Bhagavatam Camp in Sidhbari

Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda has been taking up one canto of the Bhagavatam every year during the summer camp in Hindi in Sidhabari. This year it was the third canto and without any advertisement there was a flood of registrations; the camp was fully booked three months in advance. Even before the camp began, the momentum gathered with the wedding of Anjali Singh's son, Jujhar Singh on May 1. Pujya Swami Tejomayananda, Swami Swaroopananda, Swami Subodhananda, Swami Nikhilananda, Swami Ramananda, Swamini Gurupriyananda and other Acharyas were present at the wedding and blessed the couple.

The Bhagavatam camp began on May 3, with three sessions of one hour each everyday. The climactic episode was that of Kapila Muni giving out the highest teaching to his mother Devahuti in the portion popularly known as Kapila Gita. It was a treat to listen to Pujya Guruji's inimitable rendering with ready wit and humour, melodious bhajans and practical advise. Everyday the visiting Acharyas took turns to address the devotees in the evening on various topics of their choice. Pujya Guruji released many new books – Stotra Mala, Victorious Youth, Sankat Mochan, Himalayan Hermit, Tell Me a Story (Part 1), The Balvihar Book of Hanuman Chalisa, Antaryatra and the new colour edition of Chinmaya Udghosh . On the concluding day, Pujya Guruji thanked the staff and the workers of the ashram for their hard work in making the camp a great success.

On May 8, Chinmaya Jayanti was celebrated with joy, beginning with the paduka puja in the morning. It was a big day for all the villagers around; everyone gathered for the dham (bhandara), the traditional Himachali feast in the ashram, which has become an annual feature now. The cyclonic weather of the morning cleared up miraculously, allowing the stream of people (around 3000) to partake of the feast comfortably. Pujya Gurudev's grace could be seen at work.

 - Hari Om! -