VMS Retreat, Mettilotsava in Pittsburgh - Final Program

[Guest guest]

Dear Hari Bhaktas,

 

By the grace of Sri Hari, Vayu, Gurugalu, the Vishwa Madhwa Sangha (VMS) Annual

Retreat will take place in Laurel Hill State Park in Pennsylvania during 28-31

May (Memorial Day Weekend). Attendees in this gathering will also participate in

the Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshwara Temple in Pittsburgh on 30 May (Sunday).

 

His Holiness Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji, Puthige Matha, Udupi sends his

blessings to all participants in the VMS Retreat and Mettilotsava.

 

The VMS Retreat is all inclusive, accommodation in the cabins, devarapooje,

devaranaama sessions, theertha prasadas, lectures, childrens and youth sessions,

sathsangha with sajjanaru, all set in the beautiful serene surroundings in one

of the most beautiful state parks in the state of Pennsylvania. Playing games,

hiking in the trails, swimming in the lake etc are also planned.

 

For information on Laurel Hill State Park and driving directions, please visit

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

 

Group Camp-5 in Laurel Hill State Park is exlusively for the VMS Retreat.

 

28 May, Friday: Camp opens for occupation about 3 pm. No cooking is planned.

 

29 May, Saturday: Early morning devara pooje, break-fast/coffee from 7 am,

theertha prasada around noon. Play, hike, swim, relax.

 

4:00 pm - Coffee / tea / tiffin

4:30 pm - Invocation with Veda gosha, daasa vaani, VMS chapters report out

5:00 pm - Kids session - individual & group participation (song, dance,

story, sthothra recitation etc...)

6:00 pm - Play on Sri Vadirajaru by the Detroit group

7:30 pm - Evening mangalarathy

8:00 pm - Dinner

9:00 pm - Camp fire

 

30 May, Sunday, (ekadashi):

 

04:30 am - Nirmaalya pooja, nirmaalya theertha

06:00 am - Assemble to depart for Sri Venkateshwara Temple (your own

transportation)

08:00 am - Assemble at foot hill for Mettilotsava, group recitation of Vayus

sthuti, Venkatesha sthothra,

08:30 am - Mettilotsava starts

10:30 am - Reach sannidhaana of Sri Srinivasa

11:00 am - Metilotsava ends and depart for camp

(non-fasting devotees: help yourself at the temple canteen, light cooked

food/palahara will also be available in Group Camp-5 in Laurel Hill State Park

for non-fasting devotees)

At Camp:

12:30 pm - Ekaadasi pooja by Sri Yogendra Bhat from Puthige Matha, New Jersey

02:00 pm - Mangalaarathy & theertha

03:00 pm - Pravachana / lecture session begins

Sri G.R. Raghunatharao (guest from India) on Haridasa's contributions

Sri Kesavarao Tadipatri on " Significance behind Sitaparityaga by Sri Rama "

Sri Hunsur Sriprasad on " Sanjivana giridhara paahimaam "

Sri Jayakrishna Nelemangala on " Concept of Independence (of Lord) "

Sri Yogendra Bhat (topic to be announced)

05:00 pm - Youth panel discussion, question & answers session, Discussion on VMS

related matters

Break

07:00 pm - Taratamya devaranaama bhajana

10:00 pm - Harivana seva and mangalam

 

31 May, Monday:

 

04:30 am - Dwaadasi pooja begins

06:30 am - Maha mangalaarathy

07:00 am - Hastodaka offering to Sri Jayatheertharu, Sri Rayaru & theertha

07:30 am - Dwaadasi Paarane theertha prasada

Clean-up, rest and depart by noon.

 

Please contact me if any additional information is needed.

