150th Birth Anniversary Celebration of Bhagini Nivedita at Kochi
As part of Kochi International Book Festival 2016, the organising committee of Samarpanam, celebrated the 150th Birth Anniversary celebration of Sister Nivedita on 5th December 2016. The programme started at 5 pm with a short prayer by Sushree Sutapa.
Dr Vinaya Ramamurthy, Executive Committee member, Samarpanam welcomed everyone to the event and introduced the Chief guest and the dignitaries on the dais.
Dr Lakshmi Shankar, General Convener, in her introductory speech, gave an indication of the fire power that was to follow.
Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi, Chairperson of Samarpanam gave the presidential address and cited upon the inspirations derived from the book The master as I saw him. Sri Eldhose Kunnappily MLA shared his thoughts on the plight of modern man and his un-ending desire of worldly possessions. 
The event was inaugurated by the renowned journalist, Sri Rantidev Sengupta, from Kolkata, who was also instrumental in the visit of Selenda Girardin, grand niece of Sister Nivedita, on February 17th, 2015 to Kolkata. In his inaugural address, he showcased important aspects and events in the life of Bhagini Nivedita.
Srimad Swami Bhadreshanandaji Maharaj and Pravrajika Sumedha Prana Mataji of Sri Ramakrishna Math, Vytilla and Sri Sarada Math, Ernakulam respectively shared their thoughts on Sister Nivedita.
Smt. Meena Vishwanath, Academic Consultant, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, provided the felicitations to the guests and speakers. Srimad Swami Nandatmajanandaji Maharaj, Editor, Prabhuddha Keralam held the audience spellbound with Vanichithrapuja. The vote of thanks was accorded by Dr. Jyostna G Nair.
Lectures on Sister Nivedita in colleges and Sadhana Divas Celebration
VKVVF was fortunate enough to have Mananeeya Nivedita Didi, (Vice President of Vivekananda Kendra)on the 17th and 18th of November. On the 17th morning, an hour-long talk on Sister Nivedita and her idea of Education was delivered by her at Hindi Prachar Kendra, Kodungallur for the benefit of B.Ed students . Fifty students attended. How Sister, transformed herself under the able guidance of Swami Vivekananda and how she applied her unique methods of teaching for the all-round development of the girls of the school which she established in Kolkata. The key points highlighted by her were the essential qualities of a budding teacher.
On the 18th morning, at Asmabi College, Mannaneeya Nivedita Didi spoke to the first year B.A.and BSc students. Dr.Ranjit and Dr Mrs Soorya Ranjit both from the Hindi department of the college arranged the talk.She told them about Sister Nivedita who was trained by Swami Vivekananda when she came to India to serve Mother India.The qualities required to be an able student were - All knowledge is within us, the need is of self-confidence which Sister Nivedita stressed on. She narrated how Sister prepared her girl students some of who were child widows, to become faculty members of the Vishwa Bharati International University of Rabindranath Tagore, at Shantiniketan. The second quality needed for a student is to know how to learn and for this, concentration is a must, like that of Swami Vivekananda who was known for his photographic memory. Concentration can be increased by developing self-control. Again along with concentration, detachment also must be practised. Another important method was -TCI (Topic-Concept-Information) technique. This was how Sister Nivedita taught her girls. She also mentioned that, a student should understand his or her oneness with nature since each of them was a spark of the Divine, hence one has to give more than take. That is what Sister Nivedita made her students understand. She taught her girl students everything including the pride for their family, society and country. The whole talk was delivered in simple Hindi which the students listened with rapt attention. Lastly one of the girls came and delivered a beautiful vote of thanks.
SWANTANAM
On the eve of Mananeeya Eknathji's birthday, there was a gathering of senior citizens at Anandadham to participate in the 'Santwanam' programme meant for the retired teachers who were honoured by V.K.Vedic Vision on Gurupurnima day, all the elderly well-wishers and karyakartas of Kendra. Taking the opportunity of the presence of Mananeeya Nivedita Didi's at Anandadham on the 18th evening , the unique programme was arranged.
Man. Nivedita Didi's talk was on the four Ashrama system of our Indian culture and how it bound the people of all ages together, how it helped to build up the inclusive nature of every child as it grew up to be a man with dignity and total personality . She stressed on the duties of a Vanaprasthi for the society in which he or she lived.
Inaugural talk was followed by a short meditation session conducted by Sri Sudhakarji, a video clipping on Sri Narayan Guru's 'Daiva Dashakam'. The programme ended with Kendra prarthana, with an assurance to all that 'Swantanam' was a monthly programme for all the vanaprasthis who had responded to this programme. 25 people attended the programme.
