The program commenced at 5:30 p.m. with a beautiful floral Rangoli of Bharat Mata as the centerpiece, the resonant chanting of three ‘Omkaras’ and a prayer by 15 students from the Kendra’s Samskarvarga. During the introductory address, Ms. Smita Puranik Tai highlighted the mission of Vivekananda Kendra and emphasized the contemporary necessity for national unity. The spiritual ambiance was further enriched by Ms. Radhika Gokhale’s rendition of "Matrubhumi Gaanase," accompanied by the Samskarvarga students, which led into a collective lamp-lighting ceremony around the Rangoli by all present.
The ceremony reached a poignant peak as the women volunteers of the Inner Wheel Club performed the Bharat Mata Aarti, followed by spirited patriotic slogans raised by the children. A unique meditative session led by Ms. Smita Puranik Tai allowed attendees to perform a "mental circumambulation" of Bharat, visualizing its diverse and sacred landscapes.
The event concluded with the Shanti Mantra and the distribution of Prasad. The evening served as a powerful tribute to the spirit of the motherland.
