179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784 PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798 singapore@rkmm.org

SINGA SPEAKS

A PERIODIC NEWSLETTER FROM THE RAMAKRISHNA MISSION, SINGAPORE

ROAR 6 | SINGAPORE | SATURDAY | 14 MAY 2016

Sri Adi SHankara Jayanti Cultural programme in conjunction with celebration

On Sunday, 2nd May 2016, Ramakrishna Mission  Singapore  and Vivekananda Seva Sangh (VSS) came together for the second time. This time to organise 'Sameeksha' – a cultural programme in conjunction with Sri Adi Shankara's Jayant i celebration.

At 9.45 am the program commenced, with the happy attendance of about 300 adults and children paying their respects in welcoming t h e m o n k s o f t h e

Ramakrishna Mission. Children standing in rows with a tray of flowers and lamps (‘thalam’, as per Kerala tradition), was picture perfect with an audio effect of Pancavadyam, the traditional drum music at the background being played.

The official inauguration was done by lighting the lamp by Swami Vimokshananda, followed by the guests – Sri Rajan Krishnan-Chairman, Hindu Advisory Board, Sri Jayakumar-President, Singapore Malayalee Association, Sri Jayadev-Director, KNP Trading Pte Ltd. and Sri

S u m i t h N a n d a -Promoter of Ayush, Ayurveda practices. T h e c h i l d r e n o f Ramakrishna Mission Saturday Classes on Hinduism performed the Vedic chanting of an insp i r i ng hymn c a l l e d “ N a r a y a n a Upanishad”.

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784 PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798 singapore@rkmm.org

Competetion on Gita Chanting Gita competition commenced, where Kids were split into two age groups; they rendered slokas followed by narrating their meaning as well. It was also remarkable that none of the children had a paper in hand to read out the meaning. Their energy and enthusiasm were reassuring that our sanskaar and sanskriti have been sowed into fields which will reap well if ploughed nicely through these types of events. 

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER SATURDAY, 14 MAY 2016

Winners for below age-9 c a t e g o r y w e r e S h r e y a , A v y u k t h a a n d B h a v i k a securing first, second and third prizes respectively. Winners for above age-9 category were Jaidev, Shivani and Sai Kishan securing first, second and third prizes respectively.

No children's programme is complete without drawing and colouring competition! Pictures from the ever-enchanting childhood life of Sri Krishna were given for colouring and Gagan Suresh Kashyap came ou t w i th f l y i ng co lou rs , securing the first prize.

There were various other short programmes, where children e x h i b i t e d t h e i r d i v e r s e dexterity showcasing their talents in singing, dancing and playing musical instruments. While Lalitha played a violin recital, Manasa & Kirtana rendered a lilting bhajan.

179 BARTLEY ROAD | SINGAPORE 539784 PH: +65 6288 9077 | FAX: 6288 5798 singapore@rkmm.org

PERIODIC NEWSLETTER SATURDAY, 14 MAY 2016

As most of the VSS members were of Kerala origin, the event turned out to be a pleasant fusion of Kerala culture with the rest of  India. Songs in Sanskrit and Malayalam were rendered by the participants. The young Amritha gave a soulful rendering of a bhajan based on Carnatic r a g a s . L a d i e s o f V S S p e r f o r m e d a Thiruvathirakali and Bharatanatyam. Both the dances received a thunderous ovation from the audience. The male members performed a group song along with the traditional instruments. A

Sanskrit skit  based on Sri Ramakrishna’s core teachings was depicted by Sri Hemangshu and his team, the Sanskri t learners of the Ramakrishna Mission’s Sunday Sanskrit Classes.

"I felt, as if, I was in Kerala," said Swami Vimokshananda to the applause of the audience in his closing speech. He stressed that teaching of our hoary cultural heritage must be done to the children who grow up in a completely

different atmosphere. At the start of the program, Sri Amma Mani welcomed the people and Sri Rajeev Nair gave a Vote of Thanks. The comperers were Kumaris Ami and Adra. The programme ended with a prize-giving ceremony for the winners and consolation prizes for all the participants followed by a delicious prasad meal. There w a s s e e n a d i s t i n c t enthusiasam among the public in appreciating the culture and “Sameeksha” has well created an awareness by holding this jayanti function.

All Photos Courtesy:

Rajeev Variyar