SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY SET TO BEGIN

SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY SET TO BEGIN

25-MARCH-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BHABHUA--------------------------The spiritual festivities officially began on March 20th in the village of Kevadhi, located within the jurisdiction of the Kudra police station in the Kaimur district. A seven-day-long "Shrimad Bhagavat Gyan Yagna" (Spiritual Discourse) and the "Shri Durga Ji Pran-Pratishtha" (Consecration Ceremony of Goddess Durga) are being organized here with great pomp and grandeur. Immense enthusiasm regarding this religious observance is palpable among the residents of Kevadhi village and the entire surrounding region. The program commenced on March 20th (Friday) with a magnificent water procession (known as *Kalash Yatra*). On the auspicious occasion of *Chaitra Shukla Paksha Dwitiya* (the second day of the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra), devotees—accompanied by musical bands and traditional fanfare—brought back holy water collected from sacred rivers. On the following day, March 21st, the *Srimad Bhagavat Katha* commenced formally with the invocation of the deities. In preparation for the *Prana-Pratishtha* (consecration) of the idols, various *Adhivas* rituals will be performed in accordance with scriptural traditions. The schedule includes *Annadhivas* (grain rituals) and other rites on March 24th; *Mahasnan* (grand ceremonial bath), a ceremonial procession through the town, and *Shayyadhivas* (bedding rituals) on March 25th; the *Pratishtha Darshan* (consecration viewing) of the Goddess and a grand *Maha-Aarti* on March 26th (Thursday); and the *Purnahuti* (concluding oblations) of the *Yajna*, the conclusion of the *Katha*, and a massive *Bhandara* (distribution of *Prasad*) on March 27th (Friday). Under the spiritual guidance of the *Yajnacharya* (chief priest of the *Yajna*) and *Katha Vyas* (narrator), Pt. Arjun Krishna Dwivedi Ji Maharaj, devotees are immersing themselves daily in the devotional fervor of the event. As the principal *Yajman* (host/patron), Astorna Kuwar will perform the ceremonial worship and rituals. The organizing committee announced that the daily worship sessions will begin at 8:00 AM, while devotees will be able to attend the *Srimad Bhagavat Katha* sessions from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

Actively engaged in ensuring the success of this event are Uday Pratap Tiwari, Devendra Kumar Tiwari, Ravishankar Tiwari, Ashok Tiwari, Virendra Tiwari—along with the entire Tiwari family—as well as social worker Sanjay Singh and the villagers of Kevadhi. Local public representatives from the region also participated in the auspicious *Jalbhari Shobha Kalash Yatra* (ceremonial water procession). The organizers stated that this temple serves as a center for spiritual knowledge open to all, and they have extended an invitation to all devotees and spiritual seekers in the region to join in this meritorious endeavor.