New York Sector organized an online Spiritual Festival from November 17 to 19, 2023, attended by eighty people. The Spiritual Festival highlighted the work of our Ananda Marga departments and trades. The departments presented their work, explained their goals, and initiated discussions. We also had Dharma Cakra, Katha Kiirtana, Bhajans, Prabhata Samgiita, and other spiritual programs. On Friday, November 17, Ac. Iishvarakrsnananda Avt. gave a class on Ista, Adarsha, and Devotion. After Dada’s class, Ac. Anudhyanananda Avt. organized a Katha Kiirtana where Margiis shared their experiences with Baba, both in dreams, their lives, and during Baba’s physical presence. Ac. Rudrananda Avt. gave a devotional class that was highly appreciated by the Margiis and also answered their questions at the end.
Saturday was a full-day online program starting with Dharma Cakra and a Bhukti Pradhan conference. During the BP conference, Margiis shared their activities in their Bhukti and units, and Ac. Diiptimanananda Avt. gave a short introduction to the role of Bhukti Pradhan.
The BP Conference was followed by an interesting AMURT presentation facilitated by Ac. Unmantrananda Avt. The speakers in the AMURTEL and AMURTEL Symposium were Brother Dharma, presenting the work in Haiti; Didi Ananda Devapriya, presenting her work in Romania; and Dada Vishvarupananda, presenting Food for All DC, the feeding project in Washington DC. The inspiring presentations highlighted the AMURT and AMURTEL work in the New York Sector.
After noon meditation (Eastern Time) and a break for lunch, Dada Diiptimanananda facilitated an ERAWS Symposium with the help of Dada
Shambhushivanandaji. Dr. Kathleen Kesson and Dr. Carlos Torre talked about the Future of Education and touched on various topics related to our current education system and how Neohumanist Education can help to transform and improve schooling and the way we prepare new generations for life and the future.
Dada Diiptimanananda then gave a Prabhata Samgiita class, introducing tools for the Margiis to improve their voice and singing accuracy and learn the Prabhata Samgiita songs.
The WWD Symposium was the last program on Saturday afternoon, organized by Didi Ananda Acira. Didi Ananda Radhika, sister Nirainjana, and sister Ruchi gave presentations during the program.
In the evening, after Dharma Cakra and a short presentation by Dada Diiptimanananda, sister Bhagwanti, and Dada Iishvarakrsnananda facilitated a RAWA cultural evening.
On Sunday morning, Madhusudhan and Manish Dev gave a PROUT Symposium followed by questions and answers.
The last program before the closing ceremony was a Youth Symposium, “Warrior Spirit Monk Mind,” facilitated by Didi Ananda Acira. Brother Girish, sister Kalika, and sister Garima presented food and fasting, yoga for spiritual upliftment, and living a Margii student life, respectively. Their presentations were excellent, and many people commended them during the closing, sharing that they really enjoyed seeing the young people give such nice presentations.
