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.