In 1908, which they thought to be the 75th year, there was at Belur Math a ‘huge concourse of people ... numbering about twelve thousand’, which was `mostly composed of gentlemen who came to pay their respects to the hallowed memory of the great Avatara of the age’ who `went back to their homes in the evening having breathed a singularly spiritual atmosphere’, which we are told `rarely falls to their lot, amidst the many inevitably distracting occupations of their daily life’. We are informed that the Prasad was distributed to more than 6000 people and that `The ceremony was also observed in the Kankurgachi Yogadyan, and subsequently by many Bhaktas in their private houses, on which occasions the Sannyasin and house-holder disciples congregated together and passed the days in joyous devotion, ending with sumptuous feasts served by their hosts’.
In Madras
`a marked spirit of enthusiasm pervaded the celebration of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday’. Boys of the Students’ Home chanted Taittiriya Upanishad and `Swami Ramakrishnananda conducted the morning puja, the sacred birth-hour service and the evening worship and at night the Prasad was distributed’`… and on the day of public celebration on Sunday, the 8th March the feeding of the poor had begun at a large market on the other side of Mylapore and during the day between six and seven thousand were fed’. There was a musical discourse which was listened to with `rapt attention’ and thoughtful, formal lectures as well as an `extemporaneous lecture which had not only the grace of exceptional learning and eloquence but the ring of true inspiration’ by some of the `most learned scholars of Madras’.
The feeding of the poor, musical discourse which was listened to with rapt attention, well appreciated formal lectures together with an extemporaneous lecture graced with exceptional learning and eloquence and true inspiration by scholars in Madras bears an interesting comparison with the singers and Sankirtan parties, feasts and distribution of Prasad which enlivened and contributed to the joyousness and sanctity of the day, as on similar occasions in the previous years in Belur Math.
We may call these happenings as an appetizer for the momentous events of 1911-1912.
1908 report continues that, ‘this is the first time that the anniversary was made an occasion for public celebration at the Orphanage by Swami Akhandananda. And it passed off in a way surpassing the expectations of the initiators. About I300 poor people were fed, and many gentlemen partook of Prasad’. Reports of celebrations from Benares, Dacca, Nagpur and Vaniambadi (precursor to present Nattarampalli) are also available.
Come 1909, we get detailed reports of celebrations in Belur Math. The Madras report says, `The Madras Centre … under the energetic direction of Swami Ramakrishnanandaji, is one of those where the birthday of Sri Ramakrishna Deva is always celebrated with special enthusiasm but this year, owing to the presence of His Holiness, Swami Brahmanandaji … the observance of the anniversary was more than usually impressive. The private celebration on the birthday proper, Feb. 22nd, assumed almost the proportions of a public function, so many friends gathered at the Math during the day, especially at the time of Homa at 4 o'clock, after which a generous collation was served.. and until after midnight there was sacred singing and dancing.’
There is a notable addition in the narration of Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday Anniversary Celebrations in 1909:
This is the first year in which the anniversary was celebrated at the birthplace of Sri Ramakrishna in the village of Kamarpukur on the 13th of March last, and some devotees from Calcutta made a pilgrimage to the Home of the Divine Teacher and its holy surroundings. Several local Sankirtan parties attended, and hundreds of the village people were sumptuously fed.
The Report of 1909 then mentions in brief about Celebrations in Murshidabad, Benares, Dacca, Nagpur and Kankhal.
