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It was, undoubtedly, a
very special Shivaratri-function. Preparations for it during the
day were done very joyously with full energy and there was great
devotion in the air.
Pandit Sureshji with his colleagues took
great pain to prepare the Omkarananda Ashram Temples for the
event, resulting in a highly pleasing and inspiring sight.
At evening time, after the Arati, Kumari
Somashekhari in a glittering Lahanga (traditional dance dress)
and her students Neha and Pinky beautifully performed special
dances in honour of Lord Shiva in the big Temple-Mandapa of
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. The perfection in the
Dance-Performances and the trained skills, presented by Soma and
her team, touched the heart of the audience.
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Above: Shiva Bhajans by Priests of Omkarananda Ashram
Himalayas
Right: Kumari Somashekhari explains
the dances in honour of Lord Shiva
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Under the guidance of Shri Ganesh Shastriji a
Film Team of Zee News Television recorded the event.
Swami Vishveshwarananda, President of Swami
Omkarananda Saraswati Charitable Trust, rounded off the function
with an expression of Thanks to Pandit Sureshji and the other
priests. He also thanked the T.V. Crew for joining and recording
the function.
After the beautiful function Prasadam was
distributed to everybody, who attended the event.
Shortly after a break Pandit Sureshji, with
his Priests, started the typical Shivaratri prayers in the
shrine of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati. At the same time
in all the other Shiva Temples of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas
special Shiva-Pujas were performed throughout the night. The
prayers went on till the next day morning 5 o’clock.
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The Zee News Team with the well-known
journalist, Shri Vinod Sharmaji, conducted brief interviews with
Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari and Pandit
Sureshji. Swami Vishveshwarananda detailed the efforts of
Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas in the field of education. He
profiled the work being done in far flung villages of
Uttarakhand. He made very clear that all these efforts were
possible with the blessings and spiritual power of Gurudev
Paramahamsa Swami Omkarananda Saraswati Maharaj.
Kumari Somashekhari was questioned regarding
Indian Classical Dance. She expressed the importance of the
Indian Classical Dance as an expression of God-experience. She
emphasized specially on purity and the spiritual values which
are essential for a great success in this wonderful mystical
Art.
Pandit Sureshji spoke about the joyful
experience during the worship in Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi
Mandir.
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Pushpanjali in
Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir
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The Zee News people expressed their surprise
for this wonderful event and had all praise for the wonderful
divine vibration and high cleanliness inside the Omkarananda
Ashram Temples and their surroundings.
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Somashekhari
worships Lord Shiva
through dance |
Kumari Neha and
Kumari Pinky perform
a special Shivaratri Dance |
Soma in a
Shiva Nataraja pose |
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The camera man of Zee News Television filmed
the whole dance programme in the temple |
In the end Kumari Somashekhari and her students
performed
an Arati Dance and distributed the Arati to all devotees |
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| Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji spoke on the
importance of Shivaratri and thanked all devotees and
also the TV team who took part in this celebration |
Shri Ganesh Shastriji, film maker (on the left),
garlands
the Zee News camera man Shri Gandharva Kumar |
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| The Temple Priests distribute Prasadam
to everybody |
From left to right: Shri Vinod Sharma,
Correspondent, Zee News,
his wife Alka, Kumari Somashekhari, Zee News camera man,
Shri Gandharva Kumar, Shri Ganesh Shastriji, film maker |
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