From 17th to 27th, a yoga course was conducted for a group from Bangalore, led by Sannyasi Charanashrit. At the same time, a yoga course was conducted for a group from Spain, led by Ajanta Nebhvani and Swami Sumitrananda. Satsangs and discourses were held by Swami Satyasangananda.
Guru Poornima was celebrated on 21st in the auspicious presence of Sri Swamiji, who gave darshan on this occasion for the first time in many years. Chanting of stotras, kirtan, prayers and Sundar Kand from Ramacharitamanas were conducted by the kanyas of Rikhia.
The kanyas, batuks and old age pensioners were served bhoj and offered grain, clothing and accessories as prasad, along with the monthly stipend for the oldies. The day concluded with havan, pooja and kirtans worshipping the guru.
The Alakh Bara clinic treated 826 patients for various ailments, including digestive disorders, respiratory infections and protein energy malnutrition. 24 new TB patients were enrolled to receive medicines.
Sri Radha Krishna Jhoolan commenced with Bhagavad Gita Path on 16th, following a Yoga Sadhana Shivir conducted on 14th and 15th by Swamis Gorakhnath and Nityachaitanya. The celebrations were marked by kirtans, swinging of the jhoolas of Gopal and Sri Radha-Krishna, arati and prasad distribution. This joyful event was presided over by Swami Niranjanananda and Swami Satyasangananda. It culminated on 19th with the kanyas, batuks and old age pensioners being served bhoj and offered prasad of grain, clothing, cosmetics and toiletries. The batuks of Rikhia also received new uniforms.
337 patients attended the Alakh Bara clinic and 9 patients were enrolled to receive TB medicines.
Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated on 8th with kirtans, havan and a dance performance by Alok Kumar from Deoghar.
Swami Sivananda’s Janmotsav was celebrated from 8th to 12th with daily havans, chanting of stotras, kirtans and prayers. The entire program was organized and conducted by the kanyas and batuks of Rikhia. On Swami Sivanandaji’s birthday, the 8th, Gurunaamavali havan, presided over by Swami Satyasangananda, was performed by the kanyas of Rikhia. Bhoj was also served to all the kanyas and batuks. On 12th, the old age pensioners were served bhoj and offered grains, clothing and their monthly allowance as prasad.
712 patients attended the Alakh Bara clinic. 52 patients were enrolled to receive TB medicines.
From 4th to 13th October, Ashwin Navaratri anushthana was performed at Paramahamsa Alakh Bara during which the entire Ramacharitamanas was chanted. It was led by the kanyas and batuks of Rikhia and Sannyasi Mantranidhi. Devi mantras were recited daily throughout the anushthana. Satsangs were held by Swami Niranjanananda and Swami Satyasangananda. The program culminated with the kanyas, batuks and old age pensioners receiving prasad of clothing and grain. Devi prasad was also given to all those who participated in the anushthana.
From 10th to 30th, a yoga lifestyle and sadhana retreat was conducted for an international group led by Swamis Muktidharmananda and Karmakaruna from New Zealand. During the course satsangs were held by Swami Satyasangananda and participants received mantra diksha and spiritual name from Swami Niranjanananda.
Water for irrigation of the fields of Mani Ramani, Nawadih, was provided from the Sivananda Sarovar and Bharpur Kuwa.
During this month, 189 patients were treated at the Alakh Bara Clinic and 18 new patients were enrolled to receive TB medicine. The clinic was closed in mid-October in preparation for the upcoming Sat Chandi Mahayajna. TB patients received their medicines for the period and a periodic check-up was held to monitor their health.
On 1st, Diwali was celebrated and the entire ashram was lit up like a fairyland with thousands of deepaks invoking the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi, and bringing delight to the eyes of all present.
