Bhagawan's Delhi
- Shimla Sojourn -
A Photo Report - Part 2
Before continuing with
Part 2
of the Report, we have some more
images received from Delhi showing how the Sri Sathya Sai
International Centre welcomed the Lord!
13th April was Baisakhi, the Punjabi New Year, and thus into the 5th
day of Bhagawan’s Delhi sojourn, there was much to offer and much
more to anticipate, as rarely do Delhi gets this opportunity to
celebrate a New Year in physical Divine presence!
For people in North India, especially the Sikhs, Baisakhi is a mega
event; it is a religious festival, harvest festival and New Year's
Day, all rolled into one. And when Bhagawan Himself was in their
midst in physical, in North India, the occasion became s a real
celebrations for the folks devoted to Bhagawan.
On this day, Day 5, Bhagawan was ushered in at 1140 hrs. to come
onstage presiding over the bhajans at the Sri Sathya Sai
International Centre. Being the Baisakhi day, prasadam was
distributed along with Vibhuti, a practice followed in Delhi, and
the “Prasadam” was sanctified and blessed by Bhagawan. Clothes were
also distributed to the public marking auspiciousness of the
occasion. Blessing the assemblage of devotees, Bhagawan moved down
the ramp proceeding further through the aisle; after finishing
half-way into the aisle, Bhagawan returned to the dais.
He knows the deserved one, He
knows the right timing and He knows how to act…. As bhajans went on,
Bhagawan, while onstage, spotted a mentally and physically
challenged child sitting with his mother, and asked the sevadal to
go and give vibhuti prasadam to the child. Completely conquered by
the Power of Divine Love exhibited by Bhagawan, the child’s mother
was in tears and so were many others around her, as their joy knew
no bounds. None would know what prayer emanated from this hapless
mother prompting Bhaghawan to shower His bounty in His inimitable
style. It was an act so soothing and comforting, not alone to the
suffering soul, but to the audience who were fortunate to witness
this ‘rare act’ of Divine benevolence.
Upon accepting Arathi at 1230 hrs., Bhagawan
proceeded to Sri Rajeev Mahajan’s (a senior devotee from Delhi)
home, another mode of blessing the deserved one’s, that He often
does, while away from Prasanthi Nilayam. Minister of State for
Civil Aviation, Mr. Praful Patel, Governor of Punjab and
Administrator for Union Territory of Chandigarh, Mr. Shivraj Patil,
Hon’ble Justice (Retd.) MM Punchhi, Formerly Chief Justice of India,
Veteran VHP leader, Ashok Singhal, Hon'ble Minister for FDC,
Information Public Relations and Trourism, Andhra Pradesh, Dr.
(Mrs.) J.Geeta Reddy and popular playback singer from
Bollywood, Suresh Wadkar and some Members of Indian Parliament etc.
were at the International Centre seeking Divine Blessings.
The evening darshan was scheduled at the Dwarka
grounds, the second and final at the venue during Divine Visit 2010.
Bhagawan and His entourage reached the grounds just after 7. Being
Baisakhi, a music programme by popular Pubjabi Folk and Sufi Singer
Hansraj Hans was scheduled on this Baisakhi evening.
Living up to his reputation
as one of the leading Sufi Singer, the popular singer who showed up
in resplendent attire, sung mesmerizingly, enthralling the Divine,
singing sufi devotionals, often times singing at Bhagawan directly.
The next half-an-hour was a musical treat, raining mellifluous
music, for Bhagawan as well as for the capacity audience. Bhagawan
was seen often engrossed in the singing, giving beats, enjoying the
session, as if immersed in the melody of devotion.
Later Bhagawan along with His entourage visited State President of
SSSSO, Jatinder Cheema’s house, blessing the family by partaking
dinner.
On the next morning, on the 14th April, Day 6, after the darshan at
the SSSIC, Bhagawan went to Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, the Higher
Secondary School situated at Kalkajee Extn. Area in South Delhi.
An interesting cultural programme, a dance drama, on the life of
Sathya Sai entitled, "Sathya Sai Katha", illustrating various
incidents from the illustrious life of "Little Sathya".
The programme that featured various events in the life of Bhagawan's
childhood days right up to the time was a nostalgic refresher for
the Divine Himself who was seen absorbed in the presentation. It was
Unique, because the play was all about Beloved Bhagawan’s childhood
right up to the time. The famous Hanuman episode wherein Hanuman
stopped Little Sathya from circumabulating his idol, Rishyendramani
episode when He Himself danced onstage in place of the famous dancer
of those times – Rishyendramani, exhibiting with ease the amazing
feat of picking up a needle on the floor with His eyelids to the
utter amazement of one and all and the episode illustrating how
“Little Sathya” taught the greater lesson of “non-violence” to a
young British Officer who was out for hunting wild animals etc. were
depicted taking the audience through the illustrious life of
Bhagawan.
The children delighted and charmed everyone with their performances.
The drama concluded with a medley of dances – Gujarati Garba,
Bhangra, Kathakali, Manipuri, etc. Meaningful bhajans and songs
informing all about Bhagawan’s ceaseless humanitarian works, formed
the background score as the children danced ever so enchantingly.
Their costumes were spectacular. Their performance – professional.
The students, their parents and the teachers had put in a lot of
effort.
This was followed by a sumptuous feast for The Lord and His group of
men accompanying Him. Later Bhagawan blessed the houses of Sri Lalit
Seth’s and Col. Beri’s residences, before retiring to the
International Centre.
The peunultimate Darshan before leaving for Shimla the next day was
made most memorable as Bhagawan chose to move down the ramp, going
amidst the devotees through the pathway, accepting letters from
almost every stretched hand. Bhagawan even chose to spent sometime
in the middle at the mini-podium among the devotees granting coveted
view of His beauteous Divine Form. After spending around fifteen
minutes Bhagawan retired for the day at around 1925 hrs. after
accepting Arathi.
Some of the prominent faces visited Bhagawan at the International
Centre during day were, veteran BJP leader and former Dy. Prime
Minister LK Advani and his family members, Chief of Air Staff, Air
Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Naik.
…And on the 15th morning, Day 7, Bhagawan emerged at 0915 hrs. for a
five minute darshan before proceeding to the Indira Gandhi
International Airport wherefrom, at 1000 hrs. He took off for
Shimla, fulfilling ‘her’ long cherished dream of thirty-five years,
for His Holy Feet to set in!!!
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