90 children participated in the Veer Hanuman camp at Lathikata, which included a talk on the life of Veer Hanuman by Swami Kevalananda, practicing Yoga for daily life under the guidance of Swamini Rishipriyananda, games and local folk dance.

Chinmaya Mission Ahmedabad organized a Jnana Yajna on “Rama Doota Hanuman” from 18 April to 22 April 2024, by Brahmacharini Anupama Chaitanya. Brni. Various inspiring incidents from Valmiki Ramayana & Tulsi Ramayana were covered, as well as an explanation of how a bhakta can serve the Lord and ultimately become one with HIM. The talks were held in the Paramdham Ashram lawns and were well received by the audience. The programme was concluded with a Hanuman Puja on 23 April for Hanuman Jayanti and chanting of Sunderkand in the evening.

Under the guidance of Swami Avyayananda, Chinmaya Mission Gurugram celebrated Chaitra Navratri (Vasant Navratri) in a grand manner with religious fervour and devotion from 9 April to 17 April 2024.

The activities during the period included worshipping and chanting Durga Kavach and Arati on all the nine days in the Centre’s temple.

The hall on the third floor was set for the daily Parayana from Tulsi Ramayana with the help of a team of musicians and singers. The altar was majestically decorated with magnificent jewellery, flowers and the beautiful attire of Bhagavan.

The highlight of the festivity was when Bala Vihar children dressed up as Shri Rama and Mata Sita. They sang Rama Bhajans and also performed Arati.

These nine devotional days brought peace, bliss and filled the hearts of all devotees with true yajna spirit, with all working with the feeling of oneness to bring maximum happiness.

On 17 April “Rama Janma” was celebrated with Puja, Kirtan, Bhajan, followed by Bhandara. The new year was also welcomed with a prayerful beginning.

The nine days reinforced existing relationships and also created new bonds amongst devotees, enabling them to walk on the spiritual journey ahead together!

We are overjoyed to share Chinmaya Mission’s latest achievements in the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024, for which we were recognised at the Philanthropy Awards Night held on5 April 2024.

With blessings of the Guruparampara and under the guidance of Swami Swaroopananda, we received the following awards, which garnered attention in the print media as well:

– Chinmaya Mission secured the second-highest fundraising position overall, competing among 268+ NGOs at the Tata Mumbai Marathon 2024.

– We secured the top spot in education fundraising, reflecting our dedication to supporting Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth and Chinmays Vidyalayas in rural regions.

– Two of CCMT’s fundraisers Dr. Manisha Khemlani and Darshini Bhatt were honoured as Change Legends for their exceptional fundraising efforts.

– The funds raised through Dr. Manisha Khemlani’s Crowdfunding page set a new record, marking the highest amount ever raised in the history of the Tata Mumbai Marathon.

– Fundraising efforts of many other members of Chinmaya Mission were recognised.

We express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported Chinmaya Mission in this incredible journey towards making a meaningful difference in society.

A one-day camp attended by 70 children was organized at  a tribal village called Matkamjharan (in the Lathikata block of Sundergarh District in Odisha), on 21 April 2024. The theme was “Dhruva, the Inspired Child of Ancient India”.

The 15th Year Thiruvilakku Puja with Vishnu Sahasranama Archana on the auspicious occasion of the Tamil New Year was organized by Chinmaya Mission Hosur for the welfare of all. Puja was done in two batches – morning and evening.

Shri Madeshwaranji – Chinmaya Mission President – welcomed the devotees. Shri Padmanabhan – Chinmaya Mission Secretary – shared the activities of Chinmaya Mission Hosur.

The divine event started with Vigneshwara Puja. Lord Mahavishnu was invoked in the lamp which was lit by Smt. Jayanthi Madeswaran and Smt. Aruna Veeraraghavan. Shri Kiran shared the guidelines of the Puja. Vishnu Sahasranama chanting was led by Selvi Bhavana, Selvi Mahalakshmi, Smt. Deepa,and Smt. Uma.

Devotees performed Archana individually for Bhagavan by chanting “Shri Omkara Mahavishnavay Namaha”.

Swami Shashvatananda graced the occasion and shared the following:
1. There are four types of devotees
2. Bhagavan by His compassion gives aartha, arthaarthi and jignasu devotees equal status with jnani being the best devotee who knows Bhagavan in His true nature.
3. ⁠ We should also grow from aartha, arthaarthi devotees to jignasu devotee and by His grace we will get a Guru so we may become a Jnani devotee.
4. The purpose of temples are not restricted to ritual alone but should culminate in Satsang.
5. Satsang should start when one is in the womb itself like Bhakta Prahlada.
6. One who prevents us from attending Satsang is Asura Hiranyakashipu – which is our enemy – which is our own mind.

After Maha Arati, Mahaprasadam was served for all.

Around 120 devotees participated in the Thiruvilakku Puja.

The much-awaited annual sports meet URJA 2024 of Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth, was kicked off on 18 March 2024 with an electrifying opening ceremony that set the stage for two weeks of exhilarating competition and camaraderie. Organized by CVV’s Department of Physical Education and Sports, this annual event aims to promote physical fitness, mental agility, and social cohesion among our student body. Prof. Ramesh Pattni, Professor Emeritus from the School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Scientific Heritage declared URJA 2024 open.

