Omkarananda Kamakshi Devi Mandir

Shivaratri-Celebrations in Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas
on 23.2.2009

It was, undoubtedly, a very special Shivaratri-function. Preparations for it during the day were done very joyously with full energy and there was great devotion in the air.

Shiva Bhajans by Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas

Shiva Bhajans by Priests of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas

Pandit Sureshji with his colleagues took great pain to prepare the Omkarananda Ashram Temples for the event, resulting in a highly pleasing and inspiring sight.

Kumari Somashekhari explains the dances in honour of Lord Shiva
Kumari Somashekhari explains the dances in honour of Lord Shiva
At evening time, after the Arati, Kumari Somashekhari in a glittering Lahanga (traditional dance dress) and her students Neha and Pinky beautifully performed special dances in honour of Lord Shiva in the big Temple-Mandapa of Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir. The perfection in the Dance-Performances and the trained skills, presented by Soma and her team, touched the heart of the audience.

Under the guidance of Shri Ganesh Shastriji a Film Team of Zee News Television recorded the event.

Swami Vishveshwarananda, President of Swami Omkarananda Saraswati Charitable Trust, rounded off the function with an expression of Thanks to Pandit Sureshji and the other priests. He also thanked the T.V. Crew for joining and recording the function.

After the beautiful function Prasadam was distributed to everybody, who attended the event.

Pushpanjali in Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir

Shortly after a break Pandit Sureshji, with his Priests, started the typical Shivaratri prayers in the shrine of Paramahamsa Omkarananda Saraswati. At the same time in all the other Shiva Temples of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas special Shiva-Pujas were performed throughout the night. The prayers went on till the next day morning 5 o'clock.

Somashekhari worships Lord Shiva through dance Soma in a Shiva Nataraja pose
Somashekhari worships Lord Shiva through dance Soma in a Shiva Nataraja pose
Kumari Neha and Pinky perform a special Shivaratri Dance
Kumari Neha and Pinky perform a special Shivaratri Dance

The Zee News Team with the well-known journalist, Shri Vinod Sharmaji, conducted brief interviews with Swami Vishveshwarananda, Kumari Somashekhari and Pandit Sureshji. Swami Vishveshwarananda detailed the efforts of Omkarananda Ashram Himalayas in the field of education. He profiled the work being done in far flung villages of Uttarakhand. He made very clear that all these efforts were possible with the blessings and spiritual power of Gurudev Paramahamsa Swami Omkarananda Saraswati Maharaj.

The camera man of Zee News Television filmed the whole dance programme in the temple

The camera man of Zee News Television filmed the whole dance programme in the temple

Kumari Somashekhari was questioned regarding Indian Classical Dance. She expressed the importance of the Indian Classical Dance as an expression of God-experience. She emphasized specially on purity and the spiritual values which are essential for a great success in this wonderful mystical Art.

Pandit Sureshji spoke about the joyful experience during the worship in Shri Omkarananda-Kamakshi-Devi Mandir.

In the end Kumari Somashekhari and her students performed an Arati Dance and distributed 
the Arati to all devotees

Somashekhari and her students  performed an Arati Dance

Shri Ganesh Shastriji, film maker (on the left), garlands the Zee News camera man Shri Gandharva Kumar

Shri Ganesh Shastriji, film maker (on the left), garlands the Zee News camera man Shri Gandharva Kumar

From left to right: Shri Vinod Sharma, Correspondent, Zee News, his wife Alka, Kumari Somashekhari, Zee News 
camera man, Shri Gandharva Kumar, 
Shri Ganesh Shastriji, film maker

From left to right: Shri Vinod Sharma, Correspondent, Zee News, his wife Alka,
Kumari Somashekhari, Zee News camera man, Shri Gandharva Kumar,
Shri Ganesh Shastriji, film maker

The Temple Priests distribute Prasadam to everybody

The Temple Priests distribute Prasadam to everybody

Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji spoke on the importance of Shivaratri and thanked all devotees and also the TV team who took part in this celebration

Shri Swami Vishveshwaranandaji spoke on the importance of Shivaratri
and thanked all devotees and also the TV team who took part in this celebration

The Zee News people expressed their surprise for this wonderful event and had all praise for the wonderful divine vibration and high cleanliness inside the Omkarananda Ashram Temples and their surroundings.