As Prasanthi gears up...16 Nov
2010
“The Burden of the Badge” sounds on the responsibilities of the
badge that one wear. The badge under reference is the Sevadal
Volunteer Badge of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations and the
reference is in connection with the mammoth exercise of
celebrating the “Festival of Divine Love” on the occasion of
85th year of Bhagawan’s earthly Advent.
The title “The Burden of The Badge” given by biographer writer
Prof. N. Kasturi for an exclusive Divine Discourse delivered on
the 24th February 1965, was an apt summation into a one-line
caption of the role model responsibilities defined by Bhagawan
for the ‘force’, both men and women belonging to Sri Sathya Sai
Seva Organisations.
Addressing the Sevadals Bhagawan exhorted:
This is your home and all those who have
gathered for these festivals are athithis
(guests) or your kith and kin.
You must realise now that this badge which I
gave you is not a passport for easy life; it
means strenuous routine, the giving up of
comfort, the acceptance of hard toil,
sleeplessness and sacrifice. If you are used
to a soft life, you are useless as a
volunteer, or for anything else.
With the 85th Birthday round the corner,
“Festival of Divine Love” already began, one
wonders about the organizational aspect of
the mammoth exercise headed by the chair of
All India President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva
Organisations.
What does the Organisation do to welcome the
guests for the occasion? How do the office
bearers and down the rung leaders fare to
make it the occasion the grandest ever one
as an offering of love back to Beloved
Bhagawan?
Year-long planning, discussions, reviews,
spotting the area of activities, setting up
of committees, fixing up responsibilities,
the chair of the All India President had the
mighty responsibility of running the show
before executing the task to perfection.
Efforts have been streamlined and there are
committees galore in action, equal number of
coordinators with tasks clear-cut on their
shoulders. Committees included Food
Committee, Stadium Preparation Committee,
Decoration Committee, Sevadal Registration
Committee, Cultural Programme Committee,
Accommodation Committee etc. and the list
goes on. Each and every state president and
other senior officials of the Organisation
have been given their task defined under
whom many other junior rung leaders take
their positions fielding to deliver.
…And what is the picture Prasanthi Nilayam
and Puttaparthi presenting at the moment?
The road leading up to the Nilayam has been
spruced up and beautified. Welcoming the
thousands thronging in as Divine guests,
there are number of welcome arches rising
up, beginning with a permanent concrete
structure on the way, at the main junction
from Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam
Railway Station. A number of arches follows
up in sequence en route and inside the
ashram there are many more, all with
artistic stamp on it.
The Hill View Stadium, the venue for the
D-Day is a scene of activities galore where
skilled labour, artistes and artisans, all
joining together to make it to wear the most
beautiful costume on the day.
With tens and thousands expected to attend
the festivity during the week, special
temporary accommodation facilities are in
position, a huge shamiana has been erected
near the Western end of the Ashram that
could cater tens and thousands at a time
comfortably, with number of food counters
serving the Divine prasadam over the period
of ten days.
Watching over the work-in-progress, the
smooth running of the campaign that is on,
where in one could see ‘scarved’ men and
women in action with utmost dedication and
devotion, the biographer’s maxim comes to
remind us with a sense of fulfillment.
Remember once, the Organisation is unique as
the Lord walking on the planet earth,
walking His talk had lent His name to figure
in the Organisational title.
…And thus they carry the ‘burden of the
badge’ with His divine guidance and under
the astute, able, dedicated and devoted
leadership of the chair of All India
President.
With the 'Festival of Divine Love' just
commenced yesterday, we have a series of
images captured by our lens men showcasing
the work-in-progress, as to how Prasanthi is
embracing the festivity, gearing up for the
D-Day.
It appears that every inch of Prasanthi is
thrilled, rejoicing…and is drinking the
nectar of His Divine Love!