DIWALI CELEBRATION
DIWALI CELEBRATION
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| Pushpa Archana |
On Sunday morning, Samskar Varga children celebrated Diwali by paying homage to Veermata Nivedita. Little Dakshina dressed as Sister Nivedita together with Mananeeya LakshmiDidi, lit the lamp in front of the photo of Sister. Some parents of the Sandeepani Sishuvihar and the inmates of Anandadham were present as the audience to encourage them.A short speech by Little Sister, chanting of Suktas of Sister and Swamiji, a group song and Surya Namaskar formed part of their programme. Didi spoke to them on the life and work of Sister Nivedita. At the end, after pushparchana each of them received a booklet on Sister Nivedita as prasad.
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| Suryanamaskar |
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| Sister listening attentively to Didi |
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| Reciting Ssuktam |
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| Our Ganapati temple on Diwali day |
Inauguration of Sister Nivedita -150th Birth Anniversary Celebrations
Inauguration of the year long 150th Birth Anniversary celebration of Sister Nivedita began with the inaugural programme at Paramekkavu auditorium, Thrissur on Friday, October 28th.
The Programme started sharp at 4p.m with a Bhajan session conducted by the Bhaktamahila Trust of Thrissur. A good number of devotees were already in the auditorium to listen to the melody of bhajans invoking the Holy Trinity.
At 5p.m the main programme started with Mangalacharan by Sushree Sutapa followed by the welcome speech by Dr Lakshmi Sankar,General Convenor of (the organising committee) Samarpanam. She gave a brief introduction to the yearlong programmes in connections with Sister Nivedita's 150th Birth Anniversary and introduced the guests on the dais.
Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi,Chairperson of Samarpan, spoke on Sister Nivedita's shraddha for her Guru and how she absorbed the spirit of Bharat through her association with her Guru. The opening group song and a short speech on Sister Nivedita were the contributions of the senior students of Harishree School,Thrissur. Deepa prajwalan was by the Chief Guest, Retd. Justice. Smt. K.K. Usha (Former Chief Justice, High Court of Kerala). In her inaugural address, Justice Usha spoke on the dedication and total surrender of Sister to her Guru's instruction. The keynote address was given by Prof.Dr. Prameela Devi, Member-Women’s Commission.on the need of 'Nivedita ' in this era of utter confusion and anarchy. Apart from the main speakers, Revered Swami Mokshavratanandaji - President of Sri Ramakrishna Math Thiruvananthapuram blessed the audience and Rev. Swami Sadbhavanandaji President Ramakrishna Math, Thrissur released a book on Sister Nivedita in Malayalam, translated by Smt. Vinila Vijay from the English version of Smt. Sarala Bala Sarkar entitled "Nivedita As I Saw Her". Sri Terambil Ramakrishnan (Ex-MLA) and Smt. Padma Devy received the copies of the books.
The most interesting part of the programme was Rev. Swami Nadatmajanandaji's (Editor of Prabuddha Keralam) 'Vanichitrapuja' or sketching of Sister Nivedita on the tune of a poem on Sister composed by Sri Dilip - a member of Vivekananda Darshanika Samajam and sung by a Master. Ananta Narayan from Ramakrishna Mission High School. The vote of thanks was given by Smt Beena Govind, a member of Samarpanam. The programme ended at 7p.m.with the chanting of 'Asatoma Satgamaya'.
More than three hundred people attended the programme. Each received a copy of a booklet on Sister Nivedita and prasad. 
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UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD DAY CELEBRATION
Each year, September 11th is celebrated as Universal Brotherhood Day by Vivekananda Kendra because it was on this day in the year 1893, the King of the Yatis (saints), Swami Vivekananda uttered the five words 'Sisters and Brothers of America' in the World Parliament of Religions at Chicago which won him the hearts of the entire world. His speech was so powerful that He became known as the 'Cyclonic Monk'. Since Swamiji's words came out from the depths of his heart, Swamiji was able to convey the universal Vedantic ideas of brotherhood to the West, Hence the importance of this day as 'Universal Brotherhood Day' which is being celebrated by Vivekananda Kendra all over India with a variety of programmes.
A number of competitions were held on this occasion by Vivekananda Kendra so that the messages of Swamiji could reach every nook and corner. Various inter -school competitions were held for the UP, H.S and H.S.S. sections starting from 26th August.
On 26th August, Painting competitions were conducted for classes VI-VII and VIII to X. The topic for the junior section was ' Great Indian Heroes and for the seniors, it was Indian Monuments. 64 students from 12 different schools participated.
