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Source: radiosai.org

November 21st, 2005 November 20th, 2005 36 hours more for the Golden Day

to dawn. The hourly countdown begins! This morning Bhagawan gives Darshan at

8.00 a.m. The decorations in the Mandir is being progressively toned up to

reach a crescendo by 23rd. Today the main pillars of the Kulwant Hall are all

draped with a sky blue colour cloth and above it thick creepers of beautiful

roses (decorative ones) go winding up spirally. They look very attractive. The

Sarva Dharma Stupa in front of the PC and the garden along with the compound

walls are all lighted up. The entrance to the Shanti Vedika ground near the

gymnasium where a huge Chinese type entrance gate has been built is also

decorated with colourful cloth banners giving it the typical Chinese look. The

various statutes in the Shanti Vedika are lighted with powerful focus lights

and look very grand in the evening. Many more series lightings and other

decorative lights have been added in the stadium, especially on the hill. The

Ad Block building and the Sanatana Samskruti Museum are fully illuminated with

pink colour light and look like heavenly objects at night! All this makes

Parthi look like some dreamland! Swami takes a full round, comes onto the dais

and interacts with Mr. Leonardo Gutter for a while. At 8.15 a.m. Swami moves

towards the front of the interview room, and goes in at 8.25 a.m. granting an

audience to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister who arrived yesterday. Bhajans

begin at 9.00 a.m. and during the Bhajans, Swami comes out and enters the dais

from the interview room side and takes a full round moving out at the other

end. All are able to catch a glimpse of the Lord. Aarti is offered at 9.40 a.m.

In the evening, Swami comes out at 3.30 p.m. The artistes of the Sai Symphony

Orchestra are all making arrangements for the special 80th Birthday offering.

Swami goes straight to the interview room after taking a full round. Over

there, He calls a few gents and asks them to call their wives. Many Ladies

assemble near the interview room. Not satisfied with that, Swami goes in His

chair towards the Ladies side and starts moving along the pathway. As He moves

along, He points out to some ladies here and there and asks them to go towards

the interview room. It is amazing to see Swami going all along the pathway

towards the PC entrance and then sideways towards the centre of the Kulwant

Hall. Then to everyone's delight He even takes a turn and goes right until the

rear end of the Kulwant Hall near the gateway. The delegates sitting there are

simply thrilled. The hall is so crowded that we manage to see all this only on

the close circuit television. In a way it gives us better viewing. There is

immense Bliss on everyone's face. Swami goes back to the interview room and

then starts the mega 'sari distribution'. He starts giving beautiful silk saris

- red color ones - to all the ladies. It takes a long time but Swami is giving

all His time for them. Each one feels that Swami is going out of the way to

make her happy. That is the Love of our dear Lord! But then the Divine Mother

is not yet satisfied. He once again starts out on a ride on the ladies side in

His chair, and the students follow Him with the saris. What follows next is a

fantastic Leela of the Lord. As He passes along the pathway, so many Ladies

stretch out their hands to receive the sari. But Swami delivers it to the

correct hands! At times, we see Swami talking to somebody, chiding somebody for

asking. At other times, He selects somebody sitting somewhere in the third or

fourth row and then flings the sari into her hands. Watching the wonderful way

in which Swami manages all this, even the devotees start clapping and smiling

as they view this on the television. Swami again moves on until the middle of

the Kulwant Hall. He looks so much at rest; He transcends time and therefore we

never see any hurry or anxiety on our Lord's face. So slowly, He moves along

filling each soul with Bliss. The saris may fill some hands but His Grace and

Love saturates each heart and gets manifested in the smiles on all faces and

tears in some eyes. Having reached the centre of the Hall, Swami now starts

coming back passing along the centre pathway between the artistes of the Sai

Symphony seated over there. He talks to a few, Blesses a few and smiles at

some. After a long time, He turns back and reaches the interview room. We now

get prepared for the orchestra. But the bountiful Mother's Love knows no limit.

Some children of His have been missed out somewhere. How can He be happy? He

again goes out towards the Ladies side, this time concentrating on the area

adjacent to the interview room on the ladies side. He distributes some saris

over there and finally comes back and goes inside the interview room. A

thousand mothers love is seen and experienced by all today. What compassion and

what Grace! Finally at 5.00 p.m. Swami comes out and asks the Orchestra to

commence. The Set Designer, an Italian by name Mr. Victor Togliani, presents

the programme card to Bhagawan. Swami talks to him and sees all the details in

the card. Then Swami calls the conductor of the orchestra, Mr. Klaus Maurer

from Switzerland. Swami talks to him and even before the programme commences,

materializes a ring to his surprise and slips it on his finger. There is loud

applause. The orchestra commences at 5.05 p.m. The instruments playing in the

Orchestra are the Violins, Viola, Cello Bass, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoons, Flute,

Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Keyboard Harp, Percussion and the Timpani.

