Ashram Inauguration

Hi all,

We just wanted to share with you an exciting event - the inauguration of the new 'Mukteshwar Matth' which we were privileged to attend and participate in as official photographers. (photos below)
'Mukteshwar Matth', which means 'Lord of Salvation Matth', functions as a spiritual centre and is similar to a monastery. It has now officially been opened by our old language teacher - Swami Muktanand ji - who is one of the founders of the Ashram and is now residing there as a spiritual teacher.

Though the inauguration started at 4 am with an anointing service for Swami ji as the Acharya, or head of the Ashram, the main event started at 4 in the afternoon.
About 200 people showed up (far more than expected) and there was a lively worship time, singing bhajans (traditional devotional songs) and with a short teaching by Swami Dayanand Bharati (one of our School of Hindu Studies teachers) who came to Varanasi especially for this event. After the teaching food was served but half way through eating, the electricity shut off (which happens every day here in Varanasi, but the Ashram has no back up system (generator or batteries) so we lit candles.

Anyway, they say a picture speaks a thousand words so here are the pictures:

Kids playing in the alley way outside the Ashram

A view of the singing from an Archway

The Aangan - every old house is built around a central opening which allows air flow and heat to rise from the house

Prayer

Dana and her friend Shuchita

Lights out

To see our previous post on the Ashram, click here.