FW: Sai Update - Puttaparthi

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anand

deepak [

Friday,

December 19, 2008

7:36

AM

Sai Update - Puttaparthi

 

 

 

Sai Ram,

 

Foreigners have been very busy preparing for the holidays.

 

The International Choir has been meeting in Exhibition Hall. There are about

550 people. They sound very good. Sylvia as always is doing a good job. Sai

Baba has come through her a number of times. Angels have filled the hall and

joined in the singing. Baba has blessed the group several times.

 

The international children choir has been rehearsing.

 

Also, some selected youngsters have been preparing for a procession that they

are going to lead at Christmas time.

 

The decorations committee from Southern California has been working for several

months. Now that they are here, their efforts have intensified. I understand

that the decorations will be outstanding. Locals are talking about them. I

guess many people are looking forward to seeing them.

 

On Thursday they started setting up Christmas scenes at the Western Canteen.

Out front they are setting up the scene of Jesus in a manger with the 3 wise

men.

 

A surprise was in store for me as I walked into the Western Canteen on

Thursday. In the area between the men's and women's side, the usual setting was

replaced by Jesus in the manger. Jesus statue was moved from the right to the

left. Baba chair was moved to the women's side. The wall was covered with dark

paper or cloth giving the impression of night. The scenery was impressive.

 

The children's choir from Southern California has been practicing as have those

who are going to perform a play.

 

I haven't seen them but there is supposed to be a group of about 150 people

here from New Zealand to perform as a choir. They have been practicing for many

months.

 

Baba has been giving short darshans. However, Wednesday was the big day. In the

afternoon, surprising everybody, Baba went out at 4:00. The car made a sharp

turn by the residence and went between the women's side of the hall and the

residence. He went to bless the tennis courts. It has been finished for a while

but was awaiting his blessing.

 

Baba went into the stands and watched a double match. He also went inside the

indoor stadium to watch volleyball and basketball matches.

 

Baba returned to Kulwant Hall at 5:00. He spent some time in the interview

room. When he came out youth from Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh presented the

program. There was a dancing followed by Baba's play, " Do You Do As You

Say " , and Abhas Joshi sang. Abhas was a former Bal Vikas student as well

as a top three finalists in a singing competition on national television in

India. Arati was at 6:30.

 

Stephen Fields had a lovely cremation ceremony. He died the night before with a

few people singing bhajans. The cremation ceremony, which began at 2 the

following day, was performed by pundits. It started on the dirt road to the

South of Chitravathi Road. His body was placed on a wooden stretcher. As

chanting and prayers were going on, flowers were placed on various parts of the

body. We were allowed to place flowers and garlands on him as we walked past.

 

The stretcher was picked up with by 10 people and carried down to the river at

the Chitravatri Road junction. At the bottom we walked further until coming to

a big pile of wood. From the beginning of the procession flowers were thrown on

the path. People carrying the stretcher stopped 3 times to change positions.

 

Once the body was placed on top of the pile of wood ghee was added to certain

places in the pile. A liquid was allowed to flow out of a jug in 2 places as

the person walked around the pile.

 

Finally a fire was lit. The body went up in flames. I am sure Stephen enjoyed

the ceremony as he watched from his heavenly abode. Sai Baba sent his blessing

with someone. I stayed an hour. I am sure the fire continued for a while

longer.

 

The weather here has been comfortable. The predawn hours require a jacket or

sweater. Daytime is comfortable.

 

The crowds are getting bigger as is to be expected. The lines at the Western

Canteen are longer. But they have 3 lines for serving.