The
festivities of Buddha poornima continue today 14th May: the day started with the
typical routine of devotees lining up and anticipating to get the best sitting
place inside the hall & experience the close presence (darshan) of Swami’s
physical form.
Bhagawan came
out for Darshan at appx 8.30. (read details
below) The programme started with Swami’s arrival in the hall & the singing
of melodious (International) bhajans. The bhajans really purify & elevate the
Brindavan morning atmosphere. Also, Swami was clearly enjoying the
(international) Bhajans, His face expressions and the tapping of hand reveals
His limitless blissful nature and approval of bhajans and music in progress. The
musical program by Indonesian BAL Vikas was spectacular also the choir
arrangement by Malaysian Chinese Sai-devotees was remarkable presentation. The
cultural program ended with offering of Aarti to Bhagwan Baba. Later there was
Narayana Seva, that is, feeding of the poor and Vastradaan, i.e. the
distributing of new clothes to the unfortunate and poor.
The cultural and musical program will continue in the evening by Sri Lankan
devotees with their traditional drum beats. Just like the previous year, Sri
Lankan devotees are again very much involved in organizing the 2006 Buddha
poornima program here in Brindavan ashram. Also, Balvikas children from
Indonesian will present time-honoured traditional dance. The evening bhajans
will be presented by international Bhajan singers/ devotees.
SAIRAM to all dear members of the sai familySBOI-Group
Today the 14th of may its a Sunday and a holiday, as we reach the ashram we
can see lots of cars and other vehicles already parked outside the ashram,
indicating that already devotees have started coming in the time is 6;30 am
and there is an air of excitement as we reach the gate of the ashram .
The banner saying HAPPY BUDDHA POORNIMA day is still put up and those red
ball shaped lanterns are hanging below it there are fresh plantain leaf
cutouts on both sides of the gate too, .Outside there are lots of policemen
controlling the traffic and asking us to get inside soon ,probably a vip
devotee may be expected.
We enter the ashram and find those colourful flags fluttering softly, Swami 's
banners are still hung up everywhere saying happy VESAKH day, devotees are
rushing inside to get a good seat. The delegates wearing scarves saying Buddha
Poornima Celebrations at the lotus feet 2006 Brindavan, are hurrying in and
are allotted special seats reserved in the front, both in the gents and ladies
side too. The floral decorations on stage have been removed but for a few
fresh flowers put up now. The lanterns are still hung up on the roof too.
The time is 7;30am by the time we get to sit, swami provides us a fairly close
seat today and pretty soon as we look behind we can see the hall is packed
with eager devotees for the programme to begin as Buddha Poornima celebrations
continue today too.......
Its 8:10 am and we see the lights are on and the music starts, prompting all
to sit up in their seats with eyes on stage chanting of..................
OM..OM...OM.... begins followed by GAJANANNA >>>>>>>> bhajan invoking the
blessings of lord GANESH at the start of the programme............ the ladies
side get to sing next ,today's bhajans are bieng sung by an international
group from Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka,Malaysia, etc ,doesn't sound like
outsiders are singing [all the devotees are one sai family, as generally the
local students of sai get to sing ],the singers do a pretty good redention as
they have been practising for months together for this special day.
Swami enters the stage soon and walks till the railing blesses everyone and
is seated ,deeply engrossed in the bhajans until about 8:40 am when there is
a short silence in the hall..........
We can see children from Medan, Indonesia dressed in their traditional dress
enter from the eastern front ladies side entrance bow before Swami and begin
their traditional dance on the lively Indonesian music looks good........ they
end their dance bow again and soon we see younger girls dressed in bright
golden traditional dresses enter and bow before just near the Ganesh statue
and begin their performance .
This dance by children of Subabaya, Indonesia again on traditional music
is entitled The dance of a thousand Hands and is dedicated to Kwan Yin.......
a truely great performance from those young girls ,ends with loud clapping
from all in the hall, there is silence and arrangements are made for mikes
before the next performers soon.
