Chinese New Year Experiences

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram Everyone!The Chinese New Year 2008 was colorfully celebrated between 12 - 14 Feb in Prashanti Nilayam. The theme for this year is 'Zhong Xiao' (meaning Cherish and Respect Our Motherland, Our Parents & Elders). Many Chinese devotees, including those of other races, from various Asian countries, participated in this festival. The programme included Tibetan Buddhist mantra chants, SSEHV children prayer chants, Lion dance, Chinese acrobatics, a drama presentation depicting Chinese moral values, Chinese traditional musical instruments performances, Chinese bhajans and Chinese traditional dances.The euphoric atmosphere in the Sai Kulwant Hall during these three days of jubilant celebrations was the result of intense energy of love and happiness felt by

all who were fortunate to be present. Most of the participants were given an assignment before leaving for Puttaparthi. Our mission was to chant several mantras for the good health of our beloved Swami and for the healing of the Universe and sentient beings.Preparations began several days prior to the event. Many devotees were busy with various performance practices, as well as with the assembly of the decorations for the hall. Often, the schedules were overlapping and some of us had to rush from one destination to another. However, this tempo added to building up the excitement and most of us were more than willing to be involved in the hustle and bustle.Swami had showered so much love and blessings to all of us when He came to give daily darshan, mostly in the afternoons. We prayed fervently for wheelchair darshans and had our prayers answered for two days, on 13 & 14 Feb. My heart

was bursting with gratitude as He stared deeply into my eyes on my last afternoon there. In that close momentary glance, I had immediately felt His overwhelming motherly love and could not stop the tears that had fallen. We were also granted entrances into the mandir for bhajans in His divine presence. Needless to say, this memory will be etched in our hearts forever.The grand finale for the festivity was the Jade Emperor's Prayers on the evening of 14th Feb. An altar was set up in front of the N7 building where various Chinese delicacies and fruits had been beautifully arranged in traditional Chinese manner. Hundreds of devotees came to join in the prayers which began at 8.00pm. This was followed by a half hour of exuberant bhajans and ended with the burning of 'heavenly gold' as offerings. The delicacies and fruits were then distributed as prasadam.On the following day, which was our group's

departure, there was an unexpected bonus for us. As we were leaving Prashanti Nilayam, we discovered that Swami's car and His convoy was just in front of us. Our vehicles followed closely behind them until we reached the Super Speciality Hospital where we had to bid goodbye to our beloved Lord. Our divine father had granted us with a final darshan, blessing us with a safe journey home.With Sai Love,Adeline Visit : Sai Divine Inspirations : http://saidivineinspirations.blogspot.com/ Sai Messages : http://saimessages.blogspot.com/

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