IN MEMORIAM - Revered Swami Sridharanandaji Maharaj - 24th December 2025
Dear Devotees and Friends
According to Hindu tradition, when a monk passes on (called Maha Samadhi in Sanskrit), a "Bhandara" - Worship and Memorial programme is held on the 13th day of his giving up the body.
We are celebrating the life of Rev. Swami Sridharanandaji (who passed away on the 13th of December) with the following event. We request you to attend this important event and pay your respects to the memory of our very beloved Swamiji.
We appreciate your assistance in booking your attendance using the URLs given below for logistic purposes:-
https://forms.gle/XsYtoVv48PhWaVKYA
Event Date:- Wednesday, 24th December 2025
Morning session
7:30am to 9:30am - Chanting from Upanishads, Special Worship to Sri Ramakrishna
9:30am to 10:30am - Fire worship (Homam)
10.30 am to 11.00 am - Tea Break
11:00am to 12:30pm - Talks and reminiscences by various devotees and monks
12:30pm to 12:45pm - Anna-Bhoga and Arati
12:45pm - Prasad
Evening session
6:00 pm - 6:30 pm - Arati
6.30 pm - 7.00 pm - Worship and Singing of Hymns and Christmas Carols
7:00 pm - 8:30pm - Reminiscences of Rev.Swami Sridharanandaji by Swamis
8:30pm - Prasad Distribution
Looking forward to receiving you at our Ashram on 24th December.
With kind regards and Namaskars,
Yours sincerely,
Swami Atmeshananda
on behalf of the monastics of the Ramakrishna Order - Vedanta Centre of Sydney
PS. Live video link will be sent by email as well as updated on the website shortly.
Quote for the day
Be a hero. Always say, I have no fear. Tell this to everyone -- Have no fear.
Swami Vivekananda
Christmas Eve & memorial function
Dear Devotees and friends,
Christmas Eve & memorial function will be celebrated on 24th Dec 2025, Wednesday as per the programme.
Your good self, with the members of your family and friends, are cordially invited to attend this auspicious event and receive the compassionate Grace of the Divine.
Your's ever sincerely,
Swami Dhanyananda
Programme:
| Morning Session | |
| Chanting from Upanishads, Special Worship to Sri Ramakrishna | 07:30 AM |
| Fire worship (Homam) | 09:30 AM |
| Tea Break | 10:30 AM |
| Prasad Distribution | 11:00 AM |
| Talks and reminiscences by various devotees and monks | 11:00 AM |
| Anna-Bhoga and Arati | 12:30 PM |
| Prasad Distribution | 12:45 PM |
| Evening Session | |
| Aratrikam | 06:00 PM |
| Worship and Singing of Hymns and Christmas Carols | 06:30 PM |
| Reminiscences of Rev.Swami Sridharanandaji by Swamis | 07:00 PM |
| Distribution of consecrated food | 08:30 PM |
Date: 24th Dec 2025, Wednesday
Celebration of Christmas Eve & Memorial function and bhandara in memoriam of Rev Swami Sridharananda ji
Kalpataru Day
Dear Devotees and friends,
Kalpataru Day will be celebrated on 1st Jan 2026, Thursday as per the programme.
Your good self, with the members of your family and friends, are cordially invited to attend this auspicious event and receive the compassionate Grace of the Divine.
Your's ever sincerely,
Swami Dhanyananda
Programme:
| Aratrikam | 06:30 PM |
| Bhajans by Devotees | 07:00 PM |
| Talk | 07:30 PM |
| Prasad Distribution | 08:30 PM |
Date: 1st Jan 2026, Thursday
Celebrating the day when in the year 1886 Sri Ramakrishna blessed his devotees, like a wish-fulfilling tree, awakening their spiritual consciousness.
Swami Vivekananda's Birthday
Dear Devotees and friends,
Swami Vivekananda's Birthday will be celebrated on 10th Jan 2026, Saturday as per the programme.
Your good self, with the members of your family and friends, are cordially invited to attend this auspicious event and receive the compassionate Grace of the Divine.
Your's ever sincerely,
Swami Dhanyananda
Programme:
| Morning Session | |
| Puja Begins | 08:45 AM |
| Homa | 11:30 AM |
| Pushpanjali (Flower Offering) | 12:30 PM |
| Prasad Distribution | 01:00 PM |
| Evening Session | |
| Aratrikam | 06:30 PM |
| Offering to Swami Vivekananda by Veena artist Smt. Achala Sankarnath accompanied on the Mridangam by Sri Arun Muruganantham | 07:00 PM |
| Talk on Swami Vivekananda by Swami Ishatmananda (visiting from Chicago) | 07:30 PM |
| Prasad Distribution | 08:30 PM |
Date: 10th Jan 2026, Saturday
Celebration of Swami Vivekananda's Birth Anniversary
Sri Shiva Ratri
Dear Devotees and friends,
Sri Shiva Ratri will be celebrated on 15th Feb 2026, Sunday as per the programme.
Your good self, with the members of your family and friends, are cordially invited to attend this auspicious event and receive the compassionate Grace of the Divine.
Your's ever sincerely,
Swami Dhanyananda
Programme:
| Aratrikam | 06:30 PM |
| Special Worship | 07:00 PM |
| Abhishekam | 07:45 PM |
| Distribution of Prasad | 08:30 PM |
Date: 15th Feb 2026, Sunday
Celebration of Shiva Ratri (Night of contemplation on Lord Shiva)
Vedanta is based on the Vedas - one of the most sacred and ancient scriptures of the Hindus. It is a
system of philosophy which is based on the idea that all reality is a single principle, Brahman (God), and teaches that
the believer's goal is to transcend the limitations of self-identity and realize one's unity with Brahman. It is
not based on the life and teachings of any one particular saint or prophet. It is a federation of faiths and a
commonwealth of spiritual concepts.
Every religion teaches man to fill his being with the glory of God and to transcend pettiness and
selfishness. It trains him in the methods of unattachment and discernment, so that he may aim high and attain spiritual
perfection.
More
Read about
Sri Ramakrishna, his life and teachings in brief.
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Read about the
Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi, her life and teachings in brief.
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Read about
Swami Vivekananda, The chief disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, who founded the Ramakrishna Mission & Ramakrishna
Math.
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Direct Disciples of Sri Ramakrishna
Read about the other 15 direct monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna.
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