The clock is ticking on the Innersearch and those here who are on the trip are working hard on final preparations. Otherwise the Aadheenam is very, very quite today as the wind has stopped and you can hear every bird ……

The Pillaiyar Kulam gave news today. Our web orders are way up… lot of people buying books every day. Hinduism Today copy sales are zooming and we sold every single copy of the last printing. Sadhaka Jothinatha is working now on advance sales… informing people of the articles so that those who want extra copies can order in advance. It’s working very well.

In that regard the next issue is another fabulously photo rich issue with pictures of all the senior swamis for the Dharma Conference in Mumbai and a feature story on the absolutely incredible Akshar Dham in Delhi. The center section is dedicated to Ganesha Puja. All in all another great issue and perfect for broad distribution and educational work. If you might like to get extra copies, place an order now! The last issue, which featured Tirupati, was sold by the the dozen and hundreds. Contact jothi@hindu.org

More pictures from Mauritius. Rajen Manick writes:

It is now a yearly tradition to celebrate Pancha Ganapati festival at the Spiritual Park of Mauritius where is installed a huge granite murthi of Ganesha with five heads. During the festival, December 20-25, it is a happy time of gift-giving, celebration and renewal of harmony in personal relationships.
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This year the festival was celebrated at the Park on December 22 and coordinated by the Himalayan Academy Committee of the Spiritual Park. Early morning a group was there to set up everything. Here is sishya Navind Sagam busy making some tornums for decorations.

Kulamata Premila Manick with a team of youth ready to help…

It was fun for the youth putting hands together to blow the balloons.

Lord Pancha Mukha Ganapati looked radiant on that day.

Many youth were there to participate in the various activities organised for them. The smaller ones were accompanied by their parents.

Enrolled MC student Ananda Mootoocupen was the Master of ceremonies. He explained in creole, Gurudeva’s teachings on the Pancha Ganapati festival from Gurudeva’s book Loving Ganesha.

After a short arati by Kavinian, the first item is presented a Bharat Natyam dance by Padmashiri Ramsamy.

Then there was a group song by the little ones led by Dayananda.

The children are accompanied by Sivarathna on the mrdangam.

After a solo song by Padmashiri, Jambalini performed a dance to Lord Ganapati

Here is Jambalini….

After the cultural items, it was time for some nice games which young and old enjoyed so much. Lots of laughter! Here the participants are to fill a bowl with water using a spoon to get their first clue for the treasure hunt. Not easy! Children had to collect water from the pool and would often bump into one another and the water would fall!

The youth participants were divided into five teams representing the five shaktis of Lord Ganesha: yellow, blue, red, green, orange.

Each team had to go trough some difficult non competitive tests to get the four clues to help them find a wooden Ganesha murthi hidden on the SP property

It is real fun for the youth searching Lord Ganesha

The Green found its Ganesha…. it’s a hilarious cry in the air.

The red team found theirs too…

After all five Ganeshas have been found, everyone returned to the Ganesha Mandapam for a final arati and very short meditation on Lord Ganapati.

It’s time to offer a gift to all participants. Premila calls each one to come forward.

One close Friend of the Park, Jegadissa Chenganna is invited to offer a few gifts to the youth. Each youth received a nicely carved wooden Ganesha murthi than they can keep for their personal worship.

Once all gifts distributed to some hundred youth participants of the Treasure Hunt, a meal is served to all sponsored by the Chenganna family from Piton.

The young as well as older youth had a wonderful time at the Park on that day. We have a few new ideas and look forward to have more games and space management festival in 2006.