The Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, celebrated the 185th Birthday Tithi Puja of Bhagwan Sri Ramakrishna on Tuesday, the 25th February, 2020.
On the previous day pandals were erected on both the lawns in front of the Temple. Arrangement was made to show the temple programme in the pandal with the help of a big LED screen for the benefit of those devotees who could not find place to sit in the temple and witness the Puja, Arati, etc.
The back-drop of the Garbha Mandir and also the idol of Sri Sri Thakur and the portraits of Holy Mother and Swamiji were gorgeously decorated specially with gladioli and other flowers in flower vases. Sri Thakur’s idol was adorned with a new silk dhoti. Holy Mother’s portrait was adorned with a beautiful silk sari and Swamiji’s portrait with a new gerua silk cloth.
The day began with Sehnai recital on audio cassette at 4.30 a.m. when the gates of the Temple were opened for devotees. At 5.00 a.m. with the blowing of the conch shell, Mangalarati was performed by Swami Amritamayanandaji Mj . After mangalarati was over, Vedic chanting was done by monastics. This was followed by Usha Kirtan at 6.20 a.m. led by Revered Secretary Maharaj and all the devotees were filled with high devotional spirit. During Usha kirtan all devotees went on a parikrama of the temple precincts. At about 7.00 a.m. the devotees and volunteers, were served with Mangalarati prasad as well as breakfast with Tea.
The special puja of Sri Sri Thakur started at 7.35 a.m. The puja was done by Swami Amritamayanandaji Mj. At the same time Chandi Path was done in the Shayan Ghar by Swami Dhruvarupanandaji Mj. The bhajans on Sri Sri Thakur in the early morning when puja started were rendered by Shri Chandranath Mukherjee, Shri Bishnu Murari (Champak) Chatterjee and Shri Avik Chatterjee, all accompanied by Shri Siddhartha Bhattacharya on tabla and Shri Ramesh Dwivedi on manjira. Afterwards Revered Secretary Maharaj also rendered a few devotional songs. Then, after homa and pushpanjali Swami Dhruvarupanandaji Mj also rendered some devotional songs.
The special puja ended at 9.45 a.m. and it was followed by Homa at 9.55 a.m. Homa was also performed by Swami Amritamayanandaji Mj assisted by Rev. Secretary Maharaj. On the completion of Homa, Pushpanjali was performed by all devotees as administered by Rev. Secretary Maharaj. After Pushpanjali, when the doors of the sanctum sanctorum were closed for offering bhoga. Rev. Secretary Maharaj gave a brief discourse on Sri Sri Thakur and Ma. The bhoga was over at 12.05 p.m. At 11.40 a.m. Arati was done by Swami Amritamayanandaji Maharaj and Arati songs in chorus were led by Swami Dhruvarupanandaji Mj. As a large number of devotees both inside and outside the Temple were to offer pranams to Sri Sri Thakur, Ma and Swamiji, the Temple was kept open for some time more.
After all the devotees offered pranams to the Holy Trinity, they were served Cooked Prasad and Sweets.
Thus the celebration of Sri Thakur’s Birthday tithi puja was a great success.
Glimpses of the celebration:
Glimpses in Photos || Tithi Puja of Sri Ramakrishna || 2020
Life and Message of Sri Ramakrishna || A short Speech || Swami Shantatmananda
Sri Sri Thakur’s Tithi Puja || Ramakrishna Mission Delhi || 2020
Audio recording of the speech:
Download the audio (Right-click & save):
(Life and Message of Sri Ramakrishna || A short Speech || Swami Shantatmananda || 2020)
A few photos from this occasion:
