The Santulan and SOM Global Family were very proud to celebrate Smt. Veena Tambe’s 75th birth anniversary together at the Atmasantulana Village in Karla. The day began with Smt. Veenaji’s esteemed guests arriving for the Yadnya – from relatives and Santulan Family members, to old friends and well-wishers, nearly 200 people made their way from Mumbai, Pune and even Gujarat, to participate in the festivities.
The area opposite the SKY Centre covered with a mandap was laid out with a sumptuous breakfast fare. After breakfast, the guests all reverently bore witness to the Yadnya. After the Yadnya, the family performed an Aukshan with 75 lamps of ghee for Veenaji, while she shone in the light with a regal bearing. The Atmasantulana residents then sang for her and the guests came one by one to greet her personally and offer their respects, flowers and gifts.
A film consisting of a series of photos from her young age, through teenage, life with Shreeguru Dr. Balaji Tambe, and her two sons Shri Sanjay Tambe and Shri Sunil Tambe followed in sequence, till we saw snapshots of her working to set up the Atmasantulana Village, trips to Germany, creating meal plans and teaching recipes, playing with her grandchildren, touring with a large group etc. We relived glimpses into her extraordinary journey, as a mother, entrepreneur, scholar of nutrition, leader of a family and of course, as the partner of Shreeguru Dr. Balaji Tambe in all his endeavours. Smt. Malvika Tambe expressed her feelings for her mother as did Shri Sunil And Shri Sanjay, gifting her a trip to Shree Kshetra Pithapur at a time of her choice.
A delicious lunch menu awaited the guests in the newly renovated dining hall. This was followed by an invitation to beat the afternoon heat with ice gola, in various lip-smacking flavours, while guests were able to spend some one-on-one time with Smt. Veenaji. The fascination with gola almost delayed the afternoon concert arranged at the Sky Hall, where celebrated artist Ms. Arya Ambekar, a top performer at SaReGaMa and accomplished playback singer, offered a concert in Smt. Veenaji’s honour. The audience enjoyed her classical as well as popular film songs as she engaged everyone with a lively conversation with her compere on stage. Her sweet and cultured voice rounded off the celebrations. An early dinner of delicious snack items like pani-puri, biriyani and chola-kulcha brought a satisfying end to a day of remembering the life and times of Smt. Veena Tambe.
Holi Celebrations at Atmasantulana Village
This year, climate change through the rain god, attempted to delay our Holi fire. But eventually the bright blaze offered us the chance to burn our negativities and see life afresh,just like every year.
This was followed by meditation at the AUM Temple and a Holi prasad dinner. As we celebrate each festival to its fullest, Panchakarma patients, who are with us for a few weeks, get a glimpse of the model of life created by Shreeguru Dr. Balaji Tambe and partake in the opportunity to become part of the model of life created at the Atmasantulana Village.
Mahashivaratri – A meditation session, a concert and a midnight milk ritual
Singing the praises of Lord Shiva and Parvati on Mahashivaratri is a tradition at Atmasantulana Village. Continuing Shreeguruji’s mantra music concerts with the Atmasantulana Village music group, the Mahashivaratri concert at the SKY Hall was performed for the village residents as well as the Panchakarma patients.
Led by Shri Sunil Tambe, the concert invoked the blessings of Lord Shiva and uplifted the energy of the audience on this auspicious day. Earlier, a meditation session with special mantras and stotras related to Shiva in Shreeguruji’s voice had brightened the Aum Temple. At night, the residents gathered to share some stories and conversation over a cup of freshly made milk prasad. The traditions that keep us healthy and together continue at Atmasantulana Village.