What happens at Sandipani during Navratri? – Read this year’s celebrations to find out more…
Navratri Anushthan held at Sandipani, under the presence and guidance of Pujya Bhaishri is a great example of how Navratri should be celebrated. Thousands of devotees, saints and dignitaries join in every year to participate and leave with satisfaction, bliss and peace.
This year, the 33rd Navratri celebrations were held from 25 September to 4 October 2014, hosted by Shri Rameshwarji and Shri Rameshwari Devi Sabuji of Rajasthan.
In the mornings, Pujya Bhaishri harmoniously recited Shri Ram Charit Manas in music with all the devotees present followed by lunch. Lord Ram’s birth was celebrated with great fanfare.
In the afternoons, this year, from 3.30pm to 6.30pm, Sandipani was honoured to hear Shrimad Bhagavat katha by Shri Shyamsundar Parasharji of Vrindavan with the exposition of grammar principles.
Thereafter, everyone gathered at Shri Hari Mandir for aarati and prayers. Devotees were mesmerised at this time with darshan of Shri Karunamayi Maa looking beautiful, adorned with various clothes and ornaments, in her nine different forms on all the nine days of Navratri. This was followed by joyous and energetic garbas by all in the grounds of Shri Hari Mandir.
The nights were celebrated with various cultural programmes, the highlight of which this year was an audio-visual presentation, in an easy to understand language, by Dr. Tarun Dave of Ahmedabad on 28 September to spread awareness on the prevention of heart disease.
Alongside these religious events and celebrations, as per every year, a large medical camp was organised and co-ordinated by Dr. Bharat Gadhvi, details of which are summarised in the table below. A total of 2314 patients benefited from this service. These patients were provided free laboratory investigations, ECG, sonography, X-rays, 5 days treatment where applicable and a further 3 month follow up. In addition, 9 patients will be provided free medication for life by Sandipani. Special thanks to Takshashilaben Kapadia, Sarojben Joshi, Kiranben Bhatt and Hetalben Gundaniya for their voluntary service during these medical camps every year.
Medical Camps organised by Sandipani Vidyaniketan
| Type Of Camp | Dates Held (2014) | Participating Doctors | Numbers Of Patients Examined | Further Comments |
| Camp for the mentally handicapped | 26 – 28 September | Dr. Kajalben Borad and her team | 108 patients out of which 102 were provided further aids. | Aids provided: 7-Above knee prostheses 13-Below knee prostheses 9 – Crutches 36 – Callipers 15 – P.C braces 1 – Knee guard 17 – tricycles 4 – Splints 1 – Foot piece 2-Above elbow hands 4 – Hand sticks 9-Ankle foot orthoses2 – Wheel chairs |
| Dental Camp | 25 September to 3 October | Shrimati Sarojben Joshi & Dr. Dharam Popat | 628 | 399 tooth extractions performed. Interventions on giving up addictions were also provided. |
| Eye Camp | 30 September | Shivanand Mission Eye Hospital, Dr. Toralben Vasavda & team | 235 | 200 treated, 36 cataract surgeries performed at Veernagar – transport was also provided. |
| Medicines Dispensary | 24 September to 4 October | Dr. R. H. Kudla | 458 | 20 emergency patients were also visited staying within Sandipani campus |
| Type Of Camp | Dates Held (2014) | Participating Doctors | Number Of Patients Examined | Further Comments |
| Maxillofacial | 27 September | Dr. Arvind Nayar, Dr. Himanshu Gorviyara, Dr. Parag Majithiya, Alok Sharma | 15 | 12 patients were provided surgery dates in Ahmedabad for free including accommodation whilst they recover with one family member |
| Pulmonology | 27 September | Shri Jayeshbhai Dobariya | 61 | Free follow up has been offered for a year. This camp was sponsored by Shri Bajranglal Taparia |
| Endocrinology | 28 September | Dr. Vivekbhai Arya, Shrimati Sangeeta Mehta (dietician) | 90 | Healthy eating advice to Diabetics was provided by Shrimati Sangeeta Mehta. Shri Darshnaben Kapadia (USA) voluntarily tested blood glucose of 31 patients with her own glucometer. |
| Diabetes Foot Care | 28 September | Dr. Paresh Ruparel | 42 | Free follow up arranged for a year in Rajkot. |
| Cardiology | 28 September | Dr. Tarun Dave & team | 156 | 88 patients examined with 2D echo & 8 with treadmill test. Free follow up was offered. |
| ENT | 28 September | Dr. Nandlal K. Manseta | 187 | Advice on giving up addiction was provided. Any surgeries and follow ups are provided free of charge for a year in Ahmedabad. |
| Skin & Leprosy | 27 September | Dr. K. M. Acharya | 244 | 3 sewing machines and 2 bicycles donated by Sandipani to 5 patients treated to support them. |
| Gynaecology | 28 September | Dr. Ilaben N. Manseta | 59 |
On the last day, the divine Anushthan ended with a divine Sundarkand Yagya and a trip to Dwarka to hoist the auspicious flag and get blessed with darshan of Lord Dwarkadhish.
Everyone present takes leave from Shri Hari in bliss but a heavy heart, with the intention of returning next year. So why not join us next year and experience this for yourself too?
