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What is most outstanding in my mind as I sit in Philadelphia writing this newsletter is just how connected we all are through our love of Shri Babaji and the Divine Mother. It does not seem to make a difference whether we can get together a few times a year, once a year, or every five years. Once we sit and sing and share our stories of our experiences, we are so connected.
Out next Bal Gokulam will be on Saturday May 17th from 10am until noon followed by a potluck lunch. This next one will focus on Mother Saraswati and how She enlivens our love of learning and of the arts. The program includes stories, yoga, chanting, sharing, and puja. The program has become very popular among the community. We have many children and parents that look forward to coming every time and there is also always new participants as well.
Each year the American Haidakhan Samaj holds its annual meeting at the Ashram, this year it will be on Saturday, July 19 and Sunday, July 20. This will be a particularly festive time as the day before is Guru Purnima Day, the full-moon day that you honor your teacher. We will celebrate with a paduka puja, large fire ceremony, feast, satsang, chanting, and lots of Baba stories. This will also overlap with Sondra Ray and her group's yearly visit, the energy will be sky high!
publications, tours, workshops, and supporting Babaji centers throughout the country. This yearly gathering is an important event at which the programs for the upcoming year are discussed and put into motion. Let your voice and ideas be heard. To make reservations for this very busy weekend, call the Ashram at 719-256-4108. For more information about the Samaj, go to 
We are already making reservations for Family Week and finalizing details for the week. It feels like it will be a very fun and inspiring time for all. Call or email soon to save a place.
From 10am until 1pm each day there are programs going on for children. This year the theme is on service and the five mahayagnas (the great duties in the Vedic culture to the Creator, to Nature, to our elders and dependants, to those who dedicate their lives to service, and to the animals). 
In addition to exploring these topics, the children will learn chanting, help with karma yoga, learn yoga, visit other spiritual centers, go on hikes, and do art projects. In the afternoon the adults organize field trips for the children to the Sand Dunes, the hot springs swimming pool, horseback riding, and other activities.
workshop will include history, stories, chants, stotrams, meditations, sacred movements, mudras, symbols, yantras, the Devi Bhagavatam, the sapta sati, and ceremony all focused on the Divine Feminine.
Each time Navratri arrives, we once again thank the Divine Mother for the wonderful kirtan hall and remember the days when we were so crowded before its completion.
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The nine days of Spring Navratri was such a special time this year with Mother in a new, beautiful sari each day. One day built on another in energy, love, and celebration.
With two full weekends during the festival, we had plenty of time to visit with all of our long-distance visitors who often can only attend on weekends.
We also had the pleasure of several people flying in for longer periods of time from California, Florida, and Missouri. The pujas, fires, and chanting were so sweet for them that many are already making plans to attend Fall Navratri which is September 29 - October 27.
We had so many helpful folks making great Indian feasts, helping with the preparations and clean up. It truly made it a very harmonious as well as inspirational time.
The last day we honored nearly 35 children with crowns, veils, lunghis, malas, and small gifts. More individual pictures can be seen below under families and children.
Another Great Bhole Baba Bhajan Band Tour
It was another very successful adventure as Kailash and Ramloti joined up with Cindy Cleary and Premanand for the Bhole Baba Bhajan Band 2008 Spring Tour sponsored by the Ashram and the American Haidakhan Samaj. Here is the experience of Cindy.
“As a wannabe rock star, I love travelling to new cities every other day, meeting new people and enlivening a crowd with our music - it is just so much fun. What a blessing to be aware of Babaji and Mother's grace every single day as they clear obstacles on our journey and guide us to what we need - whether it's the next green smoothie, driving directions,or a substitute drum for our busted one. The people who gathered for our evening programs are so full of questions, smiles, singing, dancing and devotion. Their gratitude and joy is palpable and I'm honored to be part of the vessel that delivers this evening of bliss. With very little music background, I was nervous about being a strong enough band member and it's been great to get out of my own way and just share what I can. It's a great sadhana to step out of our comfort zone and do something for the pure joy of it. What is Babaji nudging you to embrace today?”
We began with a large night of nearly 70 people in Denver. So many thanks to the Hari Morisetti family, the Shashi and Bipin Agarwal family, the Arvind Suman family, the Venugopal Chilakuri family, Dan Sundaresan, and the employees of Masalla Restaurant for the organization, supplies, publicity, accommodational, clean up, and delicious food. A special thanks to Rick who joined us on bass guitar for the evening. It was a wonderful evening and a great send-off!
“It was a beautiful evening full of so much energy. I think it lifted every ones spirits very high. The work you all do spreading this love and devotion is so important to the world today.” Love, Shashi (Denver)
We then had a lovely few days in Shrewsbury, MA at Nirmal and Indiira Sharma's home for a fire ceremony, aarati, bhajans, satsang, and Indian feast honoring Hanuman's birthday.
