YSS NOIDA ASHRAM
The children of YSS devotees residing near YSS Noida Ashram and students from Paramahansa Yogananda Swarna Bal Vatika (PYSBV) celebrated Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda’ s 125th Avirbhav Divas in the Ashram’s pandal on January 14, 2018. The programme drew participation from 85 children from Children Sunday Satsanga and PYSBV, who were also joined by 50 parents.
Swami Lalitanandaji led the prabhat feri with the children. A special light-weighted palki was especially prepared for this occasion that made it easier for the children to carry the palanquin with Guruji's picture in turns. The queues of the kids serenading Gurudeva in their sweet voices, while carrying his palki on their little shoulders with pride, presented not just a wonderful sight, but also seemed to foretell the possibilities of a bright future for them on the lines of the extremely beneficial teachings of beloved Gurudeva they were imbibing at this early age.
In a beautifully decorated pandal, the cultural programme commenced with the lighting of the lamp by Swamiji, followed by the opening prayer and a brief period of chanting. A group of children sang Guru Vandana followed by Devi Stuti. Small skits reflecting Gurudeva’s childhood were presented.
In a test of their knowledge about Gurudeva’s life, children were quizzed with the aid of a power point presentation. For this quiz, six groups, three each of boys and girls, were formed. These groups were named after our great Gurus, and asked 30 questions from the first seventeen chapters of the bestselling spiritual classic written by Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, the Autobiography of a Yogi.
Scoring for each correct response, and losing points for the incorrect one, the quiz enthralled the young audience who were visibly excited to be part of it. As the result was tabulated on the scoreboard, it became quite apparent that those children who had been attending regularly the classes in YSS Noida Ashram’s Children Satsanga were able to crack the quiz with ease, as they had been hearing these stories about Gurudeva’s life from the volunteers every Sunday.
Swamiji congratulated the participants and appreciated their sincere efforts. In the meanwhile, Brahmachari Dhairyanandaji joined the programme, and delivered an inspiring message to the attendees praising their innocent, sweet and smiling faces “reflecting pure divine love.”
The conclusion of the programme was with the offering of flower petals at the feet of Guruji thanking our spiritual master for all the blessings. Participants were felicitated by the monastics with bright-colourful pouches filled with stationery items and cake for their participation in the quiz.
