Special Weekend Program for the Commemoration of Vedanta Center of GWDC - March 14 to 16

The Vedanta Center of Greater Washington, DC was started in 1997 by Swami Swahanandaji, then Spiritual Head of the Vedanta Society of Southern California. Since that time, we have been a sub-center of Southern California, first under Swami Swahanandaji, and later under Swami Sarvadevanandaji. We have received love and guidance from both of them and are eternally grateful for their advice and blessings for the past twenty-eight years.

Recently, the Trustees of Belur Math decided to make the Vedanta Center of GWDC a fully independent center, directly under Belur Math. They have requested us to have a formal ceremony on an auspicious day to enact the change in status of our center. Swami Sarvadevanandaji has suggested March 14, the holy day of Dol Purnima, the birthday of Sri Chaitanya, as an auspicious time since he will also be here to bless the occasion. The official formalities will take place Friday night, the 14th of March, at 7:30 pm. Swami Sarvadevanandaji will also speak that night, and we will have a special dinner for all in honor of the occasion.

The weekend program will continue the next day with a one-day retreat on the Four Yogas. In addition to Swami Sarvadevanandaji, Swami Nishpapanandaji from St Louis will also join us for the retreat. The next day, Sunday the 16th, Swami Sarvadevanandaji will give a talk in the morning, and then we will have a sitar concert in the afternoon featuring Sri Snehesh Nag on sitar and Sri Mallar Goswami on table. We cordially invite all friends and devotees to join us on this happy occasion.

March 14, Friday night

  • 6:30 pm: Arati and Meditation

  • 7:30 pm: Formalities Surrounding the New Status of the Vedanta Center of GWDC

  • 8:00 pm: Lecture by Swami Sarvadevananda

  • 9:00 pm: Dinner

March 15, Saturday Retreat on the Four Yogas

  • 11:00 am: Lecture by Swami Sarvadevananda

  • 12:30 pm: Lunch

  • 2:00 pm: Music Session

  • 3:00 pm: Lecture by Swami Nishpapananda

  • 4:00 pm: Tea and Coffee Beak

  • 4:30 to 5:15 pm: Panel Discussion with Swamis Sarvadevananda and Nishpapananda

  • 5:15 to 6:00 pm: Panel Discussion with Swamis Atmajnanananda and Bhaswatananda

  • 6:30 pm: Arati and Meditation

  • 8:00 pm: Dinner

March 16, Sunday

  •  11:00 am: Lecture by Swami Sarvadevananda

  •  12:30 pm: Lunch

  •  3:00 pm: Sitar Concert

  • Swami Sarvadevananda

    Vedanta Society of Southern California

  • Swami Nishpapananda

    Vedanta Society of St. Louis

  • Snehesh Nag

    Musician (Sitar)

    Nineteen-year-old Snehesh started learning Indian Classical Music and the Sitar from his father, Sitar virtuoso Pt. Sugato Nag belonging to the Sarod Gharana of Senia Shahjahanpore at the young age of four. He has also taken lessons from Shri Pranab Naha. Snehesh was attached to the ITC Sangeet Research Academy (SRA) as a junior scholar from 2010 to 2015 under Guru Padma Bhushan Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta. An extremely gifted musician, Snehesh blends a lot of "emotion, surprise elements, and aesthetic touches" on the sitar during his recitals which makes listening to him a pleasure. He has already performed to learned audiences in Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, San Francisco, and Vancouver.

  • Mallar Goswami

    Musician (Tabla)

    Mallar Goswami is a national scholar of CCRT and a senior disciple of Pt. Gobindo Bose. He has an M.A. degree in music from Rabindra Bharati University. He has worked as a percussionist on several audio albums, web series, and films. He is currently working on Doordarshan and many private TV shows.