Sathya Sai's birthday celebrations on

[Guest guest]

November 23. What was once a rural setting has been transformed over the past

eight decades into a modern, state-of-the-art equipped town with free

hospitals, schools, institutes of higher learning, museums and libraries — all

due to the “Love in Action” of Sai Baba, who declared, at about the age of 15,

that he was not an ordinary human being, but that he had come to earth to

fulfil the wishes of the saints and sages, who were praying for the upliftment

of the world. Of his mission, he has said, “Many hesitate to believe that

things will improve, that life will be happy for all and full of joy, and that

the “golden age” will recur. Let me assure you that this Dharma Swarupa, this

Divine Body, has not come in vain. It will succeed in averting the crisis that

has come upon humanity.” 80th birthday The 80th birthday celebrations

officially began on November 18 in Sai Kulwant Hall, the large mandir where

Bhagawan Baba gives daily darshan and will culminate on Wednesday in the Sports

Stadium, which has the capacity to seat several lakh people. This year, there

are huge crowds — more than a million visitors are here and though many have

been accommodated inside the Prasanthi Nilayam campus, others have taken rooms

outside the ashram. All meals are being served free and will continue until the

end of the celebrations. On the 19th, ‘Ladies Day’ was celebrated with speeches

by women on the importance of inculcating human values into family life and

professional life. On 20th, an international choir comprising 175 male and

female vocalists from 45 countries, sang spiritual songs and an International

Symphony

Orchestra performed classical numbers from major composers. As part of the

celebrations, the 8th World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Organisations was held

on 20th and 21st and 9,500 delegates from India, apart from 3,500 delegates from

180 foreign countries participated. This year’s conference theme was “Unity,

Purity, and Divinity.” Copyright 2005, The Printers (Mysore) Private Ltd.

Links to articles from newspapers, journals, magazines related to Bhagavan

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:http://www.saibabalinks.org/saibabainthemedia.htm