The historical Hong Kong DMS took place from October 2-6 in Pak Tam Chung Holiday Camp in Hong Kong. The DMS venue was inspiring with many green trees, and a panoramic view of the ocean corridor. The accommodations were very comfortable and every room was utilized to host all the Margiis and Acaryas. The weather throughout the entire DMS was continuously warm and pleasant. The DMS hall was beautifully decorated and even the floor looked good with a large new carpet. Margiis began arriving from all over the world on Oct 2nd morning. At the same time the workers and margiis of Hong Kong Sector were busy preparing the Camp for DMS by decorating the DMS Hall, Akhanda Kiirtan Hall and preparing accommodation rooms.
More than 450 Margiis and Acaryas came from Hong Kong (HK) Sector and various countries of the world. From HK Sector there were 131 Margiis from Mainland China, 69 from Russia and Kyrgyzstan, 50 from Taiwan, 20 from Korea, 13 from Hong Kong, 8 from Japan, 2 from Mongolia and 1 sister from Kyrgyzstan. From other parts of the world there were 50 Margiis from India, 28 from Vietnam, 15 from Nepal, 8 from the Philippines, 2 from Brazil, and one each from Australia, USA, UK and Singapore etc. WTs came from several sectors including Manila, Suva, New York, Gorge Town and Quahira.
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The opening ceremony began with highly entertaining cultural performances, with Prabhat Samgiita dance by a sister Nirmala from South Korean, music and songs by Cosmic Love, a very talented group of Russian margiis from Ananda Shivanii MU, and a very special traditional “Hong Kong lion dance” when four dancers wore colourful costumes so that there appeared to be two large lions on stage etc. After the performances, SS Dada and Central representative Ac. Madhuvattananda Avt. garlanded Baba, and then Hong Kong Bhukti Pradhan Sister Sumati, SWWS Didi, Ac Madhuvratananda Avt, SS Dada, inspired all margiis for the DMS. SS Dada welcomed Margiis country wise and the audience clapped in appreciation for their inspiration to come and participate. SS Dada introduced the HK Sectors Workers, one by one, as well as workers visiting from other sectors.
On Wednesday, 3rd October
After Paincajanya, about 400 margiis did Nagar Kiirtan around the compound.
At 11.30am All Margiis gave a grand reception to Rev. Purodha Pramukha (PP) Dada Jii. PP Dada jii arrived from Indian with his entourage which included very senior Ac. Rudrananda Avt, Ac. Savitananda Avt, Ac Madhuvratananda Avt, Ac. Mantrajapananda Avt, Avtk. Ananda Danavrata Ac. and Avtk. Ananda Piyusha Ac. Ac Madhuvratananda Avt Acting General Secreatry had arrived earlier in Hong Kong Sector visiting Taiwan for two week and came from Taiwan with other WTs for RDS.
A Guard of honor of ASD and Seva Dal volunteers saluted Purodha Pramukha Dada Jii and Ac Krsnamayananda Avt RS HK gave a garland to PP Dada jii, Twenty sisters from GV performed kaoshiki, and 10 Russian brothers did tandava. Margiis from more than 10 countries, welcome to PP Dada jii one after another by performed a traditional songs and dance in their traditional dress.
Thereafter Dada jii garlanded Baba’s photo followed by collective Guru Puja’ and he addressed the audience for very short time and was escorted to his residence by SS HK Ac. Shubhaniryasananda Avt and others.
On October 3rd and 4th several workshops were held to educate the Margiis in different aspects of Ananda Marga teachings and practices.
Some of the workshops were in Chinese and some were in English. The Science of Mind by brother Sunil from Beijing was attended by 40 Margiis; Didi Ananda Tapomaya’s talk on Neohumanist Education was attended by 40 Margiis; Ac. Priyadarshi’s talk on Health and Wellness was attended by 50 Margiis. Dada Dharmavedananda jii and Brother Nirainjan’s talk on the same topic in English was attended by 60 Margiis; from Taiwan broher Jiivan Deva’s presentation on Sustainable Economy was attended by 25 Margiis; Central WWD Secretary Avtka. Ananda Danavrata Ac.’s talk on How to Control Emotions Through Meditation and Yoga was attended by 20 sisters. Finally, Brother Mrnal’s RAWA workshops over 3 days were attended by 20 Margiis.
The DMS organizers provided extra food in the form of fruits and yoghurt to supplement the food offered by the Holiday Camp who have never accommodated so many people taking a sattvic vegetarian diet. Two dining halls managed to accommodate the large number of guests. Every bed and spare bed were utilized in the Camp site. The swimming pool and playground were a favorite spot for children to play. So were the quiet walkways that encircled the perimeter of the holiday camp and the river that gave an aesthetic touch to the facilities. In spite of the busy schedule Margiis were able to mingle, make new friends, share their experiences of Ananda Marga and enjoy a rare opportunity for satsaunga with fellows Margiis and Acaryas from all over the world.
