The Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Durban

The Centre was founded in 1942 and affiliated with the Ramakrishna Mission in 2007. The 80th anniversary of the centre was celebrated during the year. Swami Swatmaramananda is its President.

Activities:

• Medical services: (i) Monthly medical clinics, (ii) a special eye camp, (iii) a blood donation camp, and (iv) Six medical outreach programmes.
• Publication of a monthly journal Arise Awake.
• A reference library with more than 1600 titles, and a bookstore.
• Programmes for children: Classes on Hinduism on the digital platform and karate classes at the centre.
• Yoga classes and a permaculture garden project.
• A legal advisory desk which provides free legal help to senior citizens and the needy and the destitute.
• Welfare activities: Distribution of food, ration kits, clothes, winter garments, scholarships and medical supplies.
• Religious activities: Daily worship, vesper service, and spiritual readings; weekly satsangs (consisting of bhajans, kirtans, discourses and chanting of hymns); occasional spiritual retreats.
• Celebration of the birth anniversaries of the Holy Trio and major festivals.
• Support and guidance to five satsang groups in Red Hill, Etete, Sydenham, Estcourt and Glencoe for their religious and educational activities and charitable services such as distribution of groceries.

Durban centre has the following four sub-centres which support the main centre in carrying out the above activities:

• Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Chatsworth: Located 38 km away from Durban centre, it was started in 1983.

• Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Ladysmith: Started in 1957, it is located about 250 km away from Durban centre.

• Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Newcastle: This lies 350 km away from Durban centre and was started in 1956.

• Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Pietermaritzburg: This was founded in 1972 and is located 100 km away from Durban centre.