The students were divided into four houses: Agni, Vayu, Jal, and Prithvi. Over two weeks, they participated in a wide array of sports and games, including throwball, volleyball, cricket, football, table tennis, chess, badminton, tug of war, and athletics. The events were held alternately, providing students with diverse opportunities to showcase their talents and sportsmanship. The athletic meet, which concluded the festivities, witnessed students from both our Onakoor and Warriam Road facilities competing passionately.

The matches took place at the magnificent Olympus Arena in Thammanam. The atmosphere was electric as the teams battled it out for the coveted trophy.

After two weeks of intense competition, Prithvi emerged as the champions with a total of 78 points, showcasing exceptional talent and teamwork. Jal secured the second position with 69 points, followed by Vayu with 53 points and Agni with 41 points.

Recognizing the importance of promoting holistic well-being, games and recreational activities were organized for the faculty and staff too at the Warriam Road campus on 3 April 2024. The enthusiastic participation of faculty and staff added to the vibrant atmosphere of URJA 2024, fostering a sense of community and inclusivity. From the classic and exhilarating Tug of War to the agility and precision-required badminton matches, everyone participated enthusiastically and there were amazing skills on display.

The grand finale was held on 6 April 2024 at Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Tripunithura. Everyone came together to celebrate the achievements of the participants and honour their dedication and sportsmanship. Dr. Sudheer Babu Yarlagadda (Provost, CVV) gave the felicitation speech. Dr. Sunitha Grandhee (Dean, Lifelong Learning and Wellness, CVV), and Leela Ramamurthy (Trustee, CMECT GC and President, Vidyalaya Board of Management) were also present.

With over 150 students actively participating in various events, URJA 2024 exemplified the spirit of sportsmanship, cohesion, and team spirit. The involvement of students was commendable, reflecting their dedication and enthusiasm towards physical activity and healthy competition.

We’re thrilled to announce that Alok Kumar, third-year BA Sanskrit student at Chinmaya Vishwa Vidyapeeth, Deemed to be University, won two prizes at the Akhila Bharatiya Shastriya Spardha organised by the Central Sanskrit University in Ayodhya!

Alok bagged a silver medal in Aksharashloki and a bronze medal in Shastriya Sphurti (Quiz).
Students from all over India participated in this 4-day event from 21st to 24th March 2024, representing their respective states. The judges for Aksharashloki were none other than the great scholars and avadhanis, MM Dorbala Prabhakar, Dr. Ganesh Ishwar Bhat, and Dr. Ramakrishna Pejathaya.

In Shastriya Sphurti, questions were asked from all the major Shastras such as Vedas, Vyakarana, Sahitya, Jyotisha, and Purana-Itihasa, followed by rapid-fire questions.

We are proud of Alok’s achievement and wish him all the best for his future endeavors!

Chinmaya Mission Johannesburg hosted a six-day Jnana Yajna by Swami Abhedananda, from 25 February to 1 March 2024 on the topic “Karma Yoga – Unravel the Secrets” based on the third chapter of the Bhagavad Gita.

The people of The City of Gold (as Johannesburg is known), were indeed thirsty for the sweet nectar of Mother Gita, and Swami Abhedananda quenched that thirst, with his humorous, enchanting and enlightening talks!

Each morning began with the deeply thought-provoking class on Panchadashi, and the day ended with evening Gita classes where the essence of Karma Yoga was unveiled. The devotees were treated, each evening, to a sumptuous dinner, lovingly prepared by the Ashram families, and then had an informal Q&A session.

Between classes, enthusiastic and devoted families hosted Swami Abhedananda in their homes for lunch bhiksha, together with the Brahmacharins and the Ashram sevaks. The beaming faces of the host families clearly showed their love and support for Chinmaya Mission.

From Sankranti (14 January 2024) to Shivaratri (8 March 2024), the Efforts for EQUALity (EFE) initiative, spearheaded by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission (CM) Niagara Falls, aimed to foster greater contemplation, collection and contribution in the community. Divided into three distinct and interconnected components, the initiative brought together seekers from various CM Centres to make a meaningful impact.

The initiative comprised of:

Contemplation – giving Effort
Led by Shri Vivek, registered seekers participated in daily guided contemplation sessions at 5:30 AM ET for 30 minutes for 54 days from Sankranti to Shivaratri. This unique opportunity instilled discipline by waking early and cultivating a habit of regular contemplation.

Collection – giving Time
Throughout North America, food bank usage has increased where demand for food bank services far outweighs the supply. Seekers in the community gathered resources in the form of collecting 10,800 pounds of non-perishable food for their local food banks. While the initiative faced a slow start, momentum grew towards the end of February and early March. Ultimately, the efforts culminated in over 15,700 pounds of food being collected. The community achieved 146% of their 10,800 pounds goal.

Contribution – giving Resources
Seekers raised funds for the Mississippi Food Network in the US and the Akshaya Patra Foundation in India. The Community’s generosity in giving resources expressed itself through the completion of raising over $54,000 and achieved 108% of the goal.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Guru Shishya Parampara for inspiring us with this challenge and to all those who supported this initiative. As part of Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda’s 108th Jayanti (His Jayanti is also known as Seva day in Chinmaya Mission), the Community’s contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of those in need, exemplifying the spirit of compassion and unity within our community.

By Vinita Uppal (sevika from Chinmaya Mission Calgary)