Mettilotsava & VMS Annual Retreat, Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-28, 2007

[Guest guest]

Dear Hari Bhaktas,

 

By the grace of Sri Hari, Vayu, gurugalu, Mettilotsava in Sri Venkateshwara Temple, Penn Hills, near Pittsburgh, and the Vishwa Madhva Sangha (VMS) Annual Retreat in Laurel Hill State Park, will take place during the Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28. This is the 6th year we will be gathering for these functions. All are welcome. Quite a good gathering from India, Singapore, California, State of Washington (Seattle), Texas, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Washington DC, Virginia, North Carolina etc is expected this year. Useful information is provided in the web-site http://jitamitra.org/mett2007/

Sat May 26

 

1:00 pm, Arrival, settling down, coffee, snacks, games etc, Youth program starts

2:00 - 4:00 pm, Childrens program

4:00 - 4:30 pm, Youth presents objectives and plan for what they intend to achieve in the Retreat

4:30 pm, Coffee, snacks

5:00-7:30 pm, Sri Srinivasa Kalyana, by Haridaasa devaranaama bhajane paddati

8:00 pm, Dinner

9:00 pm, Camp-fire activities

 

Sun May 27 (Ekadashi)

 

5:30-6:30 am, Nirmaalya devarapooje, Nirmaalya theertha

7:00 am, Depart for Sri Venkateshwara Temple

8:00 am, Gather in the foot-hills, stothra paarayana by the group

8:30 am, Mettilotsava starts

10:00 am, Mettilotsava concludes in the sanctum sanctorum in front of Sri Venkateshwara in the top of the hill

10:30-11:00 am, Group participation in the Lord Srinivasa's procession (Sesha Vaahana) inside the temple

11:00 am, Depart to Laurel Hill State Park

12:30 - 2 pm, Devarapooje

2 pm, Light palahara to those not fasting

3-4 pm, Informal discussions, socializing

4-6 pm, Philosophy session with scholars for youth and adults, Sri Kesavarao Tadipatri, Sri Jayakrishna Nelamangala, Sri Yogendra Bhat, Dr. Nagaraj Kotekal, Sri Hunsur Sriprasad will conduct this interactive session as scholars

6-6:45 pm, Discussion on " 10 years of VMS, the journey in the past, present and future "

7:00-8:30 pm, Devaranaama Session, by Sri Raghavendra Batni and group, and all participants

9 pm, Camp-fire activities

 

Mon May 28 (Dwadashi)

4:30 - 6:30 am, Devarapooje

7:00 am, Theertha prasada, Paarane

9-11 am, Cleaning of the camp site

11 am - 12 noon, Hand over the camp-site to the State Park authorities and depart

 

Please note that we will make every attempt to keep the time as announced for all the above activities and cooperation from all are very much humbly requested. Arriving late in the day takes away the charm and fun for the children and for all others who are putting a lot of efforts to make these gatherings satisfying to all participants. In the same spirit, all are also requested to stay till the very end of our program, including the cleaning and handing over the camp site back to the State Park authorities at around noon on May 28. Leaving right after Mettilotsava on May 27 defeats the purpose of all of us coming together.

Please note that a few families are arriving in the afternoon of Friday, May 25 and taking charge of our Organized Group Cabins site 5. The next day, Saturday, will be a Family Fun Day with activities such as hiking, playing and relaxing in the beautiful surroundings of this State Park during the day light hours. Srimathi Veena Raghav (e-mail v_raghav) is organizing a lot of fun activities for adults and children. Please get in touch with Srimathi Veena if you plan to arrive on May 25 or in the morning of May 26. She is coordinating for dinner on May 25 and breakfast and lunch on May 26 for those already present in the camp-site. Those arriving after 10 am on May 26 are requested to make their own arrangements for lunch for May 26.

As in the last year, participants are encouraged to bring vara pooja items, new cloths, ornaments, fruites, flowers, mangala sutra (thaali bottu), any other wedding items to offer to our Lord Sri Srinivasa and Padhmavathi for Srinivasa Kalyana and these items will be returned to the donors as the blessings of Sri Srinivasa and Padhmavathi.

Sri Raghavendra Batni (e-mail nadasudha) is offereing a work-shop for learning to sing Mangala sandhi in Harikathaamruthasaara with the help of the swara-prastaara sheets. The time for this work-shop is being worked out and will be announced later. Please get in touch with him if you are interested in participating in this work-shop.

Srimathi Ramaa Srinivasarao (e-mail seema.Rao) and her children are organizing youth and children activities for both May 26 and May 27. Please get in touch with Srimathi Ramaa Srinivasarao for youth and children activities. Children in the middle school age group are required not only to recite shlokas or sing devaranaamas of their choice but they should also come prepared to give brief explanations of the meanings as well.

This year, a group just for children will be formed for participating in the Mettilotsava procession and the children will be asked to lead singing devaranaamas for this group during the Mettilotsava procession. Please get in touch with Srimathi Veena Ramesh (e-mail v_raghav) for enrolling your children in this group. Srimathi Anita Sripadaraj (e-mail sree8sum) will provide the adult supervision to this group. Plans are underway for providing the daasara style head-gear to all children in this group.

Srimathi Veena Raghav (e-mail v_raghav) is also coordinating for snacks and sweets and please get in touch with her if you are volunteering for bringing snacks and/or sweets.

Sri Sridhar Padaki (e-mail padaki_s) is coordinating groceries and cleaning supplies and please get in touch with him if you wish to volunteer for this activity.

Sri Srinivasan (e-mail srinivasans) is coordinating for songs for Srinivasa Kalyana and please get in touch with him if you wish to lead singing some songs in the list.

There will be another teleconference on 15 May at 9 pm (eastern time in the US), call in number 218-339-7800, participant code 052507. We welcome your participation and suggestions.

Those folks staying in the cabins are reminded that the cots require cardboard sheets to cover the spring and the sleeping bags/comfortors can be spread on top of the cardboard sheets. Cardboard boxes are disposed regularly by the grocery stores in your areas. Please remember to pick up sufficient cardboard boxes, flatten them and bring to the cabins.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with any of us if you require any additional information.

Namaskaragalu

Hare Srinivasa

Bindu

(tel 610-966-9299, Allentown, Pennsylvania)