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November, 2006Dear Friends of the Ashram,
Diwali was a wonderful celebration here at the Ashram. Photos and story are below. We also had a very successful Indian cooking class and Thanksgiving weekend. We are busily ordering new shop items so that the Maha Lakshmi Shop will be full for Christmas. We appreciate your support. We have been steadily chipping away at our kirtan hall loan. Read on to find out about all of this. With the shortening of days, our evening aarati has shifted to 6pm for the remainder of the winter. Morning aarati remains at 7am. Our full-moon fire ceremony this month is on Monday, December 4, and the new moon-fire ceremony is on Wednesday, December 20. The fire ceremony begins at 10:08am and is followed by a meal. If you would like to sponsor a fire ceremony ($108) or bhandara (feast) ($108) you may make the donation on line by just clicking here or call 719-256-4108 or e-mail the Ashram at info@BabajiAshram.org or send us a check at P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131. Thank you for all of your support. In truth and love, Ramloti Another Fund-raiser
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This is one of the photos I took when I was in Haidakhan with my children in 1981. Here Shri Babaji is tying a thread of protection on Gaura Devi's wrist. Later, He also tied one on the wrists of my children and on me. We were with Babaji during monsoon season which was beautiful and green. There were often not many people visiting at that time, since there was always the risk of getting stranded in Haidakhan when the river got too high. This gave us such wonderful opportunities to be close with Baba and bask in His Divine Energy. Bhole Baba Ki Jai!
The Ashram is collaborating with and helping to lead the Crestone Charter High School students to India next Spring. They will be visiting Delhi, Agra, Amistar, Dharmasalla, and Jaipur as well as traveling to Babaji's Ashram in Haidakhan to experience life in a small village and an Ashram. This is a big trip for them and so the fund-raising is important.
The Ashram conducted an Indian cooking class before the last month's fund-raiser. All the food prepared served nearly 150 people and raised about $1700 for the trip.
Wherever we would tour with Shri Babaji, the energy soared. It is no different now. The Northwest Tour was so wonderful that Premanand and I have decided to go to the centers in Florida in January for chanting, satsang and fire ceremonies. The schedule thus far is as follows:
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Over 100 people joined in this festive night at the Ashram sharing songs and chants of light and peace from many different traditions. We are so grateful that this Ashram is in Crestone, Colorado and that we are blessed to be able to live here.
Thanksgiving and Other Bhandaras
Even though winter is on its way and we have had some nice snow falls, the Ashram continues to attract many visitors. Any weekend that is sunny, we can count on folks arriving from Denver, Colorado Springs, and Santa Fe.
We become particularly busy if it also a long weekend, such as Thanksgiving. Over 25 families visited during the four day weekend. We are happy that so many people think of the Ashram as a second home.
How Our Children Grow!
The future of our world is in our children's hands. We enjoy having young ones at the Ashram and for many, we have watched them grow from when they were in the womb.
Cassandra Clayton, who served on our Board of Directors for many years, recently came with her nine month-old baby girl, Sidney Jane (a real sweet heart). She and her husband, Vane, live outside of Boulder. Here she is pictured with Angela, who works at the Ashram, and her son, Matias, who is now eleven months-old.
Little Jade and her brother, Kailou, were big helpers for the Diwali celebration. They filled up the candles with sand and spread them around the Ashram for the big night. As they get older, they are more and more helpful at the Ashram.
Amil and Sarah were married at the Ashram a few years ago. Their son, Gavin, is almost 2 years-old now and so full of love and light.
Many of our children come to aarati. Here Matias is testing out his walking abilities as well as getting a drumming lesson from Premanand. What a joy he is to have at the Ashram.
Calendar for 2006 - 2007
December 16 - Fashion Show, Auction, and Tea fund-raiser for Crestone Charter High School 2pm - 5pm.
January 9
Chanting and Satsang in Santa Fe, NM call for more info.
January 11 - Chanting and Satsang in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Call Bob at 954-792-0936 for more information
January 12 - Chanting and Satsang in Jupiter, FL. Call Jim and Sari at 561-747-4534 for more information.
January 14 - Fire Ceremony, Aarati, Chanting in Delray Beach, FL. Call Sarena and Sal at 561-274-0883
January 20 - Fire Ceremony, Aarati, Chanting in Treasure Island, FL. Call Sharda and Jeffrey at 727-363-0800 for more information
February 16 - Shivaratri, all-night chanting
February 17 - Shivaratri fire ceremony at 10:08am followed by bhandara
March 18 - March 26 - Spring Navratri, nine days honoring the Divine Mother
July 23 - July 27 - Annual Family Week and Kirtan Workshop
July 28 - Annual American Haidakhan Samaj Meeting (click here to learn more about the Samaj)
July 29 - Guru Purnima, the day you honor your teacher.
October 10 - 18 - Fall Navratri, nine days honoring the Divine Mother
November 9 - Diwali, Festival of Lights
Maha Lakshmi Shop Report
The Maha Lakshmi Shop is very excited to announce the arrival of a 2007 calendar of Shri Babaji. This was produced in Italy and is the first calendar with many photos of Babaji in several years. The calendar is on sale for only $12.99. There is a limited amount so order soon.
You can call the shop toll-free at 1-866-686-4185 daily from 9am until 5pm. We do take Mastercard, Discover, and Visa. To view all the items in the Maha Lakshmi Shop, please refer to our newly updated web site at BabajiAshram.org. You may order on line through paypal or e-mail us at shop@babajiashram.org, or of course, place the order over the phone. We are happy to drop ship gifts for you this holiday season. We will even enclose a lovely card with your name on it for free. Our cards are pictured under fine art on our web site. We thank you for all of your shop purchases as the revenue from the shop is a huge support for the Ashram.