RAMAKRISHNA MATH AND RAMAKRISHNA MISSION

RELIEF BULLETIN

(Issued by the General Secretary from the Headquarters, Belur Math)

A BRIEF REPORT AS ON NOVEMBER 2002

Gujarat Earthquake Rehabilitation: Three School at Kutiyana taluka in Porbandar district, newly constructed through Porbandar centre, were inaugurated and handed over to authorities last month. The details are given below:

The progress report of the construction of houses and schools by the Rehabilitation camps directly under the Headquarters and through our centres in Gujarat is as follows:

Houses

Schools

The total cost of the Gujarat Earthquake Rehabilitation Project is nearly Rs. 16.80 crore.

1. Durga Puja was celebrated at Belur Math from 12 to 15 October with all solemnity and joy. Ignoring occasional rains and cloudy weather, thousands of devotees attended the Puja on all the four days to receive blessings of the Divine Mother. The Kumari Puja held on the 13th drew huge crowds as usual. As in the previous year, this year also Durga Puja was held in a Pandal erected on the lawn to the east of the main temple. This enabled the devotees to participate in the Puja more comfortably. Calcutta Doordarshan telecast live the Puja at the math at different times on all the Puja days this year too. The programme was greatly appreciated. Cooked Prasad was served to about 59,000 devotees on Puja days.
On 6th October, the sacred birthday of Srimat Swami Akhandanandaji Maharaj, the General Secretary inaugurated the newly constructed waiting hall (near Belur Math post office and Saradapitha dairy) for the pilgrims who visit Belur Math. He also inaugurated on that day the new quarters for Veda Vidyalaya staff, built near Saradapitha Sikshanamandira.

2. The annual Conference of Monastic Heads of Centres was held at Belur Math on 28 and 29 october. Altogether 105 heads attended the Conference. Swami Satyarupananda chaired the sessions. Apart from the General Secretary, the four Assistant Secretaries and the Treasurer, 5 invitees also attended the Conference. Revered President Maharaj gave a short benedictory address in the concluding session.

3. Thrissur Math celebrated the platinum jubilee of the Ashrama and its school, Ramakrishna Gurukula Vidya Mandir, on 24 September. The function was inaugurated by Kerala governor Sri Sikander Bakht.

4. On 4th October, Swami Smarananandaji the General Secretary, inaugurated the newly constructed High School building at Asansol Ashrama's new campus at Kanyapur Link Road and also unveiled a newly installed statue of Swamiji in the campus.

5. On 9th October, Swami Gahananandaji, a Vice-President, unveiled a statue of Swamiji at Basirhat (North 24- Parganas, West Bengal) installed by the initiative taken by Sikra Kulingram centre with the cooperation of local municipality. In the meeting organized in connection with this well-attended function, under the presidentship of Swami Gahananandaji, the General Secretary, Swami Shivamayananda and some local dignitaries spoke.

6. Karnataka governor Sri T.N.Chaturvedi visited Mysore centre on 15th October and participated in the Vijaya Dashami celebration there.

7. The following centres conducted free eye camps:

i. Outside India, Durga Puja (with Pratima worship) was performed at Mauritius Ashrama and the following centres in Bangladesh: Baliati, Barisal, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Habiganj, Narayanganj, and Silhet.

ii. Sri Vijay Kumar, High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, participated in Durga Puja at Mauritius centre.

iii. At Dhaka Centre, Bangladesh former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, ex-president H.M.Ershad, local government & rural development minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, home minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, city corporation mayor Sadek Hossain Khoka, three state ministers, and several other distinguished persons attended Durga Puja celebration on different days of the worship.

iv. Bangladesh finance minister M.Saiffur Rahman, the French ambassador to Bangladesh, and some local dignitaries attended Durga Puja celebration at Sylhet centre