There are 53 musicians from 20 different countries. They begin with a

composition from Johannes Brahms of Hungary, a piece which captures the spirit

of the Hungarian people. This is followed by compositions from Gioacchino

Rossini of Italy, Franz Liszt of Hungary, Georges Bizet and Charles Gounod of

France, the 40th Symphony of Mozart, George Enescu of Romania and finally a

piece from Franz Von Suppe, an Italian composer. Each piece is received with

very loud applause from the devotees. Though the gathering is predominantly

Indian, they still seem to cherish and enjoy the Western classical music very

much. The programme goes on till 6.10 p.m. The best part is Swami's

involvement. He keeps looking at all the artists as they play and at the end of

each presentation, He smiles and acknowledges with Abhaya Hasta. He does this

for every piece. Finally, He calls the conductor and praises him a lot.

Bhagawan very generously agrees for a group photograph. After the photos, He

spends a long time interacting with the artists. The Designer Victor Togliani

also gets a ring and so does a Trombone player Mr. Andrija Bosanas from

Croatia. It is 6.20 p.m. Prasadam is distributed to all and Swami retires for

the day. We see the Trombone player ecstatic and jumping around with joy. All

hearts are bubbling with Bliss and the artistes are left spellbound in His

Love. November 20th, 2005 The Hall is decorated with a new style. Yesterday's

decoration is gone and is replaced with a new one. There are huge banners with

the text - 8th World Conference. The dais is decorated beautifully. A floral

arch circumscribes our Lord Ganesha in the centre of the dais. The two pillars

on either side of Swami's chair are covered fully with garlands of flowers. A

huge Toranam (garland) of flowers runs right along the full length of the roof

on which the gopurams are located. Apart from the red Chinese Lamps which have

now become a part of every festival in Kulwant Hall, there are other Chinese

Decorative pieces hanging from the roof of the Hall. The windows of the Mandir

in the Portico are bedecked with roses that look very natural though made of

paper. At sharp 8.00 a.m. Bhagawan makes a grand entry into the Kulwant Hall in

the Porte. He takes a full round and alights from the car to sit on the dais. He

lights the lamp with the candle offered to Him by Sri Indulal Shah Garu - the

former Chairman of the International Sai Seva Organisation. Sri Indubhai

presents the programme card to Swami who goes through it very meticulously.

This is followed by a talk by Sri Indubhai. Sri Indulal Shah remarks how the

seed sown by Swami in 1968 during the first World Conference has now become a

fruit laden tree. He declares with joy that today there are delegates come over

here from more than 180 countries. There are 5000 Sai Centres in India itself

and around 2200 Centres overseas. He reminds all that this Conference is the

time to take stock of the past and draft plans for the future. After an

inspiring talk he concludes saying that this age is not just an age of

Information Technology but ought to be one of Transformation Technology. The

www should not just represent the world wide web but must stand for work -

worship - wisdom. Sri Indu Bhai is followed by Sri V. Srinivasan, the All India

President of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation. He highlights the fact that

in the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, all that Swami looks for is Love, not

wealth, status or position. Here the stress is on quality and not quantity. He

explains to all the delegates the reason for having the theme of this

conference as Unity-Purity-Divinity. He stresses that we must start with the

individual and reach out to the world. This can be done only through

Unity-Purity-Divinity. He concludes his brief talk by expressing his gratitude

to Bhagawan for providing all the conveniences to the delegates of the

Conference. It is 8.35 a.m. and Dr. Goldstein, the Chairman of the Prashanti

Council that oversees the activities of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations

around the world, takes over the stage. He delivers a very scholarly and

insightful talk. Subsequently Swami interacts with him for quite some time and

also releases some book and goes through it in detail. After this Swami asks

Mr. Leonardo Gutter from Argentina to address the gathering. This gentleman,

the Zonal chairman for the Sai Organisation in Latin America, comes forward and

speaks straight from the heart touching all our hearts. He reiterates what he

has experienced in his life stating that Swami will never disappoint His

devotees. He says that he travels extensively throughout Latin America and

there are around 300 Sai Centres in this region. Even the nation of Cuba has

more than 1000 devotees of Swami. Incidentally, even the son of Fidel Castro

has become a Sai devotee owing to the positive influence of the Sai Devotees

and their activities in Cuba. He narrates a few of his personal experiences. On

one occasion, He was travelling to a different country and midway he was at

Miami airport. Suddenly he finds that his purse is missing - all with the

credit cards, money, passport. He is shocked. He runs all around, but in vain.

He gets very anxious and finally recalls what Swami says. Bhagawan says, pray

until either you get tired or God gives in touched by your intense prayers.

Therefore, with no option left, he locks himself inside a bathroom in the

airport and cries out to Bhagawan. After half an hour or so, he comes out.

