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Silver Jubilee Celebrations
of Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Trust, January 27 - 28, 2004
There
was festive atmosphere everywhere as the Sai Kulwant hall
resounded with the sonorous tunes of the brass band and Vedam
chanting. To add to the joy of the devotees, Bhagawan walked down
the red carpet, led by the students from Muddenahalli and Alike
educational institutions of the Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Trust who
had gathered to celebrate its Silver Jubilee year in the immediate
presence of their mother, mentor and master Bhagawan Sri Sathya
Sai Baba.
The Sri Sathya Sai
Loka Seva Trust was formed with the noble intention of providing
value-based education to
the young minds so that they grow straight and strong to be
exemplary leaders of society and the country. To achieve this end,
the Trust currently runs two magnificent educational institutions,
one being at the sylvan surroundings of Alike and the other at
picturesque Muddenahalli, both these schools located in the state
of Karnataka of South India. The Trust was founded by a great
devotee of Bhagawan, late Sri Madiyal Narayana Bhat. After the sad
demise of Sri Bhat, Bhagawan Baba, in 1978, graciously accepted
these institutions into His fold to the delight of the Trust
members. Including about 2000 students and staff from the
educational institutions at Alike and Muddenahalli along with
their parents and well-wishers, around 15,000 devotees had
converged at His lotus feet to celebrate 25 golden years of their
association with Bhagawan.
After
the ceremonial welcome, Bhagawan lighted the lamp amidst
thunderous applause to mark the inauguration of the celebrations
on the beautiful Tuesday morning of 27th of January, the first day
of the two-day celebrations. There were five speakers who
addressed the gathering that eventful morning. The first speaker
was Sri Gangadhar Bhat, Chairman of Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva
Trust, who went down his memory lane in his soulful Kannada and
narrated the story of the Trust with all its cataclysmic and
ecstatic moments. Sri Narayan Rao, the Secretary of the Sri Sathya
Sai Loka Seva Institutions, Muddenahalli followed him and
presented a report of the activities of the Trust in the last 25
years. On this occasion, Bhagawan also released three books
published by the Loka Seva Trust. There were three student
speakers following Sri Narayana Rao - two of them in English and
one in Kannada- who expressed their love and gratitude to Bhagawan
for His infinite love, blessings and grace. After the student
speakers, Bhagawan Baba graciously consented to give His divine
message and when He rose and started His discourse in chaste
Kannada, the devotees could not contain their delight at this
unexpected blessing. The audience listened in rapt attention, to
Baba's message, which came in an uninterrupted flow since there
was no translation. Bhagawan praised the devotion of late Sri
Narayan Bhat and lauded the dedication and commitment of the
members of the Trust for their excellent work in moulding young
minds.
The
cultural programme in the afternoon consisted of a few folk dances
of the state of Karnataka and a scintillating performance of
Yaksha Gana, a traditional form of dance-drama very popular in the
southern regions of Karnataka, on the theme "Krishna Leela"
depicting episodes from Lord Krishna's boyhood. After the
programme, Bhagawan graciously granted group-photographs to the
thrill of the participants.
The next day, the
28th of January, was a day of cultural extravaganza. After
Swami arrived at about 7.30 a.m. in ceremonial procession just
like the previous day, a dance drama entitled "Sai Leela" was
staged by the students. The presentation gave life to the legend
about Baba's advent concerning Sage Bharadwaja and through dances
and music, recreated the beautiful scenes of Swami's advent and
His childhood. This was followed by a traditional ceremony called
"Ashtavadhanam" wherein various art forms, are offered to the lord
in a ritualistic fashion. The first to be offered was Veda
Parayana (Chanting of hymns from all the four vedas), followed by
puranas, shastras, the holy sound of the conch, the soothing music
of the flute, the art of vocal music, dance and finally, reading
of the panchanga (or the almanac). It ended with the rendering of
"Sai Ashtakam", a string of eight hymns glorifying Bhagawan Baba.
After the programme, Baba came down the stage and blessed the
members of the brass band and the pundits who had participated in
the "Ashtavadhanam", spending lot of time with them, presenting
them with gifts and posing for photographs with them.
At
three in the afternoon of 28th, as Baba's car glided its way to
the Kulwant Hall, students from Alike and Muddenahalli welcomed
Bhagawan with a sweet welcome song even as the other boys chanted
vedic hymns. There were some more beautiful group songs to follow,
in Kannada and English. The highlight of the day's proceedings was
a dance-drama called "Jagadoddhara" depicting the ten avatars of
Lord Vishnu - an hour long presentation, which concluded with Sai
Avathar, the avathar of the Kali age. It was a fiesta of song,
dance, music, melody and some very good acting talent. Each
participant's heart was brimming with joy, which was amply
reflected on their smiling faces as they stood next to Bhagawan
for a once in a lifetime chance of being photographed with Him.
Baba gave Himself to them, talking to them, blessing them and
showering gifts on them.
It was an
unforgettable day not just for the staff and students of Alike and
Muddenahalli schools alone, but for each individual present there
that evening. For, such instances of witnessing the supreme love
filling and overwhelming His children are memories that will be
treasured for a long time.
Jai Sai Ram!
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, February 15, 2004
http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_02/04Feb15/07_Prasanthi_Diary/Silver_Jubilee_Celebrations/celebrations.htm
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