Lunar date (Tithi Puja) 2nd May 2007
29th July, Guru Purnima. ( The full-moon day where disciples honour their Guru)
28th August, Raksha bandhan ( the day of the year where the sisters ask "protection" of their brothers by knotting a thread around their wrist. Ma, with childlike simplicity, used to tie it to her disciples' wrists.)
12th-21st October, NAVARATHRI,
Celebration of the GODDESS, the main festival for Bengali. Nine days of festivities culminating in Vijaya Dashami,the last day of VICTORY (21st October)
KALI PUJA ( for Bengal, Lakshmi Puja for other Hindus),corresponding to 9th November , Diwali, the Festival of Lights.
Samyam Saptah
(yearly week of retreat in Kankhal) - to be advised
An International centre has been recently built in Kankhal ( 4 km south of Hardwar, on the Ganga), which is also 200 km north of DELHI in Uttar Pradesh.
It is not meant for tourists, but for advanced spiritual seekers who are preferably acquainted with Ma's literature as presented on this WEB SITE and publications. The Centre follows the rules of Ma's ashrams, except those of caste purity. Visitors should be able to meditate and study by themselves, since no formal classes, hatha-yoga and meditation groups are organised.
However, it is possible to meet Ma's senior Swamis who speak English.
Alcohol, tobacco, meat, eggs are prohibited,
Unmarried couples are advised to stay in separate rooms for the time of their retreat, to be in better harmony with the Hindu environment which is quite traditional there. Attendance to the daily ritual at Ma's samadhi is advised, although not compulsory.
To book in the Centre, the best is to contact Dr S.K. Ghosh at the International Centre or Mrs Dhamija,
6/32 A Shanti Niketan, New Delhi, 110021.
FAX: 00 91 11 2688 27 69.
For direct booking contact:
The Manager,
Shree Shree Ma International Centre,
Daksh Road,
Kankhal, 249 408,
Hardwar, U.P., INDIA
Phone/Fax 00 91 1334 246345. EMail: neelughosh@yahoo.com
The duration of stay is ten days but is extendable. There is also also other accomodation around Ma's ashram , so staying in the area should not be a problem.
Ma's other ashrams do not usually easily take Westerners except Patal Devi, 263 602 Almora, U.P. (4 km from the town of Almora).
Contact Swami Nirgunananda at 00 91 5962 233120 at weekends. During the week Swamiji is in a small ashram higher up in the mountains. This is 35 km from Almora in the North West on the road to Berinag:Daulchina, 263 881, Almora U.P. (phone 00 91 5962 262013).
According to Ma's request women alone are not allowed to stay in Daulchina Ashram, which indeed is more like a hermitage.
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by Jacques Vigne