“It filled the house with energy. The puja to Hanuman and the havan outside I really enjoyed. It felt so fresh and cheerful with all the birds chirping and the energy of Spring. Every one added to the fullness and the bhajans we sang were very touching to me.” Indira Sharma, Shrewsbury
Our next stops were in New York City, Brooklyn, and New Jersey. Many thanks to Emily Goldman and Jessica and Pierre Bourjois for all of the warm hospitality. Thank you to all who helped organize the events and spread the word. Thank you to Taj who joined us with tampura and vocals in New York, and Dana who joined us with vocals and lovely spirit in New York.
"It was an honor being a guest singer in the band when the tour came through NYC. I felt especially energized after just returning from Haidakhan so the songs were still ringing in my soul. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did!" Love, Dana, New York
"Thank you for a wonderful evening. I think everyone benefitted from your inspiring kirtan."Lots of love, Melody, New York
We then headed to Philadelphia where we were warmly hosted by Tony Lomastro and Maureen Malone at the Philadelphia Rebirthing Center.
"The Bhole Baba Bhajan Band is the real thing! I have hosted 3 to 4 kirtans a month for the last 10 years at Yoga On Main in Philadelphia. This group's devotion and love came shining through as they chanted! I truly experienced Babaji's Grace in my heart and mind as I sang with them! Open yourself to this wonderful opportunity to experience ecstasy with these beautiful Bhakti yogis." Bhole Baba Ki Jai! Shiva Das, Director Yoga On Main
“When good things come together, like the Bhole Baba Bhajan Band, goodness happens. The Philadelphia Rebirthing Center was honored to host Ramloti, Cindy, Kailash and Premanand. There was sacred sound, fun, great food and laughter. When they left in a joyful flurry our home/center filled with an air of
Haidakhan Baba energy."
Looking forward to visiting the ashram in July, Tony & Maureen
Washington DC and Greenbelt Om Yoga Studio were our final stops. We were once again warmly housed by Meg and Liu. The chanting was very high and fun. After the venue we were fed a wonderful dinner made by Raj and some of the other folks from the Center. It is always such a blessing to be together singing the names of the Divine!
"Greenbelt Om was literally vibrating with joyful, loving energy -- the entire space, and everyone in it, was radiant with what truly felt like a strong current of blessing. I would love to stay in that space forever," Brecken Chinn Swartz, a yoga teacher at Greenbelt Om Community Yoga.
"It felt so much like the kirtan I used to participate in back in India. Everything about the experience really took me home." Raj Kiran Karkara, Co-organizer of the studio's regular kirtan series.
Our Children and Families
Our children and families continue to be so important to the Ashram. Even those who live in different places come to our programs when we are in their areas. It is amazing how quickly the children grow and how well they are all doing.
Jaya and Danesh Mehra and family from Wash. DC
Claire with Rosalis in her lap and daughter, Sage.
Premanand gives Guthrie a drumming lesson.
Meghan give prasad to her father with Shila and Kailu gives Jade chandan.
Two little friends from Shrewsbury, MA fire ceremony: Talus takes a little break.
Our Navratri Children
Calendar for 2008
May 17 - Bal Gokulam, children's program from 10am until noon, followed by potluck.
July 18 - Guru Purnima Day, the day you honor your guru. Paduka Puja at 9:30am, Fire ceremony at 10am followed by an Indian feast.
July 19 and 20 - Annual American Haidkakhan Samaj meeting. To find out more about the Samaj go to their web site at www.BabajiSamaj.org
July 21 - 25 - Annual Family Week at the Ashram with concurrent workshop on the Devi.
September 29 - October 7 - Fall Navratri, nine days to honor the Mother. Daily fire ceremonies, pujas, discourses, and readings.
October 28 - Diwali, the festival of lights. Fire ceremony at 10am. Chanting at 7pm.
Maha Lakshmi Shop Report
The Maha Lakshmi Shop is happy to announce the release of the Bhole Baba Bhajan Band Live in Florida CD. It has many of the chants that you heard when the Band was in your area and also comes with words to the chants (# Refers to Bhajan Booklet ). It sold very well on the tour and it is now available through the Shop for $15.
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We are awaiting the arrival of our annual order of murtis, devotional items, harmoniums, and dollaks from India. If you would like us to reserve you a harmonium, please call us with your request. You can call the shop toll-free at 866-686-4185 to order or for more information. We are open daily from 9am until 6pm. We do take Mastercard, Discover, and Visa. To view items in the Maha Lakshmi Shop, please refer to our newly updated web site at BabajiAshram.org.
You may order on line through paypal or e-mail us at shop@babajiashram.org, or of course, place the order over the phone. We love to talk with you. We thank you for all of your shop purchases as the revenue from the shop is a huge support for the Ashram.