in Pennsylvania during the Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-31).

This is the first time this annual retreat is being organized in this

Pennsylvania Parks facility.

 

On 30 May (Sunday) morning, we will participate in the Mettilotsava in Sri

Venkateshwara Temple in Pittsburgh. This is the 3rd year in a row, VMS is

participating in this function in this temple. Mettilotsava (mettlu = steps) is

walking in the company of sajjanaru from the foothills, singing various dasara

devaranaamagalu, reaching the top of the holy hills thru the steps, and having

the divya darshana of our Lord Srinivasa in the temple.

 

Since 30 May is ekadashi, it is especially auspicious to be in the midst of

sajjanaru, participate in Mettilotsava and have the darshana of Sri Srinivasa,

and spend the entire day in the contemplation of our Lord.

 

It is likely that His Holiness Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji and group from

Udupi may participate in the retreat as well as the Mettilotsava function. This

may be confirmed in May.

 

It is also likely that Sri Vidyabhushana and his music group from India may also

participate and provide a devaranaama concert in our retreat. This may be

confirmed in April or May.

 

Our retreat will consist of daily devarapooje, theerthaprasadas (lunch, dinner),

philosophical lectures by learned scholars, devaranaama sessions, childrens'

programs, camp activities etc. As in the previous years, VMS families from

Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Maryland, Washington D. C.,

Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, California, Texas, Illinois etc are expected to

participate. Our much acclaimed and talented group from Michigan is planning to

present a new play this year as well.

 

Laurel Hill State Park is located 50 miles south east of Sri Venkateshwara

Temple in Pittsburgh with easy access from Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate

76). The camp facility for our exclusive use consists of large kitchen, dining

hall, activities center, recreation hall, cabins for stay and sleeping, bath

rooms with hot water, toilets, storage buildings, basketball court etc. This

site is located in beautiful scenic surroundings, ideal for our spiritual

gathering. More details on this Park are available at

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/laurelhill.aspx

 

Expected cost per family (2 adults, 2 kids) may be $50-100 covering all the

lodging, boarding (food), concert, all camp activities etc. As in the previous

years, we will announce our expenses in the retreat and seek your donations to

our VMS for covering the retreat costs. Your such contributions to our VMS are

US federal tax exempt.

 

We will provide periodic updates and more information on the camp facility, what

items you need to bring with you etc as we develop our program. Arrival and

departure can be at any time between 2 pm on 28 May and 12 noon on 31 May. If

you are planning to arrive by flight and then take ride to Laurel Hill State

Park, please consider arriving in Newark or Philadelphia airport since we may

not be able to arrange ride for you from Pittsburgh airport since we do not have

many volunteers in Pittsburgh area. All food served for breakfast, lunch,

afternoon snacks, dinner etc will be freshly cooked in the kitchen. Naivedya for

our Lord in the daily devarapooje and theerthaprasadas for all will be cooked in

madi.

 

Tentatively, the program is as follows.

 

28 May (Friday)

 

Arrive and settle down after 2 pm. Set up the display for books, cassetts, MP3

discs for devotees to review and place orders. Bring your own food or have

dinner prior to arrival. No cooking is planned for this day in the camp. May be

fruites and milk will be provided for the night, if necessary.

 

29 May (Saturday)

 

Morning devarapooje. Breakfast. Camp activities (hiking, swimming in the lake,

organized sports, cricket etc), Lunch, Lectures, Childrens programs all thry the

day, afternoon snacks, play by Detroit group, evening devaranaama session,

evening thotilu pooje, dinner.

 

30 May (Sunday, Ekadashi)

 

Early morning nirmaalya pooje and nirmaalya theertha by 6:30 am, depart for

Mettilotsava by 7 am, Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshwara Temple during 8:30-10:30

am, return to retreat site and then devarapooje, simultaneous Sudharshana Homa,

and then mudra dhaarana to all by Swamiji by 3 pm, light palahaara to those not

able to fast, lectures, devaranaama concert by Sri Vidyabhushana and group,

childrens program, evening devarapooje, Harivaana seva, light palahaara to those

not fasting. Possibly all night devaranaama jaagarene till 3 am.

 

31 May (Monday, Dwadashi)

 

Early morning devarapooje, theerthaprasada (paarane) by 7 am. Rest, clean-up and

check-out by 12 noon.

 

We anticipate a strong turn out and participation this year. In order to comply

with the regulations of the Pennsylvania State Parks, we need to monitor and

keep the total head-count within the allowed limit and hence your earliest

communication to us informing your intent to participate with details of name,

address, adult or child, total in your group is strongly advised to avoid any

disappointments later. Please also indicate whether your participation is

confirmed or tentative. As per the regulations, we are also advised to inform

all the participants upfront that VMS does not carry liability insurance and

hence is not responsible for any liabilities of any kind, and that participants

should take care of such matters through their own means for any eventualities.

 

Srinivasa neene paaliso sruthajanapaala gaanalola Sri Mukundane

 

Namaskaragalu

 

Bindu

Vishwa Madhva Sangha

Tel 610-966-9299 (home), 610-481-2557 (office)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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