Amritavarsham 60 – Updates

Leading scientists, social leaders, academicians, entrepreneurs and administrators will discuss ways for the holistic development of villages in the international seminar to be held from Wednesday at Amritapuri in Vallikkavu near here. The event marks the commencement of the three-day-long 60th birthday celebrations of Mata Amritanandamayi – Amritavarsham 60.

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam would inaugurate the two-day international seminar on ‘Our Villages, Our World, What Can We Offer’. The seminar will commence soon after the conclusion of an ongoing three-day prayer for world peace, which is scheduled to conclude at 11 a m on Wednesday.

Prominent speakers at the seminar would include eminent scientist M S Swaminathan and Nobel laureate Leland H Hartwell. As many as five lakh persons are expected to attend the celebrations. In her message on Tuesday, Mata Amritanandamayi said that the main project to be undertaken by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM) this year would be the adoption of 101 villages, aiming to make them self-reliant and role models for the country. She said that through the adoption of 101 villages across the country, the Math hopes to restore the culture and ethnicity of these villages.

“The country’s soul lies in our villages. They are the bread basket of our country. They are our foundation-the source of all the food that nourishes us. Right now, it is as if we are just exploiting them. We need to preserve the cultural ethos that is India. People, especially the women in our villages, are suffering due to alcohol abuse, being beaten up by men who return home drunk. We aim to find solutions to all of these serious problems,” she said. Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, vice-chairman of MAM which is organising the event, said steps had been initiated to launch the `50-crore relief and rehab project for the flood-ravaged Uttarakhand, as early as possible. By Wednesday evening, Mata Amritanandamayi will conclude giving darshan to visitors. There will be a 90-minute bhajan at Amrita University, ending by 8 p m.

The cultural performances in the evening include Hindustani flute recital by Padma Vibhushan Hari Prasad Chaurasia; instrumental fusion by frontline mridangam player Karaikudi Mani; Odissi duet by couple Sujata and Ratikant Mohapatra and musical dance performance by Amrita Yuva Dharmadhara. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would attend the function on September 26 and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on September 27