Mini ‘Chinmaya Kumbh Mela’ is an apt description of the scenario at the Mission’s Noida ashram on Hanuman Jayanti. This mega event was a confluence of several occasions of celebration – to commemorate the Birth Centenary of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayanandaji a Mastabhishekam with 1008 kalashas of the presiding deity Lord Hanuman and a Jnana Yagna by Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayanandaji on Sundar Kand of the Ram Charit Manas.

About 30 acharyas of the NCR region, and many of the North Zone and other centres of India as well as devotees from various parts of the world joined Sw. Chidrupanandaji, Acharya and the devotees of Noida for the auspicious event.

The festivities from 17th to 22nd April started with elaborate Kalasha puja in the mornings followed by havan invoking and inviting the Gods to bless. A team of 12 pundits and ritwiks performed the rituals with Vedic chants. Several devotees participated as yajamans. On the 21st all the devotees assembled to unanimously chant the Hanuman Chalisa for 27 times continuously in the spirit of seeking the Lord’s consent to perform the Abhishek and invoke His blessings.

And the grand finale was on the 22nd April, the Hanuman Jayanti. Early morning Pujya Guruji performed arati of the kalashas which were arranged traditionally on a floral design with a small pyramid in the centre. There were Gold Kalashas at the top followed by silver, copper and brass below. These were filled with sacred waters of the 7 important rivers of India. Amidst blowing of conches, bells and chants of ‘Om Shri Ram Dutaaya Namah’ Guruji, adorned with a turban, carried the gold kalasha on his head and walked up the ramp to perform the first abhisheka of Hanumanji with the sacred waters and panchamrita. And after that Swami Nikhilanandaji, Swami Chidrupanandaji and other acharyas performed the abhisheka with gold kalashas. Among the dignitaries Shri Ram Madhav, National Secretary (BJP), Shri Ramana Guruji of Balusupadi village, Vijayawada and Gen. Bhargava, Vice Chancellor of Amity University were the first ones to perform the abhisheka with gold kalashas.

The jubiliant devotees, the kalasha yajmans, from little children to the 80+ ‘young citizens’ then lined up and performed a continuous abhishek by turn. Apart from this all the people who came for darshan were also allowed to offer abhishek and return the kalashas. Around 1500 people worshipped this Lord of strength and wisdom. This programme concluded with the last two kalasha abbhisheka by Swami Chidrupanandaji. Hanumanji was then worshipped with the offering of several garlands – Vada, lemon, betel leaves and flowers followed by a Sahasranama Archana and Maha Arati.

A bhandara (lunch feast) was offered to all the participants as well as the public at large in the neighbouring Gurudwara Guru Nanak Mission premises. This mammoth event could not have been accomplished without the whole hearted support of the adjoining institutions – the Committees of the Gurudwara, Manyavatan, an old age home, Saraswati Devi Mandir School, Amar Public School and the Sanatan Dharma Mandir. The staff and students of all these organisations participated in the programmes. And the co-operation and participation of the neighbourhood residents was commendable. The Noida Medicare Centre and Red Cross, Delhi stood by to aid. The city Police, Fire, Law, and Administration departments readily gave the permissions to hold the event.

In the evenings from 17th to 20th April Guruji gave discourses on the the Sundar Kand of the Ram Charit Manas. His eloquent discourses and melodious chanting of chopais enthralled the 800+ audience seated in the auditorium of the Apeejay School Noida. The Mission devotees were enrapt in the nectarine wisdom of his talks that they had expected. And to the first-time listeners it was a totally new dimension to the topic – both in the way it was analysed and also sung! Smt. Sushma Paul Berlia the President of Apeejay Education Society which also provided the venue for talks gratis inaugurated the yagna. Sw. Nikhilanandaji, Regional Head NCR, addressed the gathering on the occasion. A souvenir – ‘Sankatmochak and More’ was released by Guruji. His humility and loving nature endeared him to one and all through the personal interactions during bhikshas informal satsangs.

By the grace of God and blessings of Pujya Gurudev both the events met with stupendous success. It was possible only due to the detailed planning and effective execution ensured by the guidance and leadership of Swami Chidrupanandaji, lovingly addressed as ‘Captain’ and ‘Man of the Match’ by Pujya Guruji. Each and every Mission member of Noida was so involved in the events that it was not just the ‘hands’ but ‘hearts at work.’

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