Jayendra Saraswati, the 69^th acharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, completes 50 years as sankaracharya on March 22.

The Kanchi Mutth will conduct a yearlong celebration, the Peetharohana Swarna Jayanthi Mahotsav. A Peetharohana Trust -- headed by Vijayendra Saraswati, who will become the 70th sankaracharya -- has been headquartered in Mumbai to take care of the celebrations.

Jayendra Saraswati has said: "If one has to serve the cause of the Hindu religion, one will have to endeavour to uplift the society. For a state to develop, social welfare is as necessary as spiritual development."

The Peetharohana Trust will follow his advice and do a lot of social work, said Vijayendra Saraswati. This includes sponsoring 1,000 minor surgeries on socially and economically backward children, creating a Centre for Preventive Prenatology, free eye camps, a 50km long human chain for global peace, and a Jaipur foot workshop.

He further announced that celebrations would also take place in other parts of India.

The celebrations begin with the offering of a golden tiger claw ornament to Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala on March 21 where 51 Veda pundits will be honoured.

The sankaracharya will visit the Shiva Shakti Kaakum Karangal, a home for mentally challenged children in Chennai, and distribute toys, sweets and clothing. In the evening, he will preside over a function honouring eminent artistes.

Union Minister of State for Communications S Thirunavukkarasu will release a first-day cover issued by the postal department by giving it to former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.

This will be followed, on March 22, by the 'real' inaugural function at the Madras University Centenary Auditorium in Chennai. It will be attended by many VVIPS, including King Gyanendra of Nepal, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, former president R Venkataraman, former prime ministers P V Narasimha Rao and Deve Gowda, state governors and ministers.

Advani will release a book, Preceptors of Advaita, by handing over a copy to King Gyanendra.

On March 23, the religious activities connected with the Swarnotsava Jayanti will commence at Kancheepuram.

One of the high points of Jayendra Saraswathi's innumerable yatras has been his visit to Mount Kailas and Manasarovar. When the Government of China extended a warm welcome to him, he became the first religious head to be allowed entry into Communist China. He also shot to fame nationally when he volunteered to hold talks with Muslim leaders to resolve the Ayodhya dispute.