 

Ranga niina kondaduva mangalathmara sangha sukava ittu kaayo karunasagara

 

Namaskaragalu

 

Bindu

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

 

>

> Madhavan,G V. Bindu

> Tuesday, May 04, 2004 10:22 AM

> To:

> VMS Retreat, Mettilotsava in Pittsburgh - Update-3

>

> Dear Hari Bhaktas,

>

> All preparations and planning are in good progress for our VMS annual retreat

in Laurel Hill State Park and Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshwara Temple in

Pittsburgh during 28-31 May (Memorial Day) weekend. This update provides

information on items to be brought with you for stay in the Laurel Hill State

Park.>

>

> The cabins have cots but no mattresses or no beddings or no linens. The cots

are of two types, one with springs and the other with flat surface with no

springs. The cots of these two types are evenly distributed in all the cabins in

our site. We are adviced by the camp officials that flattened card board boxes

are needed to put on top of the springs in the cots to provide an even surface

upon which sleeping bags or comforters can be spread for sleeping. Without this

flat surface, the cots with the springs can not be used for sleeping. Hence,

please bring with you sufficient flat card-boards to cover typical cot area of

about 7 feet by 3 feet. Even if the card-boards are of small size, they can be

tapped together in the cabin to cover the top surface of the cot. Hence, please

bring the tapes too.

>

> Every day, card-board boxes are disposed by grocery stores etc in your towns

and it should be easy to collect enough card board boxes and bring with you the

flat card-board sheets needed for the cots with springs. You need to bring your

own beddings, pillows, linens, towels etc.

>

> Please note that the cabins, and none of the buildings have space heating or

ceiling fans. Please bring with you electrical space heaters or portable

elecreical fans if you need them. All the cabins and the buildings have

electricity with numerous electrical out-lets. Weather forecasts at the camp are

available in the internet home-site for this state park, please uprise yourself

of the weather conditions and accordingly bring cloths for warm and cold periods

through out your stay.

>

> Hot water is available in the bath rooms for showers and we plan to make

additional hot water in big vessals using gas stoves to speed-up completing the

bathing process. Especially on Sunday, we have to leave our camp site at 6:45 am

for 1.5 hour drive to Sri Venkateshwara Temple to promptly start the

Mettilotsava at 8:30 am at the bottom of the hill. Hence, it is likely that all

the 8 bath showers in our site will be allotted to ladies and girls only in our

group, and all gents and boys need to either utilize near-by public facilities

within the park or just take shower out in the open with hot water we will be

providing in buckets (true Indian style!!) early in the morning. We are buying

sufficient buckets and mugs for this purpose.

>

> While there are sufficient electrical lamps inside the buildings, there may

not be enough lights in the out side areas and it may be dark after Sun-set.

Please bring flash lights with you for moving around the site for your selves

and your children. Please also bring with you any first-aid items you or your

children may need, including medicines for bug bites etc. Nearby pharmacies and

hospitals are in Sommerset.

>

> There is plenty of cold storage facility in the kitchen and a refrigerator in

one of the cabins if any of your medicines or items require refrigeration.

>

> Grocery stores are available within easy drive from our camp site, one or two

even within the park itself.

>

> For hotels/motels nearby, the town of Sommerset is away by about 10 miles.

>

> This is the first time we are organizing our gathering in a natural setting in

a camping area and hence we ourselves are in a learning mode. Hence, please use

your own commonsense and judgement to prepare yourselves and your families for

having a good, safe and fun times together with all of us.

>

> We will provide updates regularly as we move closer to our gathering. Your

cooperation is utmost needed in letting us know your approximate arrival

date/time to plan for food etc and for providing the head-count to the park

officials. It is mandatory for us to provide the list of the names and addresses

of all participants to the park office on the first day of our camp which is 28

May. Hence, please let me know your name, how many adults and children,

addresses and tel nos, expected date and time of arrival. Please provide age of

children which will help organizing childrens activities. >

>

> Namaskaragalu

>

> Bindu

>

>

>

>

>

>

 

+

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

Our gathering in Laurel Hill State Park takes place in Group Camp 5. From the

main entrance of the Park, continue in the main road for about 3-5 miles until

the T junction, then turn right and Group Camp 5 is in the right within 100-200

yards.

 

Direction to the main entrance of the park from I-78 is given below:

From I-76 Exit 110 (Somerset), drive west on PA 31 from Somerset for eight

miles, turn left onto Trent Road and follow the directional signs to Laurel Hill

State Park. The park may also be reached from I-76 Exit 91 (Donegal) by turning

left on PA 31 east and traveling 14 miles. Follow the directional signs to the

right turn onto Trent Road then follow directional signs to the park.

