Swami Vivekananda Youth Day

A Youth Programme to commemorate the 145th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda was held on Sunday, 13 January 2008 (7.30 a.m. - 12 p.m.) at the Centre, Glen Anil. The programme comprised the following: a satsang including kirtans, reading from Swami Vivekananda's Complete Works, meditation and peace chants; a Youth Seminar on the topics, Swami Vivekananda and the Rise of India, Processing Youth Energy according to Vedanta and Vivekananda Literature - The Never-ending source of inspiration; a DVD presentation of the address by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam (former President of India) on Youth Day at the Ramakrishna Mission, Porbandar, India and a series of PowerPoint presentations on the activities of the Centre.

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145th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda

The public function to mark this event was held on Saturday, 26 January 2008 at the Centre, Glen Anil. The keynote address was delivered by Swami Vimokshananda. The Guest of Honour, Mr Jeph Mtshali (General Manager: Tourism & Corporate Strategy, Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism - KZN Provincial Ministry), addressed the congregation on the topic Intercultural Understanding. The programme also included bhajans, a DVD presentation on The Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan (Hospital), Kolkata, India, and a Kathak dance presentation by Kumari Sasha Naidoo. On Swami Vivekananda Tithi Puja Day (29 January 2008), special puja was performed in the morning.

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Gauteng Vedanta Retreat

Swami Saradananda conducted a half-day Vedanta Retreat hosted by the Gauteng Sub-Centre on 23 February 2008 at the Radhe Shyam Temple, Marlboro, Johannesburg. The programme comprised a satsang, reading from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, a talk on Sustaining Spiritual Life by Swami Saradananda, guided meditation, cultural items (Bharata Natyam and Kathak dances), DVD presentation on the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital (Kolkata, India), silent meditation and peace chants.

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172nd Birth Anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna

The public function to commemorate this event was held on Saturday, 8 March 2008 at the Centre, Glen Anil. The keynote address was delivered by Swami Vimokshananda. The Guest of Honour, Mr H V Shringla (Consul General of India in Durban) also addressed the congregation. Indian classical and folk dances were rendered by students of Kumari Ambigay's Dance Institute. The 9th Edition of the Centre's Prayer Book was launched on this auspicious occasion by Swami Vimokshananda. Sri Ramakrishna's Tithi Puja was observed on 9 March 2008 with special puja and day-long japa.

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Vedanta Retreat

A Vedanta Retreat was held on Friday, 21 March 2008 (6 a.m. - 6 p.m.) at the Centre, Glen Anil. The programme for the day comprised: satsang, which included the chanting of hymns, singing of bhajans and kirtans, silent and guided meditation, reading from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, peace chants and vesper services; a seminar on the Bhagavad Gita on the topics The Ideal Man of Knowledge according to the Gita, The Universal Form of God and Knowledge of the Three Gunas; discourse on The Paths of the Pleasant and the Good according to the Katha Upanishad by Swami Vimokshananda; DVD presentation on Scientific Discoveries in India; devotional vocal and instrumental concert by Sri Manesh Maharaj and troupe; question and answer session and an address by Swami Saradananda on Some Aspects of Swami Vivekananda's Personality. This retreat was restricted to 300 persons only.

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The Swami Vivekananda Family Welfare Centre, Foresthaven, Phoenix

The Swami Vivekananda Family Welfare Centre, Foresthaven, Phoenix, was officially opened on Monday, 24 March 2008. The Welfare Centre will be used as a feeding scheme for indigent people. The ceremony was attended by a large number of government officials and local dignitaries. Swami Vimokshananda, in his address, outlined the manner in which selfless service should be conducted. Thereafter the Centre was officially opened by Mr and Mrs R (Jay) Singh (Main Sponsors). Ms P Meskin (President, World Conference on Religions for Peace, SA) then delivered an address. She complimented the Centre on the welfare work it has been performing over the years throughout the country. The function concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, followed by lunch.

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Faculty of Peace Studies, Spirituality and Culture

The Faculty's graduation ceremonies for the "Certificate in Hindu Studies Course" were held on Saturday, 29 March 2008 (6.15 - 7.30 p.m.) at the Centre, Glen Anil and on Saturday, 5 April 2008 (2.30 - 4.00 p.m.) at the Ladysmith Town Hall. The programmes for these functions comprised an academic procession; prayer; official constitution of the ceremony by Swami Vimokshananda; welcome; address by Deputy-dean Mr V Mohanlal; keynote address by Swami Vimokshananda; presentation of the Certificates by Swami Vimokshananda in his capacity as President of the Faculty; addresses by the Guests of Honour (Prof P Pillay - Glen Anil; Dr I Bedassi - Ladysmith) and dissolution of the ceremony by Swami Vimokshananda. In total 106 students graduated. The Course was of one year's duration and was pitched at first year university level being conducted in the distance education mode. There were four written assignments and one examination in each of the two semesters. Students felt that the entire course was informative and inspiring.

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The Ramakrishna Community Veterinary Clinic

The Ramakrishna Community Veterinary Clinic conducted a vet camp on Sunday, 30 March 2008, at the Welbedacht Settlement near Chatsworth. One hundred and five animals were treated. Animals were vaccinated against rabies and dipped for other pests. Pet food, collars and leashes were also handed out. These camps are held under the direction of Dr Sanil Singh and the Centre's team of voluntary workers.

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Nutrition Programme

The Centre's Nutrition Programme continues to support approximately 6000 indigent persons on a daily basis. The monthly distribution includes one and a half tons rice, half ton dhal, canned products, oil, sugar, salt, vegetables, fruit etc. The majority of the items are distributed in the Phoenix, Inanda, Kwa Mashu and Chatsworth areas.

For more information on the Nutrition Programme please click here.

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Agricultural Projects

During October - December 2007 the Centre donated over one thousand fruit trees (mango, litchi, orange, lemon, avocado pear and banana) to community and individual farmers in the rural areas of Inanda and Amouti, KwaZulu-Natal.

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