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Navratri (Divine Mother Festival). The harmony and joy was so inspiring, Mother’s love abounded. Lots of photos and story follow below. |
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| 36" Navratri Blessed Lakshmi with Deep | Rudraksha Bead from Shri Babaji's Mala | Original Painting of Shri Babaji - 23x30" | Wooden Box with Stained Glass Om |
Bal Gokulam - Saturday, April 18
It will soon be time for our monthly children's program, Bal Gokulam which is Saturday, April 18. If you would like to share a couple of hours with your child hearing stories about one of the gods or goddesses in this tradition; doing simple yoga; learning some chants; and performing a puja; mark the date on your calendar.
Our Bal Gokulam runs monthly from 10am until noon and is followed by a potluck lunch. You are welcomed to attend with children of any age. Please call Cindy at 719-256-5007 or Shila at 719-256-4477 for more information.
Chanting, Slides, & Satsang in Denver Sunday, April 26 at 11am
VK and Shashi Sharma will be hosting a gathering in their home in Aurora on Sunday, April 26 at 11am. There will be a short slide presentation by Ramloti about Shri Babaji, His teachings, and the Ashram in Crestone. This will be followed by chanting led by Prabodh Telang on the tablas and Ramloti on the harmonium. After that, there will be a delicious Indian lunch. The photo is of VK at Shivaratri at the Ashram.
All donation will go to the Ashram to help pay down the kirtan hall loan. The location is 6109 S. Cathay Court, Aurora, CO 80016. Please RSVP to 303-419-1999 so they can plan the food accordingly. We hope you can join us at this wonderful event.
Annual American Samaj Meeting
July 18 & 19
The American Haidakhan Samaj, which is the organization of devotees in America that help spread Babaji's love and teachings, will have its annual gathering on Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19 at the Ashram. This is always an inspirational weekend full of ceremonies, satsang, sharing, chanting, and just being together with old and new friends.
Shri Babaji began the Indian Samaj in the 70's with Shri Muniraji as the head of it. Shri Shastriji gave some beautiful speeches about the importance of the Samaj.
Call the Ashram at 719-256-4108 or email us at info@Babajiashram.org for more information or to make reservations to stay at the Ashram. Hope to see you.
Annual Family Week - July 20 - 24
Shri Babaji was always very loving to children. This is one of the reasons we have so many children's programs at the Ashram.
Immediately following the American Haidakhan Samaj weekend we will have our annual Family Week sponsored by the Ashram and the American Haidakhan Samaj. This week is a great mix of Ashram experience and fun time for the kids. There will be a Kids' Camp for children six-years-old and up each day from 10am until 1pm. Afternoons are reserved for the families to organize field trips to the local hot springs, horseback riding, Great Sand Dunes National Park, and hiking. The dorm fills up quickly for this week, so please call the Ashram at 719-256-4108 or email us at info@Babajiashram.org soon for more information or to make reservations to stay at the Ashram.
The Dance of Love Between Us and That Workshop - July 20 -24
Running concurrently with the Kids' Camp from 10am until 1pm each day, will be a workshop for older teens and adults. This year we are very excited to present The Dance of Love Between Us and That. The focus will be on the relationship between Radha and Krishna and how the male and female intertwine in this tradition. During each session we will combine sacred movement with readings, discussion, and chanting. This will be a magnificent time to be together and explore our connection to the Divine Feminine and Masculine and how they manifest in our lives and relationships.
The workshop will be facilitated by Sofia Diaz who leads programs around the world. She has studied Indian philosophy, yoga, and sacred dance for twenty-seven years. She will be joined by Ramloti from the Ashram. The suggested donation is $135 for non-Samaj members and$108 for Samaj members. (Some scholarships are available.) For more information or to book a space, please call or email the Ashram.
Kirtan Hall Update
Thanks to our two fundraisers this last month and your donations, matching pledges, monthly tithes, and shop purchases, our kirtan hall loan has now been paid down to $22,000. We look forward to the final tally of the Online Auction and our fundraiser in Aurora at the end of the month to pay down our loan significantly in April. It would be wonderful to have this loan completely paid off by the end of 2009! If you would like to organize something in your area, please call the Ashram at 719-256-4108.
We would like to encourage you to make a monthly automatic pledge to pay down the kirtan hall loan. Either call the Ashram at 719-256-4108 with your credit card number and ask us to charge a set amount every month ($501, $108, $54, $27, $10.08....) or go to our website and ask PayPal to deduct a certain amount from your account each month, Click Here. You can also send a check to the Ashram at P.O. Box 9, Crestone, CO 81131. We want to thank you for all of your continued support in this meaningful project.
