Devotes of the Divine Life Society of Connector Road, Carlsen Field, Chaguanas will be hosting a prayer session to ring in the New Year tomorrow night from 7 pm to 11 pm. Services will be conducted by Pundit Krishna Persad of Rio Claro as well as several other pundits.

The Chinamya Mission of Chinmaya Drive, McBean, Couva, will be hold its annual Banquet tomorrow from noon. The mission will also host a special Sunday morning service on January1, 2012 from 8 am to 9.30 am. Conducted by Swami Prakashananda, the service will include the chanting of Sanskrit mantras as well as devotional singing and chanting.

This highly spiritual and learned swami who has been travelling extensively to many countries of the world will be in TT for the start of the new year. Prakashananda who was born in California, migrated to Canada for higher studies. He met Swami Chinmayananda at a university in Toronto and joined the mission of Canada in 1991. He later travelled to Mumbai, India to study the scriptures before taking the vows of a brahmachari (Holy priest).

After spending six years in India studying Vedanta and Sanskrit, upon completion of his studies in 1994, he was assigned to give discourses at various Mission centres in India and Nepal.

Leaving aside his BA degree in political science and philosophy from York University in Toronto, and his Law Degree from Benares Hindu University, Swami returned to Trinidad in 1997 to start Chinmaya Mission work. Thereafter he began his satsangs and yajnas in Trinidad, the Caribbean, Canada and USA, and the United Kingdom.

It is indeed a treat to visit his ashram in Couva and look at the development of the temples which hold primary and secondary schools as well as libraries and yoga studios.

Swaha International led by Pundit Hardeo Persad will also host New Year’s Day service starting at 7am.

Swaha is a non-profit umbrella organisation incorporated by Act of Parliment 1993. Though Hindu based, the people of Swaha engage in the service of humanity.

Swaha Head Office is located at 19 Chotoo Street, Aranguez. Gyaan Deepak Kirtan Mandali is in Aranjuez.

Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,152966.html