|
What can you do with Re 1?
 Ramana Maharishi, Kanchi Sri Chandrasekarendra Swamigal, Satya Sai Baba, Aravindha Annai and Mother Teresa smile benevolently at us from the living room. "To enlighten our younger generation about out culture, the divine beings who lived amongst us, their philosophies and teachings is the aim of our Ksheerasaagaram-Valasaravakkam Cultural Centre," says its founder,
Raghavan.
He has established the centre in his own house (top floor) and has involved himself in doing service to the locals there. "Maybe not like Mother Teresa or Vidhyasagar, but as a common man I wanted to do something fot the upliftment of society. Why not establish a cultural centre to spread our traditonal arts to the younger generation, was the question that arose in my mind. The centre is the outcome of that desire," explains
Raghavan.
This centre was started on Vinayaka Chathurthi day last year with the blessings of Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal's 'parents'. This centre has become popular among the locals as it conducts various programmes on a regular basis.
Every month on the day when Kanchi
Paramacharya's star, Anusham, falls, the centre conducts music, dance, villupattu and pattimanram programmes and competitions for children.
S Rammohan (financial advisor and chief accounts officer, ICF) is presenting a programme about Ramana Maharishi under the headings 'Panmuga Nokkil Bhagavan' and 'Arunnai Ennum Arulmazhai' on Feb 14 and 15. On March 12, Sathur Sisters (daughters of Sri Sathur Subramanyam) are giving a concert at this
centre.
 Last November, on Children's Day, competions were held for children in dance, music, oration and sports.
Apart from such cultural activities, the centre involves itself in deeds that are beneficial to society, like blood donation camps which they conduct once in four months. Many youngsters and the old alike come forward to donate blood here. The centre collects used and useful items like clothes and toys and sends them to children in orphanages. It also offers help to poor children for their education.
The Coimbatore Satguru Jakki Vasudev's Eesha
Yoga Centre conducts a satsangam at this centre for three hours in the evening on the fourth Thursday of every month. First meditation, then comes
yoga and group meditation. Apart from this, once in three months, for 13 days,
yoga training classes are conducted here.
 "Our intention is to conduct at least one programme a
month. There are 80 members in our centre. We have invited others too, especially youngsters, as we feel that with their coordination, many things can be achieved," says Raghavan, eyes gleaming with hope.
The centre does not collect any membership fee but people voluntarily offer Re 1 daily. Though they want to take this centre to a higher level, they don't have the necessary funds for the purpose.
"My wife Vaidhehi and my daughter Padmapriya help me in all my efforts...their support and my friends' cooperation have been of immense value to me," says
Raghavan.
He says that the most unforgettable
moment was when Sri Vijayendra Saraswati Swamigal visited his centre and lauded his efforts.
Even if one among the 1,000 children who participate in his programmes develops into a Ramakrishna Parahamsa or Mother Teresa, it will be a success for the centre, Raghavan affirms.
For further information, please contact:
Ksheerasagaram - Valasaravakkam Cultural Centre,
181, Azhagiri Street,
Majestic Colony,
Valasaravakkam,
Chennai - 87.
Phone - 24862013
K
T Sri
Translated by Radha N
|