On 27th August, Elocution competitions based on the speech of Swamiji was conducted both in English and Malayalam for the upper primary and high School levels. 82 students participated from 8 different schools. It was a full day programme.
On 29th August a quiz competition for classes X, XI and XIIth classes. The topic given was 'Simhavalokan' or recollection and recap of all the subjects studied in the lower classes. Five schools participated. Amrita Vidyalayam secured the first position, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, secured the second position, third and consolation prizes went to Guru Sree Public School and HDPY School.
Concluding function of the UB Day was on 4th September (Sunday). Srimad Swami Chaitanyanandaji from Vivekananda Ashram, Vellimalai-Kanyakumari, was the Chief Guest. Swamiji delivered a vibrant speech on how the sanskaras or values should be inculcated in children so that they become physically and mentally strong and will be able to face any odds in life. Four regular daily practices were suggested to be adopted from childhood. 1. 12 Ganapathi namaskar, 2. 12 Surya namaskar, 3. Gayathri Japa minimum 12 times 4. Nadisuddhi 12 rounds
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At the end, prizes were distributed by Revered Swamiji to the winning participants. The rolling shield for English Elocution was won jointly by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Amrita VIdyalayam and the Rolling trophy for Malayalam elocution went to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
SRI KRISHNA JAYANTHI
On the auspicious day of Sri Krishna Jayanthi, Anandadham was converted into Gokula. Tiny tots of Sandeepani Sishuvihar and the other children from Samskarvarga, crowded here by 9 am in the morning, to take part in the Krishna Jayanthi celebration. Mothers, fathers, grandparents and siblings of the children were busy decorating their tiny tots into Krishnas. Each Krishna was dressed in yellow coloured veshthi and red or green coloured uttariya, crown on the head and a small flute in the hand, tilakam on the forehead and kundalam hanging from the ears! It was a beautiful sight. There were 20 such Krishnas and three Unni Krishnas. There were Gopikas too around 10 of them. All the little Krishnas were made to sit on stage with the Gopikas behind them. Other children and some elders sang bhajans on Sri Krishna. Smt Mathy Pavitran and Susri Sutapa Das were the judges to select the best child of the lot. All the participating children given token of appreciation for their participation. 
The programme started at 10.30 a.m with a prayer by the Sandeepani Sishuvihar children followed by Deepa prajwalanam by Smt Amani Amma, a well-wisher of Vivekananda Kendra.
After the show the children went to the park to do pradakshina of Sri Krishna's idol at Vrindavan Park of the campus. 'Uriadi ' or breaking of the pot with a stick was the last item of the celebration. All the children enjoyed this thoroughly. There was distribution of prasada after the programme. Programme concluded by noon.
Ramayana Month programmes
The Karkatakam or Ramayana month Samapanam programme was held at Anandadham on 6th August.
Ramayana Masam is an important observance in the state of Kerala. It is observed in the month of ‘Karkidakam’ of the Malayalam calendar while in the Gregorian calendar it corresponds to the months of July to August. This festival is also popularly known as ‘Karkadaka Masam’. During this time, there is a ritual to read ‘Ramayana’ on all the days of the month in almost all Hindu households. Ramayana was translated in the Malayalam language by Thunchath Ezhuthachan and is known as ‘Adhyatma Ramayana Kilippattu’. It is this Malayalam version that is read during the Ramayana Masam.
As in previous years Kum Bindu with her companion Smt. Baby visited a good number of houses in the neighborhood and did Ramayana pranayama and puja. Where there were no Ramayana books Kendra presented them with copies of Ramayana.
Ramayana Masam is an important observance in the state of Kerala. It is observed in the month of ‘Karkidakam’ of the Malayalam calendar while in the Gregorian calendar it corresponds to the months of July to August. This festival is also popularly known as ‘Karkadaka Masam’. During this time, there is a ritual to read ‘Ramayana’ on all the days of the month in almost all Hindu households. Ramayana was translated in the Malayalam language by Thunchath Ezhuthachan and is known as ‘Adhyatma Ramayana Kilippattu’. It is this Malayalam version that is read during the Ramayana Masam.
As in previous years Kum Bindu with her companion Smt. Baby visited a good number of houses in the neighborhood and did Ramayana pranayama and puja. Where there were no Ramayana books Kendra presented them with copies of Ramayana.
From 4pm to 5 p.m Ramayana quiz was conducted in three categories. One was for the tiny tots of Sandeepani Sishuvihar, the other was for the Samskarvarga children and the third was for the mothers among the audience.