According to the weather forecast in the Park, the high will be in upper 60 to

low 70 in the day time and the night temperature will be in the 40s. Please come

prepared with proper clothing for the given temperature range.

Namaskaragalu

Bindu

>

> Madhavan,G V. Bindu

> Wednesday, May 26, 2004 7:02 PM

> To:

> VMS Retreat, Mettilotsava in Pittsburgh - Final Program

>

> Dear Hari Bhaktas,

>

> By the grace of Sri Hari, Vayu, Gurugalu, the Vishwa Madhwa Sangha (VMS)

Annual Retreat will take place in Laurel Hill State Park in Pennsylvania during

28-31 May (Memorial Day Weekend). Attendees in this gathering will also

participate in the Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshwara Temple in Pittsburgh on 30

May (Sunday).

>

> His Holiness Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji, Puthige Matha, Udupi sends his

blessings to all participants in the VMS Retreat and Mettilotsava.

>

> The VMS Retreat is all inclusive, accommodation in the cabins, devarapooje,

devaranaama sessions, theertha prasadas, lectures, childrens and youth sessions,

sathsangha with sajjanaru, all set in the beautiful serene surroundings in one

of the most beautiful state parks in the state of Pennsylvania. Playing games,

hiking in the trails, swimming in the lake etc are also planned.

>

> For information on Laurel Hill State Park and driving directions, please visit

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

>

> Group Camp-5 in Laurel Hill State Park is exlusively for the VMS Retreat.

>

> 28 May, Friday: Camp opens for occupation about 3 pm. No cooking is planned.

>

> 29 May, Saturday: Early morning devara pooje, break-fast/coffee from 7 am,

> theertha prasada around noon. Play, hike, swim, relax.

>

> 4:00 pm - Coffee / tea / tiffin

> 4:30 pm - Invocation with Veda gosha, daasa vaani, VMS chapters report out

> 5:00 pm - Kids session - individual & group participation (song, dance,

> story, sthothra recitation etc...)

> 6:00 pm - Play on Sri Vadirajaru by the Detroit group

> 7:30 pm - Evening mangalarathy

> 8:00 pm - Dinner

> 9:00 pm - Camp fire

>

> 30 May, Sunday, (ekadashi):

>

> 04:30 am - Nirmaalya pooja, nirmaalya theertha

> 06:00 am - Assemble to depart for Sri Venkateshwara Temple (your own

transportation)

> 08:00 am - Assemble at foot hill for Mettilotsava, group recitation of Vayus

> sthuti, Venkatesha sthothra,

> 08:30 am - Mettilotsava starts

> 10:30 am - Reach sannidhaana of Sri Srinivasa

> 11:00 am - Metilotsava ends and depart for camp

> (non-fasting devotees: help yourself at the temple canteen, light cooked

food/palahara will also be available in Group Camp-5 in Laurel Hill State Park

for non-fasting devotees)

> At Camp:

> 12:30 pm - Ekaadasi pooja by Sri Yogendra Bhat from Puthige Matha, New Jersey

> 02:00 pm - Mangalaarathy & theertha

> 03:00 pm - Pravachana / lecture session begins

> Sri G.R. Raghunatharao (guest from India) on Haridasa's contributions

> Sri Kesavarao Tadipatri on " Significance behind Sitaparityaga by Sri Rama "

> Sri Hunsur Sriprasad on " Sanjivana giridhara paahimaam "

> Sri Jayakrishna Nelemangala on " Concept of Independence (of Lord) "

> Sri Yogendra Bhat (topic to be announced)>

> 05:00 pm - Youth panel discussion, question & answers session, Discussion on

VMS related matters

> Break

> 07:00 pm - Taratamya devaranaama bhajana

> 10:00 pm - Harivana seva and mangalam

>

> 31 May, Monday:

>

> 04:30 am - Dwaadasi pooja begins

> 06:30 am - Maha mangalaarathy

> 07:00 am - Hastodaka offering to Sri Jayatheertharu, Sri Rayaru & theertha

> 07:30 am - Dwaadasi Paarane theertha prasada

> Clean-up, rest and depart by noon.

