For news from other years, please see our news archives 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
A Spiritual Retreat was conducted on Saturday, the 14th of October 2023 at Sri Sarada Math, Bengaluru from 9:30 am to 12.30 noon.
The Programme started with Vedic Chanting of ‘Devi Sukta Mantras’ & ‘Shanti Mantras’ by Sannyasinis followed by Sri Lalitha Sahasranam chanting by Sri Jagaddhatri group. Pravrajika Gitaprana welcomed all devotees & friends who had assembled in the prayer hall and who were participating in the livestream programme of Sri Sarada Math YouTube channel. She expressed sincere gratitude to the speaker Pravrajika Bhavaniprana, the President of Sri Sarada Math, Guntur and a Trustee of Sri Sarada Math and Ramakrishna Sarada Mission. She welcomed Smt. Purnima Ganguly and the party who sang Bhajans on Ma Durga.
Before Pravrajika Bhawaniprana’s speech, Sri Jagadhatri group sang songs on Maa Durga in Kannada enriching the spiritual atmosphere. Pravrajika Bhavaniprana, the speaker spoke on the significance of Sri Durga Puja specially in Bengal and also narrated the ‘Agamani Songs’ which is the special feature/culture of Durga Puja in Bengal, that depicts the divine relation of both ‘Matrebhava & Vatsalyabhava’ between Mother Maneka and daughter Uma. On this day, the birthday of Sw. Akhandanandaji Maharaj was observed. She briefly mentioned about his life and teachings, specially about ‘Shiva Jnane Jiva Seva’ which he initially implemented in the Ramakrishna Order.Pravrajika Chitrupaprana rendered vote of thanks to all. Lastly Sm. Purnima Ganguly & Party sang bhajans on Maa Durga for about an hour. After Bhogarati, prasad was distributed to all.
The programme Lecture can be found in Lecture Page of our website srisaradamathkarnataka.org.
Sister Nivedita Cultural Festival – Inter School Competations – 15th of July
Academic performance alone does not ensure a successful career. Acquiring life skills and the development of personality is crucial for long term success in life – both professional and personal. Artistic and literary pursuits not only add to the faculty of the mind but also play a significant role in enhancing the Emotional Quotient of a student. Sister Nivedita Cultural Festival was an entertaining and enlightening Cultural Festival of contests for students from UKG to class 7, celebrating India’s vibrant culture and tradition. Nivedita Vidya Peetha of Sri Sarada Math Bengaluru provided a platform for School Children to exhibit their unique innate talent by organizing an Inter- School competition. The event was held on Saturday the 15th of July 2023 in the Math premises.
Welcome Speech
Audience
575 students from 13 schools took part enthusiastically in 10 various events like Colorings, Painting, Kannada and English Handwriting, Sanskrit Shloka and Gita chanting, Action songs, Devotional songs, Storytelling, Elocution, Essay writing, Fancy Dress, and Classical dance. Many students participated in multiple events. The total number of participants was 787. Lunch was served by Math to all.
Colouring
Essay Writing
Bharatnatyam
Fancy Dress – Lav & Kush
Rev. Chitprabhaprana Mataji, In-Charge of Nivedita Vidya Peetha, welcomed the gathering. Smt. Shanta Jayananda was the chief guest. She is a post graduate in Kannada & Sociology. She served as director of Chandana television channel for 10 years and was also directed short films based on women and children’s problems. Now she is serving as lecturer at M.S. Ramaiya Management and Law College. She spoke about cultural festivals which help the student in personality development. Afterwards she distributed Trophies and Certificate of Merit for prize winners. Participation Certificates were given to all participants.
Prize receiver
The programme ended by singing ‘National song’. After the prize distribution programme, everyone had almond milk and biscuits. A good number of devotees & friends of the Math and the Staff of Nivedita Vidya Peetha volunteered in making the cultural festival a grand success.
