Posts by Yatkara

News #50: Hungary’s Second Outdoor Sri Chinmoy Statue Inaugurated in Debrecen

Posted on by Yatkara

On July 19, the meditative bronze statue of Sri Chinmoy was inaugurated in Debrecen, Hungary’s second outdoor Peace statue, now standing serenely in Oneness‑Garden, a newly curated retreat dedicated to inner peace. The sculpture, one meter tall atop a 1.5-meter platform, is nestled amid tranquil garden settings designed for calm and community.

At the ceremony, István shared reflections on Sri Chinmoy’s life and teachings. Attendees joined in silent meditation, enjoyed spiritual music, and concluded with soulful bhajans in the garden’s beautiful ambiance.

Oneness-Garden is located next to a visitor center dedicated to spiritual retreats, and adjacent to a therapeutic horse stable where sick children receive healing care. Members of the ÉletrevaLÓ horse-riding foundation also joined the celebration.

Throughout the day, visitors were invited to experience meditation in quiet corners thoughtfully arranged around the garden. Spiritual books and a guide were available to help seekers deepen their inner experience.

More than a monument, this statue now symbolizes peace – a space to reflect, and deepen one’s connection to harmony and unity in a place thoughtfully created for contemplation and retreat.

For more information:
Meditative music by Sri Chinmoy and other groups: www.radiosrichinmoy.org
Upcoming events: www.srichinmoycentre.org
Learn more about Sri Chinmoy: www.srichinmoy.org

News #49:  Sri Chinmoy Trail Series 5 – “Gungahlin Gallop” – Canberra, July 20, 2025

Posted on by Yatkara

Canberra’s trail-running community faced one of its toughest challenges yet with the Gungahlin Gallop, rounding out the Sri Chinmoy Trail Series on Sunday. The demanding 31 km course – including two steep climbs of One Tree Hill – proved to be a true test of endurance and skill, and both the men’s and women’s race records were shattered dramatically.

On the men’s side, debut runner Benjamin Butler blazed through the trail to claim the overall course record of 2:07:14, while Brittany Harriden, driven by consistency throughout the series, set a new women’s mark at 2:31:54 – and secured a stunning third place overall in a highly competitive field  . Ageless endurance shone brightly too, as Clare Wall smashed her own F70+ record in 4:23:21.

On the 10 km course, Sarah King maintained her flawless record with another win, 48:15, while newcomer Patrick Clark narrowly missed the men’s course best with a fast 38:34  . The 2.2 km sprint races saw Felix Botticchio (Boys U13) and Daniela Wilsener (Female 17+) squeeze in record-breaking times of 9:32 and 12:04, respectively.

This finish marked a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 Canberra Trail Series, where grit, stamina, and spirit truly shone.

Check out the full results and race-day gallery:

Congratulations to all the runners, especially those pushing limits on this scenic yet grueling course!

For more information about sports events, visit the official website: www.srichinmoyraces.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.

News #48: Sri Chinmoy Half‑Marathon (21.1 k), Quarter‑Marathon (10.55 k), 4.5 k & Kid’s 1.5 k – Auckland Domain, NZ – July 13, 2025

Posted on by Yatkara

A chilly but mostly fine winter’s morning set the scene for Race 5 of the Sri Chinmoy Auckland Series 2025, held on Sunday, July 13 at the picturesque Auckland Domain.

In the Half-Marathon (21.1 km), Zebedee Stone (1:16:45) took a close win, just edging out his friend Michael Whittaker (1:16:46), with Thomas Milliken (1:35:33) coming in third. On the women’s side, Ketina Chivasa claimed victory in 1:35:08, followed by Tilly Arasaratnam (1:35:56) and Jaime Stevenson (1:51:37).

The Quarter-Marathon (10.55 km) saw a strong performance from Finn Campbell (42:15) to take the men’s title, with Neil Cheetham (44:20) and Donovan Taylor (48:33) completing the podium. Maia Cavanagh led the women’s race in 44:02, ahead of Kayla Hurcum (52:31) and Sandhya Fernandez (1:00:16).

In the 4.5 km Race, Ollie Cheetham won in 17:21, followed by Zachary Swain (18:59) and Raf Porto Carrero (23:29). Winnie Lau topped the women’s field in 24:12, with Larissa Wildsmith (26:30) and Lisa Brown (30:59) in second and third.

The 1.5 km Children’s Race was won by Wolfgang Brunt in a fast 5:44, with Jack Swain taking second in 7:54.

Explore More:

For more information about sports events, visit the official website: www.srichinmoyraces.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.

News #47: Sri Chinmoy 5K, Half‑Marathon & Relay – Flushing Meadows, Queens, NY – July 12, 2025

Posted on by Yatkara

On a cool, breezy July morning at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, the event brought together:

  • 127 runners in the 5K
  • 109 individual runners in the half‑marathon
  • 8 relay teams

All participants ran on a USATF‑certified, flat course looping past the Unisphere, Queens Zoo, and Queens Museum

Top Finishers:

  • 5K:
    • 1st: Beltran Garcia – 16:42
    • 2nd: Aurora Velazquez – 19:29
    • 3rd: Matheo Langlais – 19:40 
  • Half‑Marathon (individual):
    • 1st: Daniel Granton – 1:22:04
    • 2nd: Sameer Khan – 1:23:16
  • Half‑Marathon (relay):
    • 1st: RunNYC Reddit – 1:22:23
    • 2nd: From Harbat With Love – 1:32:32

A big thank you to all the runners and volunteers for coming out on this warm July morning—your energy and dedication made it a truly special event!

Explore More:

For more information about sports events, visit the official website: www.srichinmoyraces.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.

News #46: Kangaroo Hop 5K  | Sri Chinmoy’s Summer 5K Series – London, June 17, 2025

Posted on by Yatkara

Under gusty wind and slightly cooler summer temperatures, the Kangaroo Hop 5K in Battersea Park, London, drew over 340 runners to compete on its flat, two-lap course.

Top Finishers:

  • Kurt Wilkinson crossed the finish line first in 14:54, followed closely by Charlie Sandison at 14:56.
  • Molly Smith was the top female finisher with 16:32, just one second ahead of Elizabeth Apsley.

Check out the race highlights:

Huge congratulations to all participants for a spirited and memorable race!

For more information about sports events, visit the official website: www.srichinmoyraces.org.
To learn more about Sri Chinmoy, please visit: www.srichinmoy.org.