Reporting from Prasanthi Nilayam .Prasanthi gears up for the grand occasion

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18th November 2005, 17.00 hrs. Reporting from Prasanthi Nilayam …Prasanthi gears

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With only four days to go for the dawn of the Day all have been waiting for

quiet long, the heat is already on and every inch of Prasanthi Nilayam is

reverberating in anticipation of the SUN TO RISE on that coveted day, 23rd

November 2005, the day when Avatar’s physical frame enters the Eightieth Year

of His sojourn on Earth. Of course, for the one who is beyond time and frame,

it is yet another occasion to pour His bounteous benevolence to them whom He

calls His Own Reflections.

Prasanthi Nilayam is already filled to capacity and one can see roads leading to

the ashram being spruced up for the special occasion with decorations and huge

hoardings on both sides welcoming the influx of thousands of devotees from

different parts of the world. Ashram administration and the state government

have made elaborate arrangements to ensure comfort and convenience of the

expected lakhs of devotees in the days to come. With free food as ‘prasadam’

being offered to devotees from today onwards, separate makeshift kitchens have

become operational with thousands being served breakfast, lunch and dinner both

South Indian and North Indian style, apart from snack and tea in the evening,

Food is served in huge pandals specially erected for the occasion….and hundreds

and thousands of Seva Dal volunteers are active round the clock, right from

unloading provisions that are arriving regularly, shifting these provisions to

the makeshift kitchens, to cooking and serving the thousands. Special tents are

raised to accommodate the participants of the World Conference and other

devotees towards the Western end of Prasanthi Nilayam. Special telephone booths

with ISD, STD and local call facilities are arranged at vantage points in the

ashram and an Information Centre is functional round the clock near Ganesh gate

to facilitate devotees with required information. Special Bookstalls have been

erected at vantage points to facilitate devotees with easy access to Sai

Literature.

Free Medical Camp and emergency medical care are being provided with both

allopathic and homoeopathic doctors available on duty round the clock. Moving

on to the Hill View Stadium, one could see elaborate arrangements being made to

see that everything is foolproof for 23rd morning. The main dais is being

specially decorated and a special huge stage is being raised on the western

slope of the stadium adjacent to Krishna Statue for the day’s programme.

With the Eighth World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations getting

underway on 20th November, arrangements are well on a higher gear with huge

settings, shamiana being rasied, behind the North Blocks, towards the

North-West end of Prasanthi Nilayam which can easily accommodate thousands of

devotees expected to attend the conference.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18th November 2005, 15:00 Hours IST Reporting from Prasanthi Nilayam

Rathotsavam (Chariot Festival)Tradition has it that 18th November is celebrated

every year as the Rathotsavam in Prasanthi Nilayam. This day heralds the

Birthday celebrations every year. This year the celebrations began a day

earlier with the Mass Marriages function (a report of which was given in our

previous update). The idols of Venugopalaswami and Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and

Hanuman are brought to the Prasanthi Mandir the previous night and the next

morning they are taken in a procession to Pedda Venkama Raju Kalyana Mandapam

(previously called Patha Mandir or Old Mandir). Arati is offered to the idols

and on their return, only the idols of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman are

brought to the Prasanthi Mandir. This tradition is punctiliously followed every

year in Prasanthi Nilayam as is done in other temples.

Bhagawan came to Sai Kulwant Hall for granting Darshan at 7.45 a.m. to the sweet

strains of Nadaswaram and the bugles of Panchavadyam. The Veda chanting students

were dressed in the traditional attire of Dhoti and angavastram for the

occasion. After Darshan, Bhagawan went inside Bhajan Hall and asked the Veda

chanting students to start the procession. Soon the Seva Dals who were to carry

the palanquins of decorated idols took their positions. As is the custom,

Bhagawan’s dear elephant Sai Gita led the procession followed by Nadaswaram,

Panchavadyam, Veda chanting students and Bhajan singing group from Sai Kulwant

Hall. As the palanquins reached the Gopuram gate, the idol of Venugopalaswami

was placed in a chariot. As the procession was about to begin its journey,

Bhagawan came to the Gopuram gate and blessed the chariot and the Seva Dals. As

the procession meandered through the Gopuram main road, thousand of devotees

offered Arati and flowers, broke coconuts and paid their salutations to the

idols. It was sight to see so many people offering their obeisance to the

idols. After the procession reached the Kalyana Mandapam, the grand chariot

carrying the idol of Venugopalaswami was moved inside the enclosure kept

specially for it and Arati was offered to the idols. Then the procession began

its return journey with the idols of Rama, Lakshmana, Sita and Hanuman.

Bhagawan was all the while waiting for the procession to reach the Prasanthi

Mandir. After the idols were placed in the Mandir, Arati was offered to

Bhagawan. Then Bhagawan retired to His abode. Thus ended the grand festival of

Rathotsavam in Prasanthi Nilayam.

Decorated idols in Prasanthi Mandir before taking for procession

Bhagawan in the Prasanthi Mandir before the procession

 

 

Procession moving towards Pedda Venkama Raju Kalyana Mandapam

Nadaswaram Troupe and Veda Chanting Students leading the procession

 

 

Swami’s dear elephant Sai Gita in the procession

Venugopalaswami Idol in the enclosure kept in the Kalyana Mandapam

 

 

Bhagawan in the Prasanthi Mandir at the culmination of Rathotsavam

Arati being offered at the culmination of Rathotsavam

Source: http://www.srisathyasaipublications.org/PrasanthiNews.htm

 

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