Utsah: The 'Spreading smiles' campaign began in July 2016 by a team of Art of Living volunteers, doctors & engineers and have been working with the students to prepare them to face challenges.
80,000 students learn meditation over 6 months
Kota: Renowned spiritual guru and founder of the Art of Living Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will address a gathering of about 100,000 students on January 15 in Kota, Rajasthan at a special event called ‘Utsah’.
In a first-of-its kind event where a spiritual leader would directly interact with such a mammoth gathering of students, Gurudev will lead a guided meditation and participate in a Q&A with the students.
The event, which will be attended by the Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, will also feature a special rock satsang with renowned singer, Vikram Hazra.
This event is a culmination of a 6-month-long-campaign called ‘Spreading Smiles, Kota’ which has seen 80,000 students learn meditation techniques so far. The Art of Living launched this massive initiative to help aspiring students, who are preparing for entrance examinations, combat the heightened level of stress. Kota, the coaching capital of India, has a significant student population. Apart from meditation, over 6,000 students have also learnt the Art of Living’s powerful rhythmic breathing technique – Sudarshan Kriya.
The campaign that begun in July 2016 has been led by a team of Art of Living volunteers and instructors who are doctors, engineers and professionals themselves and have been working with the students to prepare them to face the challenges.
Most of the students have reported increase in focus, clarity of mind and confidence, and improvement in quality of sleep, physical energy after practicing the techniques taught.
Pradyumn Kumar, an IIT aspirant from Uttar Pradesh shares that the techniques have made him experience a relaxed mind and has improved his performance in studies. “The program has helped me increase concentration not just in studies, but also while doing daily chores and has given me the confidence to face troubling situations,” adds Shahzadi Praveen, from Bihar who is attending coaching for MBBS entrance exam.
“The Sudarshan Kriya has corrected my disturbed sleep pattern and helped me get rid of procrastination and laziness,” testifies Manisha Kumari Singh.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar arrives in Kota on January 14th where he will be interacting with some institute directors and will attend a satsang in the city. After the Ustah event on January 15th, Gurudev will leave for Jaipur where he will be interacting with some farmers and village heads as well as attend an event organized by the FICCI Ladies Wing.
Highlights from the Spreading Smiles, Kota campaign:
- A team of over 20 full-time volunteers and teachers has been involved in the campaign.
- 80,000 students have experienced meditation in hostels and classrooms.
- 6000 students have undergone Happiness Program.
- 110 faculties from 'Resonance' - a leading coaching institute have undergone Happiness program.
- 6 big musical concerts with total gathering of 14000 students and faculties have been held.
- Government sponsored patriotic concert - "Des Mere" was held on 15th August which was attended by 800 bureaucrats, industrialist, politicians and institute faculties.