Right at the entrance, he finds a lady waiting for him with a purse, asking

him, "Is this yours?" This is the power of the Lord and His response to our

prayers. On another occasion, he had met with an accident in which he injured

his nose. Not wanting to delay his trip to Parthi and preferring to suffer in

the Lord's Presence, He comes over to Parthi. While flying he catches a severe

cold and it is terrible pain to blow a fractured nose. Somehow he reaches

Parthi. One day, Swami calls him for an interview and in the course of the

interview; Swami holds his nose and shakes it vigorously. He has not told Swami

anything about the nose and he is frightened that he would not be able to bear

the pain as Swami holds it tightly. But to his amazement, after Swami leaves

his nose, it is perfectly fine. The fracture is gone and so has the cold too.

This is the Love and Protection of the Lord. On yet another occasion, he had

prayed to Swami to materialize a watch for him. The one he had, always ran slow

or fast and he was not happy with it. He also prayed so, to clarify some of his

doubts. As he sleeps with these thoughts, Swami comes in his dream and says

that He will take away his watch as he is not happy with it. Awakened by this

powerful dream, he gets up and looks out for his watch near his bed. He is

shocked to find it missing. The next day, Swami calls him for an interview and

he sits just next to Swami's chair. Bhagawan creates a watch and holds it in

His Hands. Expecting that it is for him, he moves forward but Swami gives it to

the student sitting behind him. However, finally before he leaves for Latin

America, Swami does materialize a watch for him and also says that it is

endowed with a special power. If he gets any bad thought, the watch would stop

working. After this talk that thrilled all present, we have Bhajans. It is 9.10

a.m. Prasadam is distributed to all - Soan Papdi but with a chocolate flavour.

Swami receives Aarti at 9.35 a.m. and retires for the morning. Prof. Anil Kumar

makes an announcement that this evening at 4.30 p.m. there will be an

International Choir by 140 members hailing from 70 nations. In the evening,

Swami comes out at 4.00 p.m. As the chair rolls out of the car, the Vedam Group

is chanting Narayana Suktam followed by Mantra Pushpam. Swami signals for the

Vedam to stop. Mr. Victor Krishna Kanu from Zambia and another gentleman come

to Swami and offer some books to Him - possibly some new releases. Swami goes

through the books and interacts with them for a while. Subsequently, He gives a

green signal for the Choir to begin. Before we proceed further with the Choir,

we would like to update you with some more additions to the decorations being

done here. Wherever you go in Parthi, whether inside the Ashram or outside, you

will find huge 'bigger than life size' portraits of Swami - the screen printed

type. They look fantastic. In the Shanti Vedika grounds, the stage being built

for the Music Performance is slowly coming to a finish. It looks majestic. It

has a huge giant bloomed lotus as the background. Still some more finishing

touches are being given to it. The pathway in the middle of the ground on which

Swami's car is going to glide along has been set up very well. Short fencing on

either side with small focus lamps at the ground level illuminate the whole

path at night and it looks just like a runway awaiting the landing of an

aircraft. Along the railings above the galleries, between the multinational

flags, we find huge posters of Bhagawan - almost 20 feet x 15 feet or so. They

have beautiful photos of Swami and His most pithy messages. Back in the Mandir

all the delegates and students-staff are being provided with lovely hand fans.

A cream colour fan with a violet colour handle. On it is written - Love All

Serve All, along with the Sarva Dharma symbol and other designs. Looks very

elegant and attractive. Good idea, whoever thought of it! Yes, now coming back

to the Sai International Choir, they start with a bang, singing - 'Swami we

celebrate Your Birthday'. There is loud applause. They sing many more, like -

'We are merging in the Light of Sai', 'Celebrate Swami on this Holy Day', 'Sai

Mother let me be Yours and Yours alone'. They conclude with 'We wish You a

Happy Birthday'! All devotees start clapping to the beat. The performance is

very good and is very well received by the audience. It is 5.00 p.m. They

appear to be through but Swami asks them to continue. They are overjoyed and

they sing some more. At 5.10 p.m. Swami goes inside and Bhajan commences in the

Bhajan hall. By 5.30 p.m. Swami takes Aarti and retires for the day. As we

return from the Mandir, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Sri Y.S.

Rajasekara Reddy arrives with a long convoy. There will be no live Telecast of

Swami's Birthday Programme. However, after the programme, on the same day it

will be put in our video streaming site www.saicast.org and also on Sanskar TV

Channel around 9 o clock on 23rd night. Timings may vary, but there will be a

scrolling message in Sanskar, please look for it. On 24th Night, it will be

telecast on Zee Jagran channel. Again on Sunday, the 27th, there will an one

hour programme on Sanskar and on Jagran on Saturday, the 26th. Updated Sai News

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