“Na gayatryah paro mantrah” - There is no Mantra greater than the Gayatri.” With Bhagavat Kripa and blessings from Acharyas of Kanchi Sankara Mata, Sringeri Sankara Mata, Kamakshi Swamigal, THAMBRAAS USA conducted Samashti Upanayanam for 10 vatus (boys) successfully, for the first time in the Bay Area, California, USA. The planning for the event started 6 months back. There were weekly meetings of the board members and directors (Sri Prabhu Venkatesh Subramaniam, Sri Sivakumar Kameswaran, Sri Muthu Subramanian Vaidyanathan, Sri Aravind Subramanian, Smt Kamala Vedapuram) with the parents of the Vatus on the event logistics, arrangement of Vadhyars, purchase of the silver items required, arrange food, Seer Bhakshanams, Mangala Vadyam and photography. Totally 10 families signed up for the Upanayanam, few of them were from outstation, Missouri, Michigan, Texas, and Los Angeles and remaining were from Bay area, California. Day 1, April 22, 2023, Udakashanti was performed, with mantras sanctifying the place, creating positive energy. Abhishekam for Vatus were done along with mangala isai by women. The children were fortunate to be blessed by Sri U.Ve Dushyanat Sridhar, who came as a chief guest and gave an upanyasam on importance of Upanayanam and the significance of daily rituals to be performed after upanayanam. Day 2, April 23, 2023, the stage was arranged for the ten vatus and their parents with private space for each one of them. Led by Sri Vishwanatha Gurukkal and his team, the mantras were chanted and with the help of volunteers specifically assigned for each family, the upanayanam was conducted, Kumarabhojanam was served for the Vatus, later culminating in Brahmopadesham-Initiation to Gayatri Mantra. Relatives of each family were welcomed cordially. Around 40 volunteers worked round the clock, planning to the miniscule level, for the last 4-5 days to get this function going without any hurdles. Bhaskara Prakasha Ashrama, Guru Sri Raghu Anna and Guru patni, Smt Akhila manni visited as dignitaries and blessed the kids. Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner were provided from time to time and even packed food for the outstation families when they left, thanks to Thirupathi Bhimas restaurant. Seer Bhakshanams for the families were arranged from Grand sweets, Adyar. The graphics work and designing of props, banners, brochures were done by Ideas Infinity Chennai'. The gift items. silver items and clothing for Vatus and parents were arranged by Mahko Impex Coimbatore. Performing one upanayanam by a family itself takes several months of planning and coordination by many family members and friends. Here THAMBRAAS USA conducted this Upanayanam for 10 children of different families, from different states of USA, well-coordinated, which was possible only by the divine grace of God, Acharyas and great effort of the volunteers..- Prabhu Venkatesh from Thambraas, USA