Religion Service activities by Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham in North-Eastern States Mahakumbabhishekam of renovated Sri Kamakoti Ganapati temple in Guwahati

THE consecration ceremony of the renovated Sri Kamakoti Ganapati, Sri Lakshmi (Padmavati) known as Alamelumanga in southern parts of the country, Sri Balaji (Sri Venkateshwara) and Sri Durga Devi temples in Guwahati will take place on May 2. The Shankaracharyas of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Swami Jayendra Saraswati and Swami Vijayendra Saraswati will participate in the Kumbabhishekam ceremonies.

The Kumbabhishekam programme will begin on April 28 with Vighneshwara puja, Sankalapam and other activities. There will be Mahaganapati, Navakshari japam, Navagraha homam, Vastu homam, Rakshogna homam, etc. on April 29. On April 30, there will be first and second Kala puja, Gou puja, Dhana puja, Vedika puja, etc. The third and fourth Kala pujas will be held on May 1. The fifth Kala puja and the Mahakumbabhishekam will be performed from 9.15 am to 9.40 am on May 2. This temple complex was constructed by an ardent devotee of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham with the help of like-minded persons and had consecrated them on June 4, 1998.

The Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham carries out many service activities all over the country. Health care, community help and social service are some of the key areas where it provides assistance to the people. While these are carried out largely in India, the Peetham also has a global presence, with members living in different countries supporting the work areas. In India, apart from rendering services in various states, the Peetham has been focusing specially on the North-East keeping in mind the intense requirements of the region. The Peetham has studied the needs of the people there in detail through several surveys.

In Assam, the Peetham runs Shankardev Netralaya at Guwahati. Started in 1994, it is a Specialty Eye Care Centre staffed by some of the finest ophthalmologists of national and international repute. The hospital has the state-of-the-art equipments, based on high technology and backed by continuous R&D efforts. The Centre takes pride in offering quality treatment to the public at very affordable costs in line with the policy of the Peetham. It caters to the eye-care needs of the eight states of north-east as also the neighbouring West Bengal. The work on establishing a super speciality hospital in Silchar is underway. The hospital, would be built in two phases and would be one of the largest in the eastern and north-eastern India with in-patient and out-patient facilities.

Located in Berkuchi on the outskirts of Guwahati is the popular Balaji temple constructed on a huge 16 plus acre of land in 1998. Built to traditional requirements the temple is considered to be a replica of Tirupati in the East of India and hence is called as Purva Tirupati Balaji Temple.

A Shiva Panchayatan Temple has been constructed in Raniphool, close to Gangtok in Sikkim. The temple is a major attraction and satisfies the spiritual needs of the residents. Plans are also underway to start a Veda Patashala there. There is a socio-cultural complex in Imphal (Manipur) including health care centre to cater to the needs of the Manipur residents.

Plans are also afoot to construct a health care complex in Tripura which will include a full-fledged eye care centre in or around Agartala. A school is already functioning under the auspices of the Peetham in Shilong (Meghalaya). A Ganesha temple has also been constructed in Shilong on public request. There are plans to start several activities in Arunachal Pradesh.

(FOC)