Spiritual and Devotional Programmes
Spiritual practice is at the heart of the Centre’s activities. Regular satsangs, scriptural discourses, devotional singing (bhajans), and arati services are held at our
headquarters and various sub-centres. Special pujas and observances are conducted during important Hindu festivals such as:
- Shivaratri
- Sri Ram Navami
- Krishna Ashtami
- Navaratri and Deepavali
- Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Saraswati Puja
- Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti, Sri Sarada Devi Jayanti, and Swami Vivekananda Jayanti
- Annual retreats and spiritual workshops
Youth
Development
Education is a key pillar of our work. The Centre conducts various programmes to support the academic and spiritual growth of young people:
- Hinduism for Children classes are held weekly to teach moral values, scriptural knowledge, and the lives and teachings of the Holy Trio.
- Youth Forums engage young adults through service projects, discussions, camps, and spiritual mentorship.
- Tertiary student support includes bursaries, mentorship, and guidance.
Humanitarian Outreach
In service to society, we carry out a wide range of humanitarian activities:
- Distribution of food, grocery hampers, and cooked meals to families in need
- Clothing, blanket, and essentials drives, especially during the winter months
- Emergency relief efforts during natural disasters and community crises
The Ramakrishna Clinic of South Africa
The Ramakrishna Clinic was established in 1959 under the auspices of Swami Nischalananda, the founder of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa. What began as a
modest mobile service providing basic healthcare to labourers in the surrounding sugar cane plantations of KwaZulu-Natal has since evolved into a dynamic
multidisciplinary and diagnostic facility offering vital healthcare to underserved communities.
The Clinic is committed to serving all individuals, regardless of faith or background, and operates with the ethos of compassionate, inclusive, and holistic care. It is
staffed by a dedicated team of healthcare professionals registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, including:
- Specialist doctors
- Dentists
- Optometrists
- Professional nurses
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational therapists
- Speech therapists
- Audiologists
- Diagnostic testing including ECGs, ultrasounds, pap smears, and laboratory investigations
- Follow-up consultations to review diagnostic results (typically after two weeks)
- Dispensing of medication by on-site licensed pharmacists
- Free spectacles issued following optometry screenings
These services are conducted at different Sub-Centres throughout KwaZulu-Natal every alternate month. Since 2016, an average of 5000 patients are seen per annum
for specialist services. This also includes dispensing nearly 600 spectacles each year at no cost to patients. Patients also receive free medication. Medical outreach
activities have expanded throughout KwaZulu-Natal including Inanda, Glen Anil, Etete, Chatsworth, Pietermaritzburg, Ladysmith, Newcastle and Sydenham where
community centres are transformed into clinics by the Clinic team.
The Ramakrishna Centre Legal Advisory Services
The Ramakrishna Centre Legal Advisory Services was established in 2006 as a voluntary initiative to provide free legal guidance to those who cannot afford legal
representation. The service is held once a month at the Ramakrishna Centre, Durban, by prior arrangement. Its primary aim is to assist:
- Legal advice on court procedures and processes
- Assistance in drafting wills
- Referrals to appropriate agencies and legal bodies for further action
- Support in matters related to family law, estate planning, documentation, and civic matter
All legal professionals involved offer their time and expertise entirely on a voluntary basis, and no fees are charged for services provided.
The Swami Vivekananda Centre of Human Excellence
The Swami Vivekananda Centre of Human Excellence is a special initiative of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa. It is dedicated to the development of human
potential through:
- Workshops and seminars on leadership, personal mastery, and self-discipline
- Courses on values-based living, ethics, and spiritual resilience
- Programmes for youth, professionals, educators, and community leaders
Faculty of Peace Studies, Spirituality and Culture
The Faculty of Peace Studies, Spirituality and Culture is the adult education wing of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa. Its foundation was laid more than seven decades ago by Swami Nischalananda, who initiated adult education programmes rooted in the
teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda, and the broader spiritual and cultural heritage of India. In 2007, these programmes were formalised under a structured faculty and made available to students throughout the country via distance
learning. The faculty aims to promote personal transformation, spiritual understanding, cultural appreciation, and peace-building through education. Courses are facilitated by professional academic staff, course coordinators, and administrators, ensuring a
supportive and structured learning experience.
- Certificate Courses Offered
- Each of the following courses is offered on a one-year basis, subject to student demand:
- Certificate in Basic Hindu Studies
- Certificate in Hindu Studies
- Certificate in Bhagavad Gita Studies
- Certificate in Appreciation of Great Lives: Sri Ramakrishna
- Certificate in Appreciation of Great Lives: Sri Sarada Devi
- Certificate in Appreciation of Great Lives: Swami Vivekananda – Module One
- Certificate in Appreciation of Great Lives: Swami Vivekananda – Module Two
- Certificate in Religious Educare
These programmes are designed for adult learners seeking a deeper understanding of Vedanta philosophy, Hindu spirituality, and the lives of great spiritual personalities. The distance education model makes learning accessible to individuals across South Africa,
regardless of location.