Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, organized a Spiritual Retreat from August 8th to 14th, 2024, at the Training Centre in Vivekanandapuram, Kanyakumari. The retreat featured two parallel Shibirs: one conducted in English with 24 participants (19 brothers and 5 sisters) and the other in Hindi with 28 participants (17 brothers and 11 sisters), totaling 52 participants. Attendees hailed from 15 different states across Bharat, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Participants reported to the Training Centre on August 7th, settled into their accommodations, and received their Shibir kits. The retreat commenced with a Bhajan Sandhya on the evening of August 7th, followed by an introduction session where the organizing team, schedule, and code of conduct were presented. The regular schedule began on August 8th.
The Shibir's daily routine began at 5:15 a.m. with Guided Meditation, Pratahsmaran, and Gita Pathan (Bhagavad Gita Chanting), followed by Yoga Abhyas, Breakfast, Shramasanskar, Shramaparihar, Session 1, Swadhyaya (Group Discussion), Mantra Chanting, Lunch, Tea, Session 2, Yoga Abhyas & Meditation, Intune with Nature, Bhajan Sandhya, Prerana Se Punarutthan (Happy Assembly), and concluded with Atmavalokan (Introspection) and Supper at 8:15 p.m.
Participants were grouped into six Ganahs (groups) named after Rishis and Rishikas: Agasthya, Kashyap, and Markandeya for English participants; Gargi, Maitreyi, and Kathyayani for Hindi participants. Shramasanskar, Swadhyaya, and food serving were conducted Ganah-wise. Activities like Guided Meditation, Pratahsmaran, Gita Pathan, Shramasanskar, Bhajan Sandhya, and Prerana Se Punarutthan were conducted together for both English and Hindi participants.
Lecture sessions, held separately for English and Hindi participants, covered various topics such as the Concept of Spirituality, Different Streams of Yoga (Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Karma Yoga), Kendra Prarthana, Swami Vivekananda, Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Maa Sharada, Mananeeya Eknathji Ranade, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Ananda Mimamsa (Happiness Analysis), Sadhana, and Indian Culture. Group discussions followed each morning session, allowing participants to discuss and present their points Ganah-wise.
Yoga Abhyas was conducted separately in the morning and evening for English and Hindi participants. They were taught various loosening exercises, Surya Namaskaram, Asanas, Pranayama, Yogic Relaxation techniques, and Meditation techniques. Participants also learned to chant Pratahsamarana Strotra, Aikya Mantra, Santi Pat, Bhagavad Gita Slokas, Bhojana Mantra, and Yogasana Mantras during the Mantra Chanting session.
Every evening, after Bhajan Sandhya, participants engaged in Prerana Se Punarutthan with games, creative activities, action songs, patriotic songs, Lingashtakam, Hanuman Chalisa, inspiring stories, and brief explanations of Vivekananda Kendra activities. The day concluded with Atmavalokan.
On the evening of August 10th, participants visited exhibitions at the Vivekanandapuram Campus, including Gangotri, Arise! Awake! (Pictorial Exhibition), and Ramayana Darshanam & Bharat Mata Sadanam. The Bhajan Sandhya and Prerana Se Punarutthan were conducted in front of the Sri Hanumanji Statue. On August 11th, participants enjoyed the sunrise from the Vivekanandapuram beach and visited the Swami Vivekananda Mandapam and Mananeeya Eknathji Samadhi. On August 12th, participants, along with the organizing team, visited the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Devi Kanyakumari Temple, and Wandering Monk Exhibition.
On the morning of August 13th, a special session explained the functioning of Vivekananda Kendra Branch Centres, Utsavs, and the Patron Scheme, along with information on how to join Kendra as a Karyakarta. Many participants expressed interest in the Patron Scheme and in associating with local Kendra Centres. In the evening, a video on the construction of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial was shown, followed by a display of Vivekananda Kendra's digital content.
On the final day, August 14th, after Guided Meditation, Pratahsmaran, Gita Pathan, and Shramasanskar, an interaction session was held where participants sat prant-wise (state-wise) and shared their individual experiences. Karyakartas guided them on how to connect with local Kendra Branch Centres. The concluding session was presided over by Mananeeya Sri Hanumatha Rao Ji, All India Vice President of VRM&VK, who addressed and blessed the participants.
The Shibir was organized by a team of 12 Karyakartas from Dakshin Prant, under the guidance of Shibir Adhikari, Adharneeya Sri Ravi Sharma Ji, All India Yoga Pramukh. Sri Raghunathan Ji, Kerala Vibhag Pravasi Karyakarta, and Kum. Sumitra Didi, Tamil Nadu Vibhag Pravasi Karyakarta, served as Shibir Pramukhs for the English and Hindi sessions, respectively. Adharneeya Kum. Radha Devi Didi, Dakshin Prant Sangatak, served as Shibir Mitra and actively interacted with the participants throughout the Shibir.
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