Santhigiri turns into an Ocean of White! The Kumbhamela is enriched with dense devotion

Pothencode (Thiruvananthapuram): After 41 days of ‘Vritashuddhi’ (fasting and prayers), as Guru’s devotees from across the country reached the Pothencode Santhigiri Ashram for the Poojithapeedam Samarpanam celebrations, the spiritual zone of the Ashram transformed into an ocean of white! The celebrations started at 5 am with a special Pushpanjali at the Parnasala led by the Sanyasi-Sangha and other selected men and women. Following this, at 6 am, there was the Flag Hoisting (Dhwajamuyarthal), Floral Offering (Pushpasamarpanam), Guru Pada Vandanam and Prasad distribution. At 12 noon, after the Aradhana – the Guru Pooja, Guru Darshan and various offerings took place. Various ministers, M.P.s, M.L.A.s and other prominent personalities from across the political, social, cultural and spiritual fields attended the conference which started at 9 am. A meeting of delegates, including representatives from the various cultural organisations of the Ashram was held at 3 pm. Santhigiri Ashram President Swami Chaitanya Jnana Thapaswi and Santhigiri Ashram General Secretary Swami Gururethnam Jnana Thapaswi presided over the meeting. Later in the day, at 6 pm, the Kumbhamela procession started. In the Yajnashala that was specially set up inside the Ashram complex, the Kumbhams were prepared – earthen pots with holy water (Theertham) inside it; the pots are covered with the Peedam cloth and the leaves of particular trees, before coconuts and flower garlands are placed atop. The devotees of Guru took the Kumbhams on their heads and encircled the Ashram complex chanting the Akhanda Mantrams. Panchavadyam, Nadaswaram (various musical instruments) and ornate ceremonial parasols added to the grand, yet serene atmosphere of the Kumbhamela. Several devotees accompanied the Kumbhams with Deepams, which are oil lamps decorated with rice, flowers and incenses sticks on steel plates (Thattams). This year’s Poojithapeedam Samarpanam celebrations concluded with the offering of the Kumbhams and Deepams to Guru with prayers. According to devotees, the Kumbhamela in Santhigiri is a ritual that has the power to remove diseases and family evils.