National Volunteer week and Indian "New year" celebrations with Shantamrita Swami

Please join us with family and friends for a very Special Satsang with Shantamrita Swami  to kickoff National Volunteer week and celebrate Vishu, Baisakhi, Ugadi (the New Year festival celebrated in a number of Indian states including Kerala). The satsang will be held at the Amma Center of Michigan.

Please RSVP your attendance by emailing ammamich@gmail.com

11.00am - 1.00pm Stepping up National Volunteer week by prepping the organic garden beds and  Vishu pookolam (creating flower mandalas) 
1.00 - 2.15 pm - Lunch
2:15 - 2.45 pm - Lunch Cleanup
            15 minutes break to welcome guests
3.00 pm - Vishu kani
3:05 - 5:05 pm -  Satsang by Shantamrita Swami and Bhajans
5:05 - 5.20 pm - Arati and Closing prayers
5.20 - 5.40 pm - "Vishu kaineetam for children" from Swami
5.45 - 6.30 pm - Kerala sadhya (traditional feast served on a banana leaf)

** Vishu kani -  Vishu kani is the most important ritual of Vishu. People consider the first thing you see on New Year  day will decide the luck and prosperity for the coming year. So seeing auspicious things on vishu morning as the first sight of the day is known as vishu kani. The altar will be splendidly decorated so that one is overwhelmed with the glorious darshan of the Lord, fruits, vegetables, saplings depicting nature's bounty, is kept in a round vessel representing the universe, lamp symbolising light, coins for wealth and a mirror to see one's own reflection and mind. The message of Vishu kanni is also that the grace and divine vision of the Vishu kanni we see is not just for ourselves but also to spread the love, happiness and hope that we receive to all in society. 

*** Vishu kaineetam -  Vishu is a family festival that resonates with symbolism at two levels - social and material. It celebrates the use and circulation of money in a unique way, based on a timeless belief that 'wealth that is shared with others will grow and multiply in abundance.' This tradition is most popular with children who look forward to receiving 'kaineetam' from the elders in the family. 

Tradition goes like this: all elders in the family have to give 'vishu kaineetam' to  all those who are younger to them in age. This means they have to gift all the younger members of a family with money, (coin), and as per Amma's suggestion, also a sapling that they can plant and nurture. The plea for 'kaineetam' starts early as the children begin asking and anticipating as to from whom they would get 'kaineetam' from. The younger ones touch the feet of the elders, accept their blessings and the foundation of family togetherness and harmony are thus sown in the guise of a festive occasion.