Report on Sports and Cultural Meet 2004

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Sports And Cultural Meet - 2004 Report

This year too, the 11th of January saw the inauguration of the Annual Sports and

Cultural Meet of Bhagavan’s educational institutions which is eagerly awaited by

students and devotees alike. The thousands who gathered at the Sri Sathya Sai

Hill View Stadium were treated to a spectacular display of courage, grit and

daredevilry as well as colour, gaiety and harmony.Bhagavan arrived at the

stadium at 7.25 a.m. in a convertible, all along blessing the huge concourse of

devotees. He was welcomed in to the stadium by a team of students of all the

campuses on escort bikes and Sai Geeta, the dear elephant of Bhagavan. Bhagavan

Baba, the revered Chancellor, was welcomed to the dais by the Vice Chancellor of

the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, and the Principals and Wardens

of the three campuses. He ascended the stage and lit the lamp thus inaugurating

the

Annual Sports and Cultural Meet-2004. Then tiny tots from Primary School dressed

in regal costumes presented bouquets to Bhagavan.Then students of all the

campuses of Swami’s educational institutions marched past the dais to the

accompaniment of the institute brass band. This was followed by the hoisting of

the Institute flag and the oath-taking ceremony. Then Bhagavan lit the Torch and

released pigeons and balloons. Two runners then carried the torch through the

stadium. Thereafter, the mascot of this year’s meet, a lion, carried the torch

to light the ceremonial flame.On this occasion, a book authored by Sri. B.N.

Narasimha Murthy, the Warden of Brindavan Campus, entitled “Sri Sathya Sai

Divya Kripasraya”, was released by Bhagavan. The students of the Brindavan

Campus of the Institute then began their presentation on the theme “Master the

Mind and be a Mastermind”. The first item was an exciting display of motorbike

stunts. The boys enthralled the audience with

various formations and by performing gymnastic feats and yogasanas on bikes.

But, what really took everyone’s breath away was a ramp jump on a ‘scrambler

bike’ over nine bikes. After a flawless execution, the rider “wheeled” away

earning a sustained ovation from the gathering.The next item was a display of

gymnastic exercises on parallel and horizontal bars and on Roman rings. These

exercises demand a high degree of physical stamina and skill and are among the

most difficult to perform. But, this did not deter the students, and the

appreciative applause from the audience said it all. The final item was a

synchronized drill with fire torches. The students of the Brindavan Campus then

assembled in front of the dais and offered their gratitude to Bhagawan.Then, the

Prasanthi Nilayam campus of the Institute and the Sri Sathya Sai Higher

Secondary School offered at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan a variety of sports and

cultural items with the theme “A Journey from I to We”.

This journey is described in the Vedas as beginning from the Annamaya Kosha

(material sheath) and culminating in the Anandamaya Kosha (sheath of bliss). As

man grows in jnana or wisdom, he progressively transcends the five sheaths of

existence and merges in the Lord.The presentation commenced with a colourful

formation with flags signifying the variety and diversity that creation

presents us with. The students then exhibited their skills in performing a

variety of feats such as gymnastics while tethered to ropes hanging from a 40

feet structure, floor exercises and also martial arts. The next item was an

innovative musical presentation. Even as a captivated audience watched, two

trucks drove into the ground. On the trucks were vocalists and accompanists

with musical instruments of Indian and Western styles of music. As they played,

a group of students danced to this musical confluence, thus depicting the

process of Creation. A unique presentation which was the first

of its kind by Indians in India was the ‘Dragon dance’ by the Prasanthi Dragons.