Bhakti Baba Joins Babaji in Heaven
Our dear friend, Bhakti Baba, left 
this physical plane during this last month at the age of 84 years-old. As mentioned in the last newsletter, Bhakti first met Babaji in the early 1980's. His love for Baba has always remained strong and he has been a loyal participant at all the Baba events in the Bay area until recently. He was always a joy to watch dancing during the kirtan and his hugs were so full of love. He passed away very peacefully with many of his friends surrounding him, ending a journey on this plane in much the way he lived his beautiful life. His presence will be missed by so many. We wish him a swift journey to Baba's arms and send our love to his family and friends.
Recent Events
Fundraisers in Denver and Colorado Springs
Both of our fundraisers at Shashi and Bipin Agarwal's home and at Prashant and Vandana Sharma's home were big successes. Over 120 people experienced the warmth and love extended by these two families. The chanting and satsang was inspiring and full of love for the Divine. The food was incredible.
It is always such a joy to gather for these events. The Ashram thanks all that attended and particularly thanks the two families and their friends who carried out the wonderful planning and events. May Mother and Baba continue to bless your families.
Spring Navratri
Well, the Spring-like weather changed radically during our Spring Navratri. Although it was cold and blustery and not always so comfortable, we did receive a fair amount of much needed moisture for the area. It was a blessing, however, that we were able to perform each of the nine fire ceremonies outside for Navratri. It seemed that the storms either let up in time to sweep away the snow and prepare the fire; or waited until after the fire was complete. Mother does bless us in so many ways. Here She is on each of the nine days.
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Our long-distance visitors from Florida, California, and New Zealand were all able to make it to the Ashram without a problem. Some of our other visitors from New Mexico, Denver, and Colorado Springs were not so lucky. So it was a bit quieter Navratri then usual. Still the blessings were abundant and we are grateful for another beautiful and powerful nine days to honor our Divine Mother. What follows is a short note from one of the attendees from Florida.
"I had been ill with respriatory problems for several weeks and had to take a leave of absence from work. Medications were not helping me. So with the encouragement of a friend, I agreed to accompany her to the Babaji Haidakhandi Universal Ashram for the Spring Navratri celebration. This was my first visit to an ashram and I was unsure of what to expect. What a pleasant surprise. We had daily aarati with beautiful chanting, fire ceremonies, karma yoga and delicious organic vegetarian meals!
The nicest people you could ever know attended these events. I have never felt better and have no difficulty breathing now. I feel a profound change both physically and spiritually by staying at the ashram and participating in these events. My most sincere gratitude to Divine Mother, Ramloti, Ros and all of the staff (family) and friends for making this time one of love and healing."
– Thank you for Truth, Simplicity and Love, Lois Harper
Lots of snow and cold weather but still many children and visitors.
The final day's puja and honoring the children was, as always, a very special event.
The last day's fire was cold, so we fed the children their lunch all in the earthship.
Families and Visitors
Once again we have had so many families and visitors gracing the Ashram. Some have made delicious bhandaras for us. We love all of the folks that come so much.
Sometimes people meet new friends at the Ashram. These two couples realized they had met in the hospital since their babies were both born on the same day at the same hospital!
Calendar for 2009
Now through April 9 - Ashram On-line auction to pay down the kirtan hall loan. Last few days to bid on items. Go to www.BabajiAshram.cmarket.com and lend your support.
July 7 - Guru Purnima Day with Paduka Puja at 9:30am, fire ceremony at 10:08am, followed by feast.
July 18 - 19 - Annual American Haidakhan Samaj meeting at the Ashram.
July 20 - 25 - Annual Family Week at the Ashram.
July 20 - 25 - The Dance Love Between the Divine and That Workshop at the Ashram with Sofia Diaz and Ramloti.
September 18 - 26 Fall Navratri, the Divine Mother Festival.
October 17 - Diwali, Festival of Lights. Fire ceremony at 10am. Chanting at 7pm.
Maha Lakshmi Shop Report
The Maha Lakshmi Shop is happy to announce the arrival of a new book on parenting written by parent-educator, Susie Walton with help from her sister, Ramloti. It is a fun, easy-reading book full of great ideas to make parenting or working with kids of all ages a lot more enjoyable and supportive of their future lives. The book sells for $11.95.
We are also excited that the annual shipment from India of brass murtis, devotional items, books, malas, dollaks, and harmoniums have arrive at the port in LA. We are awaiting clearing of customs and arrival to the Ashram. We anticipate all 35 crates to arrive by the middle of April. You can check our website for all the new items at BabajiAshram.org and order on line through pay pal or e-mail us at shop@babajiashram.org.
You can also always call us on our toll-free number at 866-686-4185 to order or for more information. We thank you for all of your shop purchases as the revenue from the shop is a huge support for the Ashram. We are open daily from 9am until 5pm. We take Mastercard, Discover, and Visa.