The most attractive devotional program was the 48 hours Akhanda Kiirtan, which began at 3.00 pm on October 3rd and continued until 3 pm on October 5th. Different groups from all the countries had a chance to sing Kiirtan according to their style and many new tunes and melody were played. The final 30 minutes emitted a very strong devotional vibration that left many devotees in spiritual ecstasy. The kiirtan program included original melodies from many countries in Hong Kong Sector.
Three RAWA program in the evenings were very professional, with excellent performances from India RAWA team of brother Mrnal Jii, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Kyrgyzstan, Hong Kong, Mongolia and Nepal etc. All three nights were full of thrilling presentations of Prabhat Samgiita, a drama, traditional songs and dances from various countries and vibrating solo performances from many countries.
Naval Kishore from Jaipur, India brought everyone very high by leading Avarta Kiirtans following PP Dada’s talks and his heart rending Prabhat Sangiita selections before PP Dada’s speeches.
Brother Harananda and his wife Chanda Didi from Jamalpur India shared memorable experiences from their long association with Baba. Senior Dada jii Ac. Rudrananda Avt.’s inspiring class increased Margiis’ devotion and commitment to Adarsha after hearing of the important elements of a successful spiritual journey.
Rev. Purodha Pramukha Dada Jii talks were both educative and enjoyable. He interspersed his talks with selections from different Prabhat Samgiita and told many interesting stories about Baba and from the Upanishadic scriptures. Dada’s first two talks centered on “Mysticism and Devotion”. His RU speech was entitled, “Nam Kiirtan”. While the DMS speech was entitled, “Kevala Bhakti”. In his first speech, he gave the title of our DMS “International DMS” for it was truly a grand gathering of devotees from over 20 countries.
PP Dada Jii devoted maximum time to meeting Margiis individually and collectively from all of the countries of Hong Kong Sector and Nepal, India, Vietnam and Philippines etc. He led several other meetings namely family Acaryas, WTs, LFT’s and Bhukti Pradhans and Unit Secretaries. He had very little free time during the packed and dynamic program.
Finally, in the evening of Oct 5th Rev Purodha Pramukha Dada jii begin the final DMS evening with, giving his blessing to four newly married couples during this DMS. He also presented prizes to so many Margiis and workers for their great work and sacrifice in different countries of HK Sector. After Dada jii’s speech, a beautiful Baba’s video with Varabhaya Mudra were shown with subtitles in Chinese and English. After very powerful Avarata Kiirtana finished, everyone started 6 hours Akhanda Kiirtan from 11.30 pm on October 5th until 5.30 am on October 6th. Margiis were so vibrated by the flow of Divine Love that many danced kiirtan the whole night, without sleep.
During the closing ceremony on October 6th morning, many people expressed their appreciation and inspiration for the successful and historical DMS. Both margiis and workers from many sectors and countries—even from far-away Brazil—shared their deep feelings and appreciation.
The successful event came about through 2 years of planning led by SS Dada, Ac Shubhaniryasananda Avt., Ac. Yogananda Avt. SOS HK and Ac. Krsnamayananda Avt. RS HK. It was unimaginable that a small team of not more than five Hong Kong Margiis could carry the weight of the whole program and bring it to a successful finish.
The DMS Organizng Committee also included SWWS Didi Ananda Kalyanshri, Ac., PRS Ac. Shiilabhadrananda Avt., Sectorial SB Secretary Ac. Cittarainjanananda Avt., DSL Shanghai Brcii Vimocana Ac., RSL Maccao Avtk. Ananda Amala’ Ac. and AMURT Co Coordinator Ac. Vijitatmananda Avt. Every acarya of Hong Kong Sector had at least one duty in the DMS. Due to the sincere fulfillment of their prescribed duty, all aspects of the DMS flowed smoothly and provided a comfortable background for all of the events to be carried out in an excellent manner.
The wave of inspiration that flowed from this DMS is sure to enrich the activities of Ananda Marga in Hong Kong Sector and spread all over the planet.
This DMS in HK was very special and the first occasion in the history of Ananda Marga that a good number of Baba’s devotees – from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Russia, Mongolia, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Maharlika, India and Nepal etc. came together on the ancient land of mainland Chinese culture. They merged in Him with highest devotion – singing kiirtan, mediating and sharing so many devotional feelings together in each and every activity. It was so inspiring to see Margiis from all over the integrate world as one family and merge in His Divine Love. This program was so wonderful that it will be difficult to forget in our life.
Photos of HK DMS can be found on our Facebook page.