Ceremonies and festivals

Ceremonies and festivals are celebrated by Swami Baneshananda, unless otherwise indicated. 

A communal vegetarian lunch and dinner is served afterwards, at 12h30 and 19h30.

These events are free of charge and open to everyone. For those staying for lunch or dinner, a contribution of EUR 12.50 is requested. To ensure that enough can be prepared for everyone, visitors are requested to sign up for lunch and/or dinner ahead of time, either by email:

Ceremonies and festivals include:

Durga puja Ceremony dedicated to Durga, and involving spiritual songs.

Sarada Devi puja Ceremony dedicated to Sarada Devi, the wife of Ramakrishna. Also involving spiritual songs

Kalpataru Kalpataru is the tree that answers all prayers. The ceremony takes place on the 1st of January each year, and commemorates the day on January 1, 1886, when Ramakrishna is considered to have revealed himself to be an Avatar, or God incarnate on earth.

Kali puja Ceremony dedicated to Kali, and involving spiritual songs.

Christmas Eve vigil each year, both the Swami and a Christian pastor celebrate Christmas. The evening begins with a homage to Jesus and a reading of the gospel of the Nativity according to Luke. It is on Christmas Day that Swami Vivekananda and all of his brother disciples took their monastic vows.

Swami Vivekananda puja Ceremony dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, and involving spiritual songs.

Swami Brahmananda puja Ceremony dedicated to Swami Brahmananda, a disciple of Ramakrishna and the president of the Order. Also involving spiritual songs.

Shivaratri Ceremony dedicated to Shiva. Also involving spiritual songs.

Shankara Jayanti An important philosopher, scholar, and commentator of vedic texts (the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita).

Ramakrishna puja Ceremony dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, the Infinite expressed in the form of purification and unifying force. The ceremony involves spiritual songs.

Feu Homa Fire is the principal cosmic element by which life expresses itself. In celebrating fire, we pay homage to the Infinite, and ask that the life of each one of us becomes balanced and harmonious.

Fête de Krishna Ceremony dedicated to Sri Krishna, the divine incarnation in the Bhagavad Gita. Reading of the Bhagavad Gita throughout the day, followed by a puja (lasting 1h30) involving spiritual songs.