M.A. Center DC welcomed the New Year with a special satsang on December 31, led by Br. Ramanandamrita Chaitanya, the center's minister and director. The Atlanta Amma group joined through a video link.
The center held a full day of prayer for world peace: groups of devotees chanted the Lalita Sahasranama (the 1,000 Names of the Divine Mother), followed by the peace prayer "Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu," every hour on the hour from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The evening began with a delicious dinner, then Br. Ramanand led the satsang with chants and a spiritual talk on the meaning of true happiness as we begin a happy new year, followed by a diverse range of exquisite bhajans until 11:50 p.m. The New Year was welcomed with everyone chanting the peace prayer to a chorus of bells, drums and conch — and then a medley of fast-paced bhajans that had many on their feet, dancing. The celebration concluded with Amma's arati and closing prayers.