The 1910 Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday Festival report says, `The 77th birthday anniversary of Bhagavan Sri Ramakrishna was celebrated at the Belur Math on the 13th March… This year the tithi-puja day fortunately turned out to be a Sunday… This made the day a festival in itself. During the day, special puja ceremonies were gone through by the Swamis Sivananda and Suddhananda, in accordance with strict Shastric rites. The Bhaktas who numbered about a thousand, enjoyed themselves with devotional songs sung by connoisseurs in music, and were sumptuously served with various kinds of Prasadam.… The presence of our revered President Sri Swami Brahmanandaji was a further incentive to the general joyousness. The Rama-nama-Sankirtanan which he introduced on the occasion, charmed many feeling hearts with its recital; it is a skillful presentation, in a nutshell, of the whole of Sri Ramachandra's hallowed career, in simple Sanskrit metres, which can be easily sung in a chorus with the accompaniment of musical instruments. Among the musicians present was a gentleman who showed the very acme of his art in playing on the guitar’
1910 Report continues with the detailed narration of all the events of the great day:
At dead of night amid universal hush, the worship of Mother Kali was performed and the Homa with its oblations poured into the sacred fire with appropriate Mantrams, terminated the holy rites of the occasion. The celebration on the 20th surpassed all previous ones in grandeur and enthusiasm owing mainly to the much larger number of people attending it this year. The steamer and boat service between Belur and Calcutta was constant. The gathering must have been not less than fifty thousand in all. This increase in number shows that Bengal is coming to know more and more of Sri Ramakrishna and take greater interest in his life and teachings. The numberless diversity of creed among the musical parties assembled was a fit tribute to the memory of One who was the embodied synthesis of all religions. The spacious kitchen-shed had been all astir since the day and the night before, with preparations for Prasadam in huge quantities. Excellent arrangements were made this year, by a sturdy band of Bhaktas numbering 400, for its distribution which turned out to be a grand success. They were in charge of almost all the camps where prasada &c... were freely distributed to the visitors. The various
Sankirtana parties sang with great re1igious fervour, going round from place to place, and several concert parties showed admirable skill in playing music; while the noted Kali-Kirtan party of Andul, and the 'Rama-nama- Sankirtanam organised by the members of the Math were much appreciated. All these, one after another, were the centres of animated gatherings.
The detailed report of the Celebration of Sri Ramakrishna’s Birthday in Belur Math continues:
Sri Ramakrishna's life-size portrait, beneath a large durbar-tent looked exceedingly imposing, being beautifully decorated with flowers and foliage &c., by the Calcutta florist Sj. Sital Chandra Bose. Besides, the painting itself was so life-like and inspiring, that a glance at it "untwists all the chains that tie the hidden soul of harmony." Throughout the day the spacious lawn was literally packed with people who walked to and fro to enjoy all the different entertainments, and have their share of the Prasadam and sherbet. One noticeable feature was the Tarja, a metrical competition, often impromptu, between two parties, on Pouranic subjects, and in strict conformity to decorum. The serene faces of the Swamis shone welcome to the assembled people, and as the sun went down, the festivities came to a close amidst shouts of `Jai Guru Maharaj ki jai’ and `Jai Swamiji Maharaj ki jai.' A large number of beggars were also fed.
We are beginning to find the reports are getting more and more ardent and ecstatic. We see that the reporters are amazed by the influx of people answering to the invitation. The fervour of the multitude enthuses the inmates of the Math too. It sinks in that the real call to celebrate and imbibe the joy at the event of the arrival of Sri Ramakrishna had been issued by Sri Ramakrishna himself from the top of the Dakshineswar kuthibari. The formal invitations and announcements duly made by Ramakrishna Mission are at most nimitta matram. The monks begin to see the play of Sri Ramakrishna in the Celebrations.
The Report of Sri Ramakrishna Birthday Anniversary Celebrations in 1910 at Belur Math concludes:
One is perplexed to account for this huge concourse, and the voluntary assemblage of so many amateur musical and kirtan parties to celebrate the day. The answer is to be sought for in the irresistible attraction and inspiring influence which realised souls exert upon all. However private might have been their lives, their thoughts are irresistible and never fail to spread. Consciously or unconsciously people are drawn to them. Impressed with the spiritual significance of the occasion, sons of the highest classes, casting aside their pride, openly joined with their brothers of the humble rank to share in glorifying the one who brought back, for once, the old India of Realisations, to the sceptic gaze of the modern world. And Sri Ramakrishna was Love personified. It is no wonder, then, that His birthday, wherever celebrated, will be the occasion of religious upheaval, bearing his message of Love and Renunciation.
In Madras there was usual marked enthusiasm and rejoicing. In the morning there was a very grand Bhajana …. Many joined... about 7,000 poor people of all classes were fed. A number of boys belonging to respectable and well to-do Brahman families took part in the service.
There is a popular Harikatha recital and two lectures from which we get extensive excerpts.
Report of Celebrations in Bangalore starts appearing. Celebrations in Kankhal and Banares are briefly mentioned.
The report closes thus:
We have also received reports from various other centres of the Ramakrishna Mission at which the birthday anniversary was observed with much devotion and enthusiasm.
We now enter 1911…
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