Vivekananda Navaratri Consolidated

Vivekananada stayed in the Vivekananada Illam, Chennai for 9 days (Feb 6^th – 14^th) after his triumphant visit of the West. These 9 days are celebrated as Vivekananda Navaratri by the Sri Ramakrishna Math and devotees.

            Sri.N.Gopalswami, Chief Election Commissioner inaugurated this year’s Divine Book Festival and delivered the keynote address on 6.2.2017.

            Padmasri Nalli Kuppusamy Chettiar, Sri N.Ravi, Director Kasthuri & Sons Ltd (The Hindu), Sri K.Anand, Senior Advocate, Kerala Highcourt and Sri N.Murali, Krishna Sweets participated as Guests of honour. With the benedictory address of Swami Gautamanandaji the inaugural function came to an end.

            Students from many schools, devotional organizations and devotees of Sri Ramakrishna Math rendered bhajans and cultural programmes during these 9 days. The Swamis of Sri Ramakrishna math, Velukudi Krishan & Brahmasri Govindapuram Vittaldass Maharaj  delivered spiritual discourse and nama sankisrtan. Justices B. Rajendran, K.Vaithiyanadan Editor Dinamani, L.Sabarathinam Chirman, Bharat Vidhya Bhavan, Justice R.Mahadevan Participated as chief guests.

            Stage Dramas Sister Nivedita by Prayartana, Thirunavukarasar by Nataka Kavalar kalaikkudam, Dance Drama Aham Bhramasmi by Sheela Unnikrishnan  gave good entertainment and spiritual experience to the audience.  Sri Sikkil Gurucharan and Anil Srinivasan gave a wonderful combination of vocal and piano. Puppet show on Swami Vivekananda presented by Sri Gananathar Bommai Nadaga Saba and The flute recital by J.A.Jayanth were added attractions to the festival.

            Valedictory function of the event was held on 14-2-17. Minsiter for School Education and Sports and Youth Welfare, Tamilnadu Government Ma Foi Sri K Pandiyarajan participated as the chief guest of the program. Sakthi Group, Chaairman, Sri Dr M Manikam was the special guest. Sri U Ve Dushyant Sridhar delivered a Katha Kutcheri on ‘Thamarai Kannan’. He brought out the price worthy facts about the Lotus Eyed avatars of Sri Maha Vishnu, in a humorous way. The kutcheri rendered by Selvi Anahita and Apoorva sisters was mesmerizing.

            The special feature of the Vivekananda Navaratri was the Divine Book Festival. Thousands of books were exhibited. Huge number of books were purchased by students and other visitors. This proved that the habit of good reading of the people increase tremendously. The Vivekananada Navaratri gave good thoughts and new perception to everybody.    

            The Vivekananada Navaratri & the Book Festival were successful in propagating the messages of Swami Vivekananda.

            Dinamani, Dinamalar, The Hindu & TV channels brought out the news of Vivekananda Navaratri every day. We thank all of them.