Bhagawan has on many occasions ,appreciated the Malaysian SAI choir, and soon
we are going to witness this performance conducted by a Chinese Malaysian
devotee Bro. See Kim Boon.
the choir begins with invocation to lord Buddha , the conductor is
standing below the stage and we can see him moving his hands in tune with the
music and sound of the artists ,he looks pretty charged up ,as they are
performing before the MASTER performer who is enjoying the choir sitting on
his sofa and we can see his hands beating to the tune of the choir.
Truly a great performance in which four songs are rendered by the
group..........The choir soon ends with Shiva Maheswara........... prompting
loud claps and we see SWAMI move his hands in a circle and ............ A GOLD
CHAIN is materialised in swami's hand amidst loud clapping from the charged
devotees who have been treated to a wonderfull performance from the
Malaysian SAI Choir.
The conductor is soon called up on stage ,he bows before Swami and Swami is
personally putting the chain around his neck,it takes a few minutes and the
lucky man gets to to padanamaskar at the LOTUS FEET of the MASTER .........
loud clapping continues till the choir performers charged up again begin thier
best redention while their teacher is being conferred the honour of receiving
the chain .............. soon he returns and again conducts the ending few
lines............ loud clapping from all..............................
the time is 9:40am............ soon we hear and see the aarti begin.........
....OM JAI JAGDISH HARE..SWAMI SATYA SAI HARE........... swami is
standing with the support of the railing .....
.......OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI HI............ excitement fills the hall
as Swami is signalling to come down after Aarti, we can see the vip {chief
minister of Karnataka} walk up in between till the Buddha stupa put up on the
right side of the stage towards the gents side and is soon blessed by Swami
who by now has come down from the right gents side lift, in a few moments
Swami moves in the front in his chair towards the eastern ladies side exit
,all the ladies charge towards the front but Swami after blessing the young
performers moves out towards the Kalyanamandapam, where Narayana Seva (feeding
of the poor) and Vastradaan (donating clothes) is arranged for the poor ,huge
piles of sarees are arranged and all are seated with leaves in front of them,
while Swami blesses the food and NARAYANA SEVA is begun.... soon inside the
SAI RAMESH hall all the gents are eager to see the chain given to an
exited Bro See Kim Boon but he is soon taken away inside and by now the stage
lights are switched off signalling that Swami is on his way back to TRAYEE
Brindavan.. bringing an end to the morning programme............... my my
truly a great start to Mothers day which is today.....................SAIRAM
wish you all a GREAT day...............
Also read: Darshan update 13th
May Morning :
Buddha poornima -
"...Sairam dear members of our [SBOI-Group] sai family
HAPPY BUDDHA PURNIMA
says the huge banner at the gate of Brindavan ashram ,it has Swami s
picture blessing us on one side and on the other side there is a
picture of Buddha on it. The decorated gates are open at 6am and as
we enter the ashram, our eyes feast on the..." Read more
13th May Sai darshan update-Evening: "...Buddha
poornima evening program commenced at 4.p.m. with Swami’s grand
entrance, Swami blessed and looked at devotees waiting in the Sai
Ramesh...." Read more
Sai Travel News: SBOI has received
information from various Sai sources that Swami might leave for His
Prasanthi Nilayam ashram in Puttaparthi next week.
Kindly note:
these are
unconfirmed reports; only Swami Himself knows His exact travel
plans
Darshan update- Brindavan Ashram. Bangalore.
" the darshan
hall was packed with devotees since today Begum Praveen Sultana a
famous singer of India came to get blessings from Swami and also
presented a treat of Hindustani music programme in the presence of
Lord Shri Sathya Sai Baba..."
including the latest - up close and personal with Sai Baba
Read more
Sai Travel News: SBOI has received
information from various Sai sources that Swami might leave for His
Prasanthi Nilayam ashram in Puttaparthi next week.
Kindly note:
these are
unconfirmed reports; only Swami Himself knows His exact travel
plans
