The Acharya Shankar Sanskritik Ekta Nyas, under the aegis of the Department of Culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh, has organising a five-day festival, Ekatma Parv, from April 28 to May 2 in the sacred land of Acharya Shankar’s guru-bhoomi, Omkareshwar. The event aims to present the profound wisdom of the Advaita tradition and promote cultural unity.
The festival has commenced on April 28 at 7 AM with a Vedic Anushthan, led by Acharyas from Maharshi Sandipani Veda Vidyapeeth and Shri Shri Omkareshwar Ashram. This will be followed by a grand inauguration procession from Abhay Ghat on the banks of the Narmada, passing through various spiritual spots in Omkareshwar, and culminating back at Abhay Ghat.
Throughout the festival, a wide range of activities will take place across Omkareshwar. These include the recitation of Acharya Shankar’s stotras, Veda Parayan, processions, and exhibitions based on the life of Acharya Shankar, titled Advaita Lok. A Book stall cum library, named Advaita Sharada, will be set up to showcase literature related to Advaita Vedanta. Additionally, panel discussions will explore topics like Vedanta and its connection with modern science. Eminent scholars and spiritual luminaries will grace the event, including Swami Avdheshanand Giri (Peethadheeshwar, Juna Akhara), Gauranga Das Prabhu (ISKCON), Swami Parmanand Giri (Akhanda Param Dham), Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati, Swami Mithilesh Nandini Sharan, Swami Pranav Chaitanya Puri, and Maa Poornapragya.
The festival will also feature the presence of several distinguished personalities, including Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, Minister of State for Culture Shri Dharmendra Lodhi, social scholar Shri Mukul Kanitkar, cultural scholar and author Nilesh Nilkanth Oak, Professor Gauri Mahulikar, Professor Pankaj Joshi, Professor Ramnath Jha, Captain Praveen Chaturvedi, Mrityunjay Guha Majumdar, and social media influencer Vishal Chaurasia, founder of HyperQuest. These eminent figures will address the gathering, especially the younger audience, during sessions such as “Reel to Real: Awakening Oneness Through Storytelling” and “Advaita and the Parallels of Modern Science”, bridging the gap between spirituality and contemporary scientific thought.
A special musical series, Shankar Sangeet, will be held every day as part of the festival, featuring renowned artists from the music and dance domains. Performers include Madhvi Madhukar Jha, Jayateerth Mevundi, Lokamata Vidyashankar, and Sudha Raghuraman. On May 1, the Shankardoots will come together for a collective choral rendition of selected stotras composed by Acharya Shankar.
Each day, a series of Vedantic dialogues titled Advaitamritam will be conducted from 8:30 to 10:30 AM and 5:30 to 7:30 PM. On April 28 and 29, Maa Poornapragya will deliver discourses on the theme of Omkar. From April 28 to 1 May, Swami Pranav Chaitanya Puri will conduct sessions on the life and philosophy of Acharya Shankar. Prof. Gauri Mahulikar will speak on 29 and 30 April, while Shri Mukul Kanitkar will deliver a lecture on “Advaita Vedanta: The Pranamaya Kosha”.
On May 2, marking the birth anniversary of Acharya Shankar, a Diksha Sanskar ceremony will be held at Abhay Ghat for 500 Shankardoots in the presence of saints. The festival will conclude with a grand procession at 5 PM, followed by the lighting of 10,000 lamps and a collective Narmada Aarti on the riverbank. Dr. Mohan Yadav, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, will be the chief guest at the felicitation ceremony for the Shankardoots.
The Ekatma Parv is part of the ongoing Ekatma Dham Project, which includes the construction of a 108-feet-tall Statue of Oneness at Omkareshwar. This project is being developed in collaboration with the Department of Culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh. The construction of the Advaita Lok Museum and the International Institute of Advaita Vedanta is also underway, further solidifying Omkareshwar’s place as a center for Advaita Vedanta studies.
This five-day festival is set to offer a rich and transformative experience, combining spiritual, cultural, and intellectual pursuits to explore the essence of Advaita Vedanta, fostering unity and wisdom for all attendees.
