February 19, 2012 will be marked in the national calendar as the ‘Day of Peace and Tranquillity’ as the Art of Living Foundation New Zealand performed the ‘Maha Mrityunjaya Homa’ for universal peace.
The ceremony was held at the Shanti Niwas Charitable Trust Hall in Onehunga, Auckland. More than 40 volunteers including children participated in the grand prayers that aimed to invoke diving blessings and human ethos.
The proceedings commenced with Guru Pooja, followed by the Homa.
Offerings were made into a consecrated fire after each Maha Mrityunjaya mantra, totalling 108 mantras.
The Foundation donated $1000 for flood relief in Fiji, out of the proceeds collected at the Homa.
The Art of Living Foundation is a not-for-profit, educational and humanitarian Organisation engaged in stress-management and service initiatives.
It operates in 151 countries.
The organisation’s programmes are guided by the philosophy of peace, namely, ‘Unless we have a stress-free mind and a violence-free society, we cannot achieve world Peace.’
To help individuals get rid of stress and experience inner peace, the Foundation offers stress-elimination programmes, which include breathing techniques, meditation and yoga.
These programmes have helped millions of people around the world to overcome stress, depression and violent tendencies.
For more information, visit www.artofliving.org.nz
Rozeena Parikh is a senior member of the Art of Living Foundation in New Zealand,
Photo Caption: Art of Living volunteers getting ready for the Maha Mrityunjaya Homa’ in Auckland on February 19, 2012.
