189th Birthday Celebration of Sri Ramakrishna at Ramakrishna Math, Dhaka

With the spontaneous participation of a large number of devotees the 189^th Birthday Celebration of Sri Ramakrishna has been celebrated at Ramakrishna Math, Dhaka, drawning a diverse programs from 12 to 15 March, 2024.

On the First day, 12 March 2024, programs included Mangalarati, Ushakirtan, Special Puja, Homa, devotional songs, reading from the scriptures, talks by Adhyaksha Maharaj on ‘Sri Ramakrishna’, and so on. The offering(Pushpanjali) to Sri Sri Thakur took place at 12:15 p.m. followed by the distribution of noon-prasad among the devotees. After that, ‘Sri Ramakrishna Leelageeti’ was performed by Sri Sunil Chakraborty and party following the performance of devotional dance by the children of ‘Spandan Cultural Organization’. Eminent artists from Kolkata performed devotional songs at 5:00p.m. After the evening prayer, a discussion meeting held on the topic ‘the Uniqueness of Sri Ramakrishna in the Religious World’ where Dr. Samantalal Sen, Hon’ble Health Minister, Ministry of Health Affairs was the chief guest and professor Dr. Md. Touhidul Hasan, Department of Philosophy, Jagannath University was the special guest. Swami Purnatmananda, Adhyaksha and the Secretary of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Dhaka, presided over the meeting. Swami Shantikarananda, one of the assistant secretaries of Ramakrishna Mission, Dhaka, gave the welcome address during the discussion, while Swami Haripremananda, the other assistant secretary offered the vote of thanks. The program of that day ended with the renedition of the drama ‘Uttaran’, performed by ‘Vivekananda Theatre’ and directed by Sri Apurba Kundu.

On the second day, 13 March 2024, programs began with ‘Ramayana songs’, performed by Sri Sibeshwar Chandra Das and his party. The Annual Function of Ramakrishna Mission High School, Dhaka, started at 4:00 p.m. on that day. First session of the Program comprised of discourses on ‘Swami Vivekananda and view of Education’ followed by a cultural program. In the discourse, the chief guest was Mr. Asaduzzaman Khan MP, Hon’ble Home Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; Justice Sri Soumendra Sarker, Bangladesh Supreme Court and the President of the Managing Committee of Ramakrishna Mission, Dhaka and Mr. Prabir Saha, Managing Director, Dreamland Holiday Park, Narsinghdi and a member of the managing committe of Ramakrishna Mission, Dhaka, were invited as special guests. In the meeting, Swami Purnatmananda, Head of the Centre, delivered the benedictory address. Meeting and Prize distribution took place immediately after the discussion program. After the evening prayer, the meeting titled `Swami Vivekananda and International Affairs’ took place, where the chief discussant was Dr. Atiur Rahman, Emiretus Professor, Department of Development Studies, Dhaka University and a former Bangabandhu Chair Professor. In the discussion, presidential address was given by Swami Purnatmanandaji Maharaj, Head of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Dhaka. As a cultural program drama was presented by Sri Shubhashish Dutta Tanmoy and the students of Ramakrishna Mission High School after the meeting.

On the third day, 14 March 2024, Thrusday, the events included ‘Padavasli Kirtan’ performed by Sri Amal Banerjee, lyrical performances by the children artestees, devotional dance by the children of Pushpanjali Kala kendra and a discussion on the topic ‘Sri Sarada Devi and Mordernism’. In the discussion, Professor Dr, Sadeka Halim, Hon’ble Vice Chancelor, Jagannath University, was the chief guest and special guests were Dr. Soma Dey, Assosiate Professor, Wemen and Zender Studies Department, Dhaka University and Barrister Mrs. Tania Amir, Bangladesh Supreme Court. In the meeting presidential address was given by Srimat Swami Purnatmanandaji Maharaj, Adhyaksha and Secretary, Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Dhaka following the renedition of songs by Padmasri Rejwana Chowdhuri Bannya, Ravindra Sangeet Artist and other reputed singers.

On the final day, 15 March 2024, Friday, Janmalila Kirtan of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna was presented by Dr. Sujit Das, Sri Samar Krishna Saha and his team from Chattagram. Noon at 12:00p.m. Nara-Narayan Seva was held. The variety of performances by the children artestees was held in the afternoon at 3:00p.m. which was followed by the performance of ‘Lalongeeti’ sung by the Renowned artist of the subcontinent Mrs. Farida Parvin. Before her renedition, other singers also performed devotional songs.