Swami Vivekananda Ratha Yatra

As part of the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda, Rathayatras have been organised throughout the country since last year. The main objective of this Ratha Yatra is to instill in the people, especially the youth, noble ideas from the life and messages of Swami Vivekananda and thereby awaken and rejuvenate their spirit.  

In Tamilnadu too, the Ratha Yatra commenced its journey from Coimbatore in April 2013. After touring all the districts of Tamilnadu, the Ratha Yatra reached Chennai on 29-dec-2013 and various parts of Chennai were covered for the next eight days.  Totally a distance of more than 10,500 km was covered during the 280 days journey of Swamiji's Ratham to spread the message of Swamiji in Tamilnadu.

Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama coordinated the entire Chennai city tour of the Ratham, in a very well planned and elaborate manner.

A dozen volunteers of our group accompanied the Rathams on 05-jan-2014, when the areas of Guindy, Nanganallur, Madipakkam, Kilakattalai and Velachery were covered.  The day's yatra was flagged off by Shri Sairam of G R N Builders at Guindy. 

To spread the messgaes of Swamiji, our volunteers distributed pamphlets, booklets and pocket calenders containing the noble ideas of Swamiji.  The reception was very good at all the places and the young and old participated enthusiastically to receive the Ratham and garland Swamiji. 

In Nanganallur area, the students of Modern School welcomed the Swamiji with vedic chants and they performed a skit depicting some of the events from Swamiji's life, interspersed with various songs in praise of Swami Vivekananda.

Vedic Chanting by students of Modern School

Students of Modern School, Nanganallur

A ceremonial Poorna Kumbha reception was give at Sri Ardhaneeswarar Temple at Nanganallur followed  by the chanting of Rudram, Chamakam and Sookthams from the Vedas by the local pandit.  

Shri Sairam addresses the public at Nanganallur

Thereafter a public meeting was held near the temple as a culmination of the days programme, which was well attended by the local residents.

Our Volunteers

Last Sunday (19-jan-2014), Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama, T Nagar,  arranged for a small function to thank the organisers of the various localities and mementos were distributed to the participants.