This year Sri. S Ramesan Nair who has made lifelong contributions to Indian culture through his poems, plays, lyrics, translations and commentaries was the speaker of the occasion. The subject of the talk was Rama as a Maryada Purushotama and the benefits of parayanam of Adhyatma Ramayanam. Sri S.Rameshan Nair is also the author of Chilapadikaram and Kamba Ramayanam in Malayalam. He left the audience speelbound with his speech.
"An ideal son to the parents.
An ideal husband to His wife.
A Good brother to his young brothers.
A Good and Ideal king to the people of His kingdom.
A good and ideal protector of Dharma.
A Good and Ideal ruler.
A good and ideal friend to vanaras.
An Ideal son in obeying the parents.
An example for morality.
So, Shri Rama is called Maryada purushottam Ram."
19TH JULY GURUPURNIMA DAY
Gurupoornima day was celebrated by the yoga students, and Sandeepani Sishuvihar children on 19th. Lakshmi Didi addressed the morning batch yoga students in the morning. She highlighted the significance of Guru in ones own growth and the need for paying their reverence to all those teachers who contributed to becoming what they are today.
Sandeepani Sishuvihar children did pada puja to Lakshmi Didi and sought her blessings. She blessed them and addressed the noon batch yoga students. In her address, she requested all the mothers to play the vital role in the growth of children befitting to the dictum of Matrudevo Bhava.
Sandeepani Sishuvihar children did pada puja to Lakshmi Didi and sought her blessings. She blessed them and addressed the noon batch yoga students. In her address, she requested all the mothers to play the vital role in the growth of children befitting to the dictum of Matrudevo Bhava.
GURUPURNIMA CELEBRATION
As Guru Purnima fell on 19th July, a working day, it was celebrated at Anandadham on 17th Sunday, with a unique programme of honouring a large number of elderly retired teachers in and around Kodungallur.
Man. Lakshmi Didi, in her welcome address described the event as a unique one stressing that all those teachers who have laid 
Srimad Swami Tejaswaroopananda Saraswati, Vivekananda Seva Kendra, Thrissur who was the Chief Guest explained in his speech the importance of inculcating the values in the minds of children and he used the eternal example of Sri Hanuman of Ramayana. This also was a reminder to the audience that Ramayana, which is religiously read during the karkataka month (Ramayana Month) is not just a purana story to be taken lightly, but to be used as a manual of values for character building and Nation building to be inculcated in the growing children.
Mananeeya Lakshmi Didi's book "Bhavayami Ekanatham' (a short biography of Ma. Eknathji) was also released by Sri Gopalan Kutty Menon and the first copy was received by Smt Jyothi Unniraman, our close well-wisher. Programme concluded with Shanti Mantra and a grand lunch
CONCLUDING PROGRAMME - INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY CELEBRATION - VIMARSHA
26th June Sunday, was the concluding day of the International Yoga Day celebrations, at Ananda dham. A half day VIMARSHA on "Yoga and Education" was arranged from 10 a.m to 12.30 noon. Sri Gopinath Edakkunni, Course Director of Thrissur District Yoga Association and Srimad Swami Tejaswarupananda Saraswathi, form Vivekananda Sevasram, Triprayar were the chief speakers. Susree Indu, student of Sri Gopinath and a Yoga therapist by profession spoke about her experiences. Sri Harinath.P, Yoga teacher at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Vidya Mandir, Kodungallur since last fifteen years, shared his experiences as a Yoga teacher while dealing with different age groups of school children. 
This was followed by a beautiful yogasana demonstration by the prize winners of the various yoga competitions conducted earlier. As the last item of the day, the prize distribution for the winners in Yogasana contest. Mananeeya Didi and Sri Nayarananji, one of our guests and a yoga practitioner from Angamali, gave away the prizes. This year too, Mananeeya Eknathji Memorial rolling trophy for the best performing school, went to Guru shree Public School. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan School were the runners up. The programme concluded by 1.30 p.m.with Shanthi mantra.
YOGASANA COMPETITION
Competition on individual advanced yoga postures was held for school students in three categories, viz Group A -Class III to V, Group B- class VI to VIII and Group C - for classes IX to X on 25 th June. A total of ten asanas were named out of which each students had to perform five asanas of their choice.
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| Mananeeya Didi lighting the lamp |
Forty five students from four different schools participated. The competition started by paying homage to sage Patanjali and lighting of lamp by Mananeeya Lakshmi |Didi. It started at 7.30 a.m. and concluded at 12.30 noon.Mananeeya Eknathji Rolling Trophy for the school team with highest scores was bagged by last years winners,Gurushree School again.The runners up team was Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Vidya Mandir,Kodungallur.
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