The 68th Annual Southern KwaZulu-Natal Children’s Cultural Festival was held on 6 July 2025 at the Swami Nischalananda Hall at the Durban Centre. The festival brought together children from a wide array of sub-centres and Satsang groups, including the Durban Centre, Chatsworth and Pietermaritzburg Sub-Centres, Etete and Phoenix Satsang Group, Sri Sarada Devi Ashram, and the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa – Phoenix.
The day began with a ceremonial march to the Centre, followed by a flag-hoisting ceremony at 08:00, where the South African national flag, the Indian national flag, and the Ramakrishna Mission flag were raised.
The festival provided a platform for the children to showcase their talents through devotional songs, cultural dances, dramatic sketches, and recitations. Revered Swami Swatmaramanandaji Maharaj (President of the Ramakrishna Centre of S.A.), Revered Swami Saradaprabhanandaji Maharaj (President of the Ramakrishna Centre of S.A. – Phoenix), and Revered Pravrajika Ishtaprana Mataji (Spiritual Head of the Sri Sarada Devi Ashram) delivered inspiring talks.
The Centre’s children’s activity book – The Tejasvi – was launched as part of the festival, along with the unveiling of the Centre’s new website. A sumptuous lunch was served, and all participants received a book pack. An on-site tuck shop was also available.