On 15th November, Kartik Poornima, Rasa Lila was performed by a professional troupe from Vrindavan, who with able help from the kanyas of Rikhia enchanted the audience with their colourful enactment from the life of Sri Krishna. At the culmination of the Rasa Lila, the actors and audience all played holi with a great abundance of flower petals, and the evening ended with showers of fragrant colour and merriment. Prasad of candles and traditional Diwali sweets was distributed to all the families of Rikhia Panchayat. The event was marked by the darshan and satsang of Sri Swamiji.
The Sat Chandi Mahayajna and the Rajasooya Yajna was conducted at Rikhia ashram from 2nd to 6th December. In the days preceding the yajna, the kanyas performed havans to invoke the presence and blessings of Ganesha, Saraswati, Vishnu and, of course, Guru. The guests arriving from all over India and the world had daily satsangs with Swami Niranjanananda and Swami Satyasangananda, and were thus prepared for the yajna in a spirit of reverence and sadhana.
The Sat Chandi Mahayjna was inaugurated by Sri Swami Satyananda himself on the afternoon of 1st December with an inspiring satsang elaborating the concept of Devi, yajna and the role of fire in the rise of human consciousness.
Sat Chandi Mahayajna, Rajasooya Yajna and Sita Kalyanam, conducted from 2nd to 6th December, was attended by delegates from all states of India and delegates from over 40 countries around the world in the presence if Swami Niranjanananda and Swami Satyasangananda. While the pandits chanted the sacred scriptures, accompanied by dedicated pathis, the yajna prasad was distributed to Sri Swamiji’s neighbours, the local villagers, village elders, widows and old age pensioners. They received grains, household utensils, agricultural tools and implements, rajais and blankets, clothing and woollens and children’s educational articles. Prasad was distributed to families from over 60 villages, including the 17 villages of Rikhia Panchayat. In addition, every person who entered the ashram gates during these five days was offered the sacred Devi prasad from the yajna.
The kanyas and batuks of Rikhia, however, stole the show, not only by conducting the entire ceremony with exemplary poise, efficiency and decorum, but also by offering a veritable feast for the eyes with their beautiful new outfits, a different set worn each day, by enchanting the ears of all with their wonderful singing, chanting of uplifting kirtans, bhajans and stotras from the sacred vedic scriptures and by winning the hearts of one and all with their uncomplicated innocence, spontaneity and childlike expressions, attributes which make them a perfect medium for unfolding the divine energy.
Kanya Bhoj, the purest tantric form of worship of the Divine Cosmic Mother, was performed under the able directions of Swami Niranjanananda and Swami Satyasangananda on the final day and marked the culmination of the entire yajna. The devotees were blessed once again with the presence of Sri Swami Satyananda, who presided over the pooja and the poornahuti and dwelled at length on kindling the dormant consciousness within.
A Tattwa Shuddhi course, held from the 9th to 14th, was attended by delegates from all over India and the world. It was conducted by Swamis Satyadharma and Vigyanchaitanya under the guidance of Swami Satyasangananda, who also gave satsangs during this period on the same topic.
Christmas Eve was celebrated as the Bara din (biggest day) on the 24th. Delegates from over 40 countries attended the celebrations, marked by Christmas carols and traditional Christmas dance, a magic show and a Bharata Natyam dance performance. Father Jose and brothers and sisters from the St Francis mission also attended the celebrations. Sri Swamiji blessed the event with his darshan and an inspiring satsang.
Akhanda Bhagavad Gita path, led by Swami Satyasangananda, was chanted by the kanyas, batuks and all present on every Ekadashi.
The Sundar Kand of the Ramacharitamanas, led by the kanyas and batuks of Rikhia, was chanted by all present on every Poornima.
Each day of the week was dedicated to a particular deity with chanting of appropriate verses: Siva Mahimna stotra every Monday, Hanuman Chalisa on Tuesdays, Rama stuti on Wednesdays, Guru stotra on Thursdays, Saundarya Lahari and Devi havan on Fridays and Mahamrityunjaya havan for universal health and happiness every Saturday.
Regular classes in English, computers, surya namaskara practice and Bhagavad Gita were held for the kanya and batuks of Rikhia Panchayat.