Vivekananda Kendra organized a Spiritual Retreat from 4th to 10th February 2018 in Vivekananda Kendra Training Centre. There are 41 participants, 14 in English Shibir and 27 in Hindi. They are from 12 states and one participant from abroad: Assam- 5, West Bengal- 1, Bihar- 6, Madhya Pradesh- 2, Tamilnadu- 3, Kerala- 1, Karnataka- 2, Maharashtra- 6, Rajasthan- 11, Haryana- 1, Delhi-1, Uttar Pradesh- 1 and 1 participant from Germany. All the lecture and practice sessions were in English and Hindi separately.
All the participants were made into 4 ganas: in English Dharma and Artha and in Hindi Kaama and Moksha. The daily routine started with wake up at 4:30 a m. 5: 15 a m, Pratahsmaran and Gita pathan followed by loosening exercises, simple Asanas and Pranayama techniques. Different works were done in Shram Samskar.
There were two lecture sessions daily, at 10:00 a m 1nd 3:30 p m. Lecture sessions were on the following subjects: Concept of Spirituality, Swami Vivekananda, Kendra Prarthana, Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Sri Ramakrishna and Holy Mother Sarada, Ananda Mimamsa, Kendra Activities and Purposeful Life.
Group discussion on selected points from lectures and songs and chanting practices were also done. Cyclic Meditation and Omkar Dhyan were practiced in the evening practice sessions. All participants enjoyed the Bhajan Sandhya, Prerana se Punaruddhan and Atmavalokan. The day's activities ended at 10:00 p m every day.
All the participants visited Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Devi Kanyakumari Temple, Gangotri, Arise! Awake!! Exhibition, Ramayana Darshanam and Bharat Mata Sadanam.
Some of the participants have expressed their willingness to associate with Kendra activities in their own area.
