DYCNJ celebrates most of the important festivals per Hindu Calendar. Some are Maha Sivarathri, Ugadi, Sri Rama Navami, Ganesh Chathurdhi, Navarathris, Datta Jayanthi, Pujya Gurudev Sri Swamiji’s Birthday Celebrations and Jayalakshmi mata Aaradhana. In addition, DYCNJ regularly celebrates Guru Paduka Puja, Satyanarayana Vratam and Anaghastami vratam.

Further DYCNJ priests can conduct various pujas (at your home) like Satyanaraya Vratham, Anagha Vratham, Lakshmi Puja, Abhishekams.

Most of the events have opportunities for individual participation from all the attendees. Most of the pujas can be performed in the devotee’s houses as per the requests. Sadguru Deva blesses us, from time to time, with a recorded or live message or by sending special prasadams from Mysore on certain occasions.

Below are some of the details on the events conducted by DYCNJ:

Guru Paduka Puja: Gurupaddangre paadodakam ganga. All holy waters, including Mother Ganga, live at the alter of Guru’s feet. The trimurthis – Brahma, Vishnu and Siva – live in Guru’s feet. The Guru’s feet should be worshiped everyday, for by their means one easily realizes the immanent and transcendent aspect of Shiva (form and formlessness aspects). For the sake of His disciples, the formless Guru takes the form in Padukas. Guru lives in Padukas. Guru Paduka puja constitues of performing Shodasa Upacharas (16 rites) to Guru Padukas.

Maha Shivaratri: Maha Shivarathri is observed by invoking the grace of Lord Shiva with Maha Lingarchana, a comprehensive worship of Lord Shiva involving elaborate Puja rituals, Rudra Prashna, Namaka and Chamaka Anuvaka Vedic chanting. Devotees get together to sing the glories of the Lord and will get an opportunity to perform Panchamrutha Abhishekam.

Sri Rama Navami: Performing Sita Rama Kalyanam. One angle of the inner meaning is that Sita is our Buddhi, Rama the Atman. Hanuman represents our Prana or breath. With meditation, your intellect and Atman are joined, and you become balanced.

Pujya Gurudev Sri Swamiji’s Birthday Celebrations: Sri Swamiji’s Birthday is celebrated in the month of May. Several devotees across the country including DYCNJ, meet at Datta Retreat Center in West Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Guru Paduka puja, Abhishekam to Lord Datta and Anagha Idols is also performed with lot of reverence, on this most auspicious occasion. The rest of the day is spent in Divya Nama Sankeertana.

Shankara Jayanti & Jayalakshmi Mata Aradhana: Sri Swamiji’s - Guru and Divine mother, Jayalakshmi Mata’s Birthday is celebrated on this day, the same day as the birthday of the Great Master of Advaita Philosophy, Sri Adi Sankaracharya. It is also on the same day that she left her physical body to merge back into her cosmic form. Considering that Jaya Lakshmi was incarnation of Goddess Lalitha herself, we celebrate this auspicious day with Lalitha Sahasranama chanting and Shodasa puja to the Divine Mother.

Guru Purnima: So many inquire about the importance of Guru Purnima. ‘GU’ means all types of Karmas and sins. ‘RU’ means vanquishing it. Guru gives Atma Jnana. Guru is a powerful word. Purnima or full moon means fulfillment. If you surrender to Sadguru, he will give fulfillment i.e. Ananda. Full moon means Ananda. Disciples journey from dark moon day to full moon day. i.e., path to enlightenment. That is the meaning of Guru Purnima. Traditionally, Guru Paduka Puja is performed on this day.

Ganesh Chaturdhi: This is an auspicious day to worship Lord Ganesh, who is the remover of obstacles. Sri Vinayaka Chavithi Puja is performed elaborately on this day. Vinayaka Chavithi puja involves 16 upacharas to Lord Ganesh, along with a very important story that everyone must listen and understand its spiritual significance.

Navaratri: Lalitha Sahasranama parayana is conducted every day as part of Navarathri Celebrations ending with Mangalacharana. On this festive occasion, all devotees gather at nine different houses, one on each day, and perform Lalitha Sahasranama chanting to the tune of Parama pujya Swamiji’s chanting. Hosts also fervently make preparations on respective days to resemble the celebrations at Mysore ashrama (including Diety alankaram, Naivedyam and Archana on each day). On one of the weekends of Navarathri, Dandia and Rasgarbha are played with grace.

Datta Jayanti: Datta Jayanti is celebrated with Datta Upasana. Datta’s teachings are profound and are propagated in the Atma Vilasa and Tripura Rahasya. Sri Dattatreya Laghu puja and Guru Paduka Puja are performed on this day with Vedic Chanting and Upanishad Recitation.

Anagha Vratam: Agha means sin. This is a worship that can get us rid of all the three types of sins and that is why this is called Anaghashtami Vratam. Anagha vrata is a great way to follow and reach Datta. Any one can perform this Vrata. There are no barriers to its performance like some Vratas have. It is for acquiring the knowledge for one’s spiritual upliftment. This vratham involves worshiping the Asta Siddhis (The 8 Cosmic Powers) who are the sons of Lord Anagha Swamy and Anagha Devi. While one can perform Anagha Vratham on any day to invoke the divine grace, the 8th day after Full moon every month, is more auspicious to perform this vratham. Anaghavratam is performed every month in one of devotees homes.