This dance, traditionally performed in China, is a form of prayer for peace and

prosperity. The dance beautifully depicted how man is always in search of

wisdom and finally attains it after overcoming all obstacles and difficulties

that come in the way. Then, a few boys demonstrated their strength and

dexterity by balancing 40 feet high poles weighing more than 55 kgs skillfully

on their palms and foreheads. The morning programme concluded with arati to

Bhagawan.In the afternoon, Bhagavan arrived at the stadium at 3.20 p.m. to

witness the performances of Sri Sathya Sai Primary School and Sri Sathya Sai

Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus. As soon as Bhagavan ascended

the dais, four primary school students presented bouquets to Bhagavan and

sought His blessings for their programme. Colour, dexterity, coordination and

teamwork marked the Primary School presentation. They began

on a grand note with the girl students performing a traditional dance. Then it

was the turn of the boys who performed remarkable acrobatic feats like crossing

over a hurdle, jumping through a ring and many other such thrilling stunts. It

was a feast to the eyes to watch the tiny tots perform in tandem various

formations, and the entire ground was turned into a canvas with splashes of

bright, attractive colours.The students of the Anantapur campus of the

Institute then presented a programme based on the five human values: Sathya,

Dharma, Santhi, Prema, and Ahimsa. The programme brought home the important

message that values are the ultimate goal of human life. The performance

commenced with a display of expertise in archery by the girls while positioning

themselves in difficult yoga postures. There was also an exercise in shooting

blindfolded. It was wonderful to watch the archers finding the bull’s eye on a

moving bicycle and a moving bike. Next, a group of students called

the ‘Bravehearts’ performed various feats on ropes including carabining. Various

exercises and formations were then displayed on the ground, on ropes, and atop

high poles which stood dangerously on a mobile lorry. It was a perfect

demonstration of balance, skill and courage and most of all, their love and

complete faith in Swami. Their presentation came to a conclusion with a

depiction of the human value of Prema symbolized by students dressed in pink

costumes.Bhakta Jayadeva – A Dance DramaThe visual treat that was the Sports

and Cultural Meet, did not end with the programmes at the Hill View Stadium.

There was a superb dance drama on the life of one of the illustrious saints of

India, Bhakta Jayadeva in the evening at Sai Kulwant Hall. The dance drama was

a masterpiece in all respects, be it choreography, costumes, props, music or

the display of histrionic skills. Beautiful dialogues interspersed with

melodious songs captivated the

audience from the very beginning. An exquisitely carved replica of the temple of

Lord Jagannath at Puri, was placed in the centre stage.Saint Jayadeva pined

ceaselessly for the Darshan of the Lord without which he deemed his life

worthless. Neither hunger nor thirst disturbed his single-pointed

concentration. He chanted the name of Lord Krishna with every breath. His

search carried him to the sacred city of Puri. On the way, when he felt lonely

and hungry, he was helped by a young cowherd boy who fed him, encouraged him

and kept him company throughout the journey. Later, while in the temple, he had

a vision of that same boy in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple and realised

that the cowherd boy was none other than Lord Jagannatha, his very own

Krishna.Later on, at the command of his Guru, Jayadeva assumed the vows of a

householder and together with his wife Padmavathi continued to adore his

beloved Krishna with unwavering devotion. He expressed his love for God

in his famous composition – the ‘Geeta Govinda’. Each of these songs was

inspired by the deep yearning of the Jivatma (the devotee) for the Paramatma

(his Lord). The Lord blessed his work in His own inimitable way by completing a

verse and reaffirming his faith, when he was riddled by doubt. Jayadeva’s songs

became famous for their melody and sweetness even during his own time. This

made the scholarly king of Puri envious because he had also composed a work and

named it ‘Geeta Govinda’ and declared it to be more scholarly and therefore fit

to be offered to God. When the jealous king confronted the saintly Jayadeva in

the temple of Puri, the Lord himself intervened and proved Jayadeva’s work as

being superior and authentic because it emerged from his heart out of love and

devotion. The play concluded with a heart-warming song by the students

expressing their love and gratitude to Bhagavan. Bhagavan blessed the

performers with photographs and the eventful day drew to a close leaving

everybody happy and joyful.

Source: http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/pages/sports_meet_04.htm

 

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