XII World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges & 51st Grand Festival of Grand Lodge of India

The 2012 Annual Grand festival of the Grand Lodge of India is special this year as it runs from November 21 until November 25th 2012 following the XII World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges at Chennai in India.

Here are some pictures and videos from the event that I could gather.

I will post more as I find them :)

A big thank you to M. W .Bro. Andrey Bogdanov!! (Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Russia)

The invocation before the proceedings:

The traditional drummers welcome the delegates:

This sort of drumming accompanied by elephants in the form of a procession is an Indian traditional form of welcome for honoured guests.

The official logo

The venue from the outside

The elephant that was part of the welcome!

The Traditional Drummers to welcome the delegates 

The festive board and dinner area

Freemasonry feared as the 'thalaivetti sangam' (group that decapitates) among some in India

Even as the XII World Conference of Masonic Grand Lodges is being held in Chennai India on November 22 and 23, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of India Capt. Dr. Balaram Biswakumar regrets the fact that even today Freemasons are feared as the 'thalaivetti sangam' (group that decapitates) among some people here. 
"We want to break this misconception and spread awareness on the precepts of our society," says Biswakumar, a Chennai-based neurologist.

Incidentally this is the second time an international event is being held in the country after the 2001 event was held at Delhi.

The secret of the symbolic “sight-restoring” ritual

A very detailed investigation of this ritual and what was uncovered - a secret society behind a secret code!

Interesting concept of spreading information that is secret by publishing an expose!! Brilliant!

Warning the link below will take some time to read so take a look when you have a few minutes to spare...
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/11/ff-the-manuscript/all/