Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, organized a Spiritual Retreat Camp from August 8th to 14th, 2025 at the Training Centre in Vivekanandapuram, Kanyakumari. The retreat was conducted in two parallel Shibirs: one in English with 25 participants (21 brothers and 4 sisters) and another in Hindi with 28 participants (12 brothers and 16 sisters), making a total of 53 participants. They came from 14 different states of Bharat—Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Participants reported on August 7th, settled into their accommodations, and received their Shibir kits. The retreat began that evening with a Bhajan Sandhya, followed by an introduction session covering the organizing team, schedule, and code of conduct. The regular Shibir schedule commenced on August 8th.
The daily routine started at 5:15 a.m. with Guided Meditation, Pratahsmaran, and Gita Pathan (Bhagavad Gita chanting), followed by Yoga Abhyas, breakfast, Shramasanskar, Shramaparihar, lectures, Swadhyaya (group discussions), mantra chanting, lunch, tea, evening yoga, meditation, Intune with Nature, Bhajan Sandhya, Prerana Se Punarutthan (Happy Assembly), Atmavalokan (introspection), and concluded with supper at 8:15 p.m.
Participants were grouped into six Ganahs (groups) named after kingdoms—Chera, Chola, and Pandya for the English Shibir; Chalukya, Rashtrakuta, and Hoysala for the Hindi Shibir. Activities like Shramasanskar, Swadhyaya, and food serving were conducted Ganah-wise, while Bhajan Sandhya, Gita Pathan, and Prerana Se Punarutthan were held jointly.
Separate lecture sessions for English and Hindi participants covered themes such as the Concept of Spirituality, Streams of Yoga (Bhakti, Jnana, and Karma Yoga), Kendra Prarthana, Swami Vivekananda, Amrit Parivar, Mananeeya Eknathji Ranade, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Ananda Mimamsa (Happiness Analysis), Sadhana, and Indian Culture. Each morning session was followed by group discussions, allowing participants to share and present their insights Ganah-wise.
Yoga sessions were conducted separately in the mornings and evenings, teaching loosening exercises, Asanas, Pranayama, Yogic Relaxation, and meditation techniques. Participants also learned to chant Pratahsmaran Strotra, Aikya Mantra, Shanti Path, Bhagavad Gita shlokas, Bhojana Mantra, and Yogasana Mantras.
Every evening, after Bhajan Sandhya, participants engaged in Prerana Se Punarutthan through games, action songs, patriotic songs, Lingashtakam, Hanuman Chalisa, inspiring stories, and explanations of Vivekananda Kendra activities, concluding with Atmavalokan.
Special highlights included:
- August 10th – Screening of a video on the construction of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
- August 11th – Visit to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Devi Kanyakumari Temple.
- August 12th – Visit to exhibitions at Vivekanandapuram (Gangotri, Arise! Awake! pictorial exhibition, Ramayana Darshanam & Bharat Mata Sadanam), followed by Bhajan Sandhya infront of the Sri Hanumanji statue in Shri Ramayana Darshanam.
- August 13th – Sunrise viewing at the Vivekanandapuram beach, visit to Swami Vivekananda Mandapam and Mananeeya Eknathji Samadhi, and a special session explaining Kendra’s activities, branch functioning, Utsavs, and the Patron Scheme. Many participants expressed interest in associating with Kendra through the Patron Scheme and local Branch centres of Kendra.
- August 14th (Concluding Day) – After morning practices, an interaction session was held, where participants shared their experiences Prant-wise. The concluding session was presided over by Mananeeya Nivedita Didi, All-India Vice President of VRM & VK, who addressed and blessed the participants.
The Shibir was organized by a dedicated team of Karyakartas from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka Prants under the guidance of Shibir Adhikari, Adarneeya Shri Ravi Sharma Ji, All India Yoga Pramukh. Smt. Thangalakshmi Akka (Tamil Nadu Prant Pramukh) and Kum. Priyamvada Didi (Kerala Prant Karyalaya Pramukh) served as Shibir Pramukhs for the English and Hindi groups respectively. Adarneeya Kum. Radha Devi Didi (Tamil Nadu and Kerala Prant Sangathak) served as Shibir Mitra, actively engaging with participants throughout.
The retreat concluded successfully, leaving participants spiritually enriched and deeply connected with the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and the mission of Vivekananda Kendra.