>

> Please contact me if any additional information is needed.

>

> Ranga niina kondaduva mangalathmara sangha sukava ittu kaayo karunasagara

>

> Namaskaragalu

>

> Bindu

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

>

>

> Madhavan,G V. Bindu

> Tuesday, May 04, 2004 10:22 AM

> To:

> VMS Retreat, Mettilotsava in Pittsburgh - Update-3

>

> Dear Hari Bhaktas,

>

> All preparations and planning are in good progress for our VMS annual retreat

in Laurel Hill State Park and Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshwara Temple in

Pittsburgh during 28-31 May (Memorial Day) weekend. This update provides

information on items to be brought with you for stay in the Laurel Hill State

Park.

>

> The cabins have cots but no mattresses or no beddings or no linens. The cots

are of two types, one with springs and the other with flat surface with no

springs. The cots of these two types are evenly distributed in all the cabins in

our site. We are adviced by the camp officials that flattened card board boxes

are needed to put on top of the springs in the cots to provide an even surface

upon which sleeping bags or comforters can be spread for sleeping. Without this

flat surface, the cots with the springs can not be used for sleeping. Hence,

please bring with you sufficient flat card-boards to cover typical cot area of

about 7 feet by 3 feet. Even if the card-boards are of small size, they can be

tapped together in the cabin to cover the top surface of the cot. Hence, please

bring the tapes too.

>

> Every day, card-board boxes are disposed by grocery stores etc in your towns

and it should be easy to collect enough card board boxes and bring with you the

flat card-board sheets needed for the cots with springs. You need to bring your

own beddings, pillows, linens, towels etc.

>

> Please note that the cabins, and none of the buildings have space heating or

ceiling fans. Please bring with you electrical space heaters or portable

elecreical fans if you need them. All the cabins and the buildings have

electricity with numerous electrical out-lets. Weather forecasts at the camp are

available in the internet home-site for this state park, please uprise yourself

of the weather conditions and accordingly bring cloths for warm and cold periods

through out your stay.

>

> Hot water is available in the bath rooms for showers and we plan to make

additional hot water in big vessals using gas stoves to speed-up completing the

bathing process. Especially on Sunday, we have to leave our camp site at 6:45 am

for 1.5 hour drive to Sri Venkateshwara Temple to promptly start the

Mettilotsava at 8:30 am at the bottom of the hill. Hence, it is likely that all

the 8 bath showers in our site will be allotted to ladies and girls only in our

group, and all gents and boys need to either utilize near-by public facilities

within the park or just take shower out in the open with hot water we will be

providing in buckets (true Indian style!!) early in the morning. We are buying

sufficient buckets and mugs for this purpose.

>

> While there are sufficient electrical lamps inside the buildings, there may

not be enough lights in the out side areas and it may be dark after Sun-set.

Please bring flash lights with you for moving around the site for your selves

and your children. Please also bring with you any first-aid items you or your

children may need, including medicines for bug bites etc. Nearby pharmacies and

hospitals are in Sommerset.>

>

> There is plenty of cold storage facility in the kitchen and a refrigerator in

one of the cabins if any of your medicines or items require refrigeration.

>

> Grocery stores are available within easy drive from our camp site, one or two

even within the park itself.

>

> For hotels/motels nearby, the town of Sommerset is away by about 10 miles.

>

> This is the first time we are organizing our gathering in a natural setting in

a camping area and hence we ourselves are in a learning mode. Hence, please use

your own commonsense and judgement to prepare yourselves and your families for

having a good, safe and fun times together with all of us.

>

> We will provide updates regularly as we move closer to our gathering. Your

cooperation is utmost needed in letting us know your approximate arrival

date/time to plan for food etc and for providing the head-count to the park

officials. It is mandatory for us to provide the list of the names and addresses

of all participants to the park office on the first day of our camp which is 28

May. Hence, please let me know your name, how many adults and children,

addresses and tel nos, expected date and time of arrival. Please provide age of

children which will help organizing childrens activities.

>

> Namaskaragalu

>

> Bindu

>

>

>

>

>

>

 

+