Summer Camp – 2023
Sri Sarada Math, Bengaluru conducted a summer camp for students from fourth standard to college girls from 3rd April to 15th April 2023 at 9.30am to 1pm for 12 days. The camp provided the students with an avenue for expressing and developing their talents. About 53 participants benefited from this camp. Three groups were formed based on age and were named Narendra, Nivedita and Sarada. A group of ten teachers trained all the participants in various skills like Surya namaskar, yoga, mudra, daily prayer and chanting of Medhasukta, glance on Upanishad & Bhagavad-Gita, storytelling, drawing, colouring and craft. Every day at the end of the session, children played games which helped them relax and improve concentration. Snacks and lunch were served every day.
On 15th April, the concluding day of the camp, each group showed and expressed what they had learnt in the camp. At the end of the program gifts were distributed to all participants. Most of the participants expressed their gratitude for conducting a value-oriented summer camp by the organization.
As a part of rural development project of Sri Sarada Math, Bengaluru, a summer camp was conducted for 12 days from 3.4.23 to 14.4.23, at Sri Sarada Math Nivedita Vidya Peetha, Junjuramanahalli – a village school.
Daily program was as follows: – Surya namaskara and Ramayana Narration. Break – served Almond Milk & Snacks. Personality Development class and Craft or Sports. Lunch was served to all. 40 children were enrolled and participated enthusiastically. Average attendance was 33. On the last day of the camp, children were given certificates and prizes for sports, craft, and Quiz on Ramayana.
PUPPET SHOW: On Saturday, the 8th of April 2023, there was puppet show in Kannada on Swami Vivekananda by ‘Rangaputthali Puppeters’, Bengaluru. Our aim in conducting this puppet show was twofold – to make people more aware of our heritage & culture, and to know more about Swami Vivekananda. The show was incredibly beautiful and attractive for young and old alike. The auditorium was packed with 225 viewers. There was Prasad distribution (lunch) after the show. Sridarshan of Bengaluru sponsored the whole day’s program.
Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday Celebration on 21st February 2023
Sri Sri Ramakrishna’s birthday was celebrated at Sri Sarada Math, Bengaluru on Tuesday, the 21st February 2023. The programme consisted of Special puja, chanting of Vishnu Sahasranam, Bhajans & Havan etc. Pravrajika Gitaprana read the selected portion from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Pravrajika Somdevprana briefly mentioned in her discourse on Sri Ramakishna’s life and teachings. She highlighted seva yoga. This Yugavatara showed us practical Vedanta in our day today activities and thus making our life blessed! The programme started at 7.30am and ended by 12.15 pm.
As a part of Sri Ramakrishna’s birthday, a spiritual Retreat was conducted on Sunday, the 26th. February 2023 from 9.30am to 12.15pm. First, Sannyasinis chanted Vedic Mantras. Next read from the book – Daily Thoughts & Prayers followed by meditation. Pravrajika Gitaprana welcomed all devotees & friends who had assembled in the prayer hall and who were participating in the livestream programme on Sri Sarada Math YouTube channel. She thanked especially the bhajan party ‘Sri Jagadhatri Group’ which enriched the spiritual atmosphere by their devotional music.
She also welcomed two speakers on this day, Pravrajika Atmabodhaprana spoke in English on ‘Uniqueness of Sri Ramakrishna’. She renders service at Dakshineswar, Head Quarter of Sri Sarada Math. As she is involved in many activities, so she was requested to speak online. Dr. G. Savita Wooday spoke in Kannada on ‘Pravrajika Bharatiprana Mataji’ who was the first president of this Order, a disciple of Holy Mother and student of Sister Nivedita, as well studied in Nivedita School at Kolkata. Both lectures are available on the lectures page of our website. Dr.Savita studied MBA from Mother Teresa University. She had done her doctorate in Management from Dravidan University. She has been serving as a volunteer teacher in our school since 2002, more than twenty years now. She has been member of the Indian Red Cross Society and Karnataka Cancer society. She was awarded fellowship by the Indian Technology Congress Association. Honoured by several organizations for service to Society. On both days, prasad distribution took place after the programme. Pravrajika Chitrupaprana rendered vote of thanks to all. Both the programmes were livestreamed on Sri Sarada Math, Bengaluru’s YouTube Channel
Lectures can be found in Lecture Page of our website srisaradamathkarnataka.org.
