The 18th Annual Festival celebrated at Sandipani Vidyaniketan
The 18th Annual festival of Shri Babadeshwar Sanskrit Mahavidyalay was celebrated with great zest and fervour on 14th, 15th, and 16th January 2002. Pujya Bhaishri attended this festival on the 15th and 16th after concluding Pandarpur Bhagwat katha.
The festival commenced on 14th Jan. with the recitation of Vishnu Sahastranaam followed by kite flying and a cricket match of the students. The managing trustee of the institute Shri Machhubhai Mehta was present on this occasion to cheer the students and Shri Manojbhai Badiani, son of the Hon. Secretary Shri Natubhai Badiani announced various prizes for the encouragement of the participating students. Many disciples of His Holiness, Pujya Yogiji Maharaj including Honourable Justice Shri Jashubhai visited the institute and were greatly impressed by its activities.
On 15th Jan. various intellectual competitions for students were held in the pre-noon session. These included elocution, debates, antaksharis of shlokas and sutras, etc. In the evening, the final cricket match was held which Pujya Bhaishri, the trustees and other distinguished guests who came from foreign countries, attended.
16th Jan. is the foundation day of the institute. In the morning a Shanti Yagna was performed in the institute and a special puja and Laghu Rudrabhisheka was performed at the temple of Lord Babadeshwar Mahadeva. At 6.00 P.M. a cultural variety programme organized by the students was presented. The retired Principal of Shri Suryapur Sanskrit Pathshala, Shri Danidatt Jha was the Chief Guest at this function, while Shri B. H. Ghodasara and Shri Navinbhai Shukla the collector and education officer respectively of Porbandar were honoured guests on this occasion. The programmes presented included group performances in singing, music, prayers and hymns, a classical dance performance in the form of a vandana to Lord Ganesh and a Sanskrit drama Dhruvacharitam written by Prof. Shri Krishna Mishra.
The guests expressed their pleasure and appreciation of the programmes presented by the students of the institute. Pujya Bhaishri also expressed his happiness and satisfaction with the progress of the institute saying, “Just as a farmer feels pleased and contented while looking at his field bearing the fruits of his endeavours, so am I pleased while witnessing all these activities of our institute.” He also encouraged the students by giving away various prizes to them. The senior officer of Gujarat State Coast Guard Force Shri Rajan Chopra also praised the students of the institute. Shri Danidatta Jha said that for the students, the process of studying itself was a great tapasya. Shri Falgunbhai Modha and Shri Umakantbhai Pandya were responsible for the various programmes.
