A  pleasantly  warm  sunny  north  Indian  spring  welcomed  the  Centenary  Sangam  attendees  from across north India to YSS Noida Ashram from February 28 to March 2017. Attended by over 500 devotees, the six-day programme became an extended affair for visiting devotees who stayed on to attend the YSS Centenary Postage Stamp release by the Honble Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi on March 7.  

Devotees attended review of Gurudeva Sri Sri Paramahansa Yoganandas meditation techniques and Energization  Exercises, group  meditations,  bhajan  sessions,  video  shows,  and  availed  of  valuable spiritual counsel from monastics.

Spiritual discourses given by monastics inspired devotees to reflect on various facets of their spiritual journey and make fresh efforts with renewed enthusiasm. The topics included 'Role of the Guru in the Life of a Disciple', 'Realising our True Nature ', 'Scientific  Basis  of  Kriya  Yoga', 'How  to  Develop  a  Personal Relationship with God' and 'Winning the Inner Battle of Kurukshetra'.  

In between the classes and the sumptuous meals, devotees relaxed in the serene ashram lawns which were beaming with flowers of all shades in the north Indian spring.

Nearly ...  kriyabans  along  with ...  new initiates  attended  the  Kriya  Yoga  diksha  conducted  by  Swami Smarananandaji on March 5, the closing day of the programme. Devotees who were present in this sacred gathering bore testimony to the joy and blessings of the YSS Gurus.

This  is  how,  Neeta  Desai  from  Ahmedabad,  who  attended  the  Noida  Sangam  for  the  first  time, shares her experience:
"The  Sangam  was  spiritually  uplifting,  and  it  has  left  a  deep  impact on  me.  The  lectures  and technique classes were very helpful. Being a smaller sangam, it gave us more opportunities to meet with  and  take  spiritual  counsel  from  the  monastics.  Accommodation  and  other  arrangements  were excellent. We felt like a close-knit family, and I wish to come back here every year."