National Youth Day Celebrations – 21st January 2023
Sri Sarada Math, Bengaluru celebrated National Youth Day on Saturday, the 21st January 2023. In this celebration 478 students (246 from High School, 171 from P.U.College and 61 Degree College) students participated from 14 institutions (6 schools and 4 P.U.Colleges and 4 Degree College) .
Participants from Different Colleges
The programme started with chanting of Durga Suktam and singing bhajans, by the students of Nivedita Vidya Peetha & balamandir. Pravrajika Chitprabhaprana welcomed the gathering and Ku. Nandini, the ex-student of this school and student of Balmandir, presently studying 9th standard, briefly talked about the life of Swami Vivekananda. An interaction programme was held on the topic “Strength is life, weakness is death” by Dr. Anuradha, Registrar Maharani Cluster University. She gave the example of great leaders such as Aristotle. Dr. Abdul Kalam, by showing in their life the faith on the above Swamiji’s message of “Strength is life”. This is in every one of us, only remains manifestation. She also expressed two incidents of Japan and on idol of Lord Buddha.
Dr. Anuradha, Registrar Maharani Cluster University
In cultural program, Nivedita Vidya Peetha students performed “Karaga Dance” which is one of the folk dances of Karnataka. Ku. Jennifer of ninth standard read short life of Sister Nivedita. Another talk was on “Education” by Prof. Ramya Kallur K.V. Assistant Professor, Dept. of English, Seshadripuram College, Tumakuru.
Prof. Ramya Kallur K.V. Assistant Professor, Dept. of English, Seshadripuram College, Tumakuru.
Dr. Sabita Wooday expressed her heartfelt thanks to all. Students were benefitted by this convention and enjoyed this serene atmosphere of Sri Sarada Math. All participants received the books on Tapaswini Gangabai or Subbalakshmi and Sister Nivedita and participation certificate. Lunch was served to all.
Swami Vivekananda’s Janmatithi Celebration-14th Jan 2023
Shrine
Srimad Swami Vivekananda’s Birthday was celebrated at Sri Sarada Math, Bengaluru on 14-Jan-2023 from 07:30 am to 12:15 pm. The programme consisted of Special Puja, Kathopanisad Chanting, Bhajans, Havan, Discourse and Arati. Sm.Purnima Ganguli & Party recited hymns and sang bhajans on Swamiji. The speaker, Sm. Pushpalata is a postgraduate in Kannada literature. She was a Principal in SYA Pre-University college, Sanjay Nagar, Bangalore for 20 years. She is mainly counselling the students and their parents as and when necessary. She has received the Best Teacher Award from Lions club in the year 2015. Based on Swamiji’s message, she counsels the students and shows them meaningful life. The programme was livestreamed on Sri Sarada Math Bengaluru’s YouTube channel. Friends and Devotees also came for darshan. Prasad distribution took place after 12.15 pm.
Most Revered Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj’s visit – 6th Jan. 2023
Most Rev. Swami Suhitanandaji Maharaj, Vice President of Ramakrishna Math & Mission visited Sri Sarada Math, Bangalore on Friday, the 6th of January 2023. He came 10 minutes earlier to 4pm, went to shrine and gave Arghya to the Holy Trinity. Rev. Nityasthanandaji Maharaj, President, Ramakrishna Math, Bull Temple Road, Bengaluru, Rev. Amartyananda Maharaj, President, Ramakrishna Math, Ulsoor, Bengaluru, three junior monks and four devotees accompanied him. They visited Shiva temple and left at about five o’clock. He was very happy to visit this Math and blessed everyone.