The year-long celebrations commemorating the 125th Anniversary of the founding of the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco, reached a sacred conclusion on Saturday, 25 April 2026. A pilgrimage was organized to Shanti Ashrama in the San Antonio Valley, a historic site established by Swami Turiyananda in August 1900 under the direct instructions of Swami Vivekananda.
The event marked the formal close of the anniversary year, which began on 14 April 2025, exactly 125 years after the Society was founded by Swami Vivekananda. More than 200 devotees from various parts of the United States undertook the arduous journey across winding mountain roads to gather at this remote valley—a location that remains preserved in its natural state, without electricity or running water.
The thematic focus of the day was “The Katha Upanishad: Quest for Immortality.” The spiritual proceedings were graced by the presence of several monastics:
- Swami Tattwamayananda, Minister-in-Charge of the Vedanta Society of Northern California and the guiding spirit of the event.
- Swami Aparananda, Swami Vedananda, Swami Prasannatmananda, and Swami Ishadhyanananda from the Bay Area and Sacramento centers.
- Swami Vidyanathananda of Ramakrishna Math & Ramakrishna Mission, Mumbai.
The day’s program was characterized by a serene atmosphere of contemplation and worship. The following activities were conducted:
- Puja and Meditation: A special worship was performed at the historic 1900 meditation cabin, the oldest standing Hindu shrine in the Western Hemisphere, where Swami Turiyananda lived and meditated from 1900 to 1902.
- Devotional Music and Chanting: The valley resonated with Sanskrit chanting and bhajans.
- Spiritual Discourses: Illuminating talks and discussions were held on the Katha Upanishad, drawing parallels between the seeker Nachiketa’s quest and the spiritual significance of Shanti Ashrama.
- Guided Tours: Devotees participated in guided tours of the ashrama grounds in two separate groups.
- Flower Offerings and Prasad: The program concluded with flower offerings followed by the distribution of lunch prasad.
The 125th Anniversary year included numerous collaborative programs with academic institutions and religious organizations across the Bay Area. The pilgrimage to Shanti Ashrama served as a fitting spiritual finale, reaffirming the enduring legacy of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda movement in the West.
