The Thiruvalla Sri Ramakrishna Ashram will launch the first Sree Ramakrishna Vachanamrita Sathram, a week-long retreat on the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, on the ashram premises on Tuesday.

A large pandal to accommodate 1,000 people has been built at the ashram grounds. The stage has a LED wall on its left for the audience to have a hassle-free viewing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will inaugurate the event through videoconferencing between 1 p.m. and 1.22 p.m. on Tuesday.

People from across the country are camping at the ashram and its surroundings to attend the spiritual retreat.

Senior monks of the Ramakrishna Mission are camping at the Ashram to make necessary arrangements for the smooth conduct of the event, according to Swami Golokananda, senior monk, and Swami Nirvinnananda, ashram president.

The 103-year-old SRK Ashram in Thiruvalla is the second-oldest monastery of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in Kerala.

Swami Swaprabhananda, senior monk from Belur Math, and Swami Nandatmajananda, Editor of Prabudha Keralam, journal of Sri Ramakrishnan Mission, have been assisting the Ashram president in making necessary arrangements for the Sathram.

Birth anniversary

The week-long Sathram has been planned in connection with the 182nd birth anniversary (Jayanti) of the Saint of Dakshineswar, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. The jayanti fete is on February 28.

The inaugural ceremony will begin on Tuesday. Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha P.J. Kurien will preside over the function and Kummanam Rajashekharan, BJP State president, will deliver the keynote address.

Swami Atmaghanananda, president of Sri Ramakrishna Ashram at Kancheepuram, will light the ceremonial lamp and Swami Nirvinnananda will welcome the gathering.

Water Resources Minister Mathew T. Thomas, will release the souvenir by handing over its first copy to Swami Golokananda on the occasion.

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Retreat on Ramakrishna's teachings - The Hindu