40th weekly posting- Saudi SAI centers- 23 Nov

[Guest guest]

Sairam to all Sai Children, Sai Sisters and Sai

Brothers

in all 4 Sai SatSanghs in Dammam, Jubail, Jeddah and

Riyadh.

 

We continue with the fortieth (40th) posting of the

activities of all 4 centers.

Summary:

1. Total Attendance all over Saudi crosses 200, a new

record.

2. Swami’s B’day celebration observed in all the

centers

3. Laksharchana celebrated in Riyadh in expanded

premises

 

Details:

 

Dammam and Jubail center together held the

Baba's Birthday Satsang on Friday 23rd Nov at 10.30

AM attended by about 50

members at Bro Sunil's residence in Jubail. Aarthi

was taken

by Bro. Suresh from Dammam along with Bro. Sunil in

Jubail.

Together there were 36 members from Dammam and Khobar

who participated. After the Arathi, Swamy's 82nd

Birthday cake was cut and followed by lunch hosted by

Sunil and members.

The Birthday bhajan function concluded at around

2.30 PM. Bro Wimal provided the report. Thank you

Wimal.

 

Jeddah Sai Samithi conducted bajans on Friday

23rd November

celebrating Shri Sai's 82nd birthday at Bro Gopi's

residence attended by 47 members and guests. The

birthday cake was cut by the children.

Aarthi was conducted by brother Ravi Menon. The

report was provided by Bro. Ashok who also read the

Thought for the day. Thank you Ashok.

 

The 82nd Birthday celebration of Swamy was observed in

Riyadh in a truly unique way on 22nd evening and 23rd

Morning.

 

As most of you are aware, the space in the mail hall

was redesigned to accommodate up to 60 devotees about

4 months back.

 

This time, the National Chair, Bro Packy introduced a

big surprise by also vertically expanding the space

and proving that Sky is indeed the limit. In this way

the capacity in 2 halls is now (theoretically) a total

of 200 devotees at a time. Of course other logistics

have to be worked out. Whoever was responsible for

this major expansion, and I think they prefer to be

anonymous, we say a “Big Thank you and SAI Bless you”.

As per Packy, This is HE-Swamy himself, who is doing

it. This is our Riyadh center equivalent of Makkah’s

Holy Mosque expansion.

 

The program on 22nd Thursday evening was deliberately

kept “lite” to bring on an air of jubilation on the

occasion of Swamy’s Birthday on one hand and to

inaugurate the new Hall with some fun. This objective

was fully achieved by a crowd of over 80 devotees and

children.

 

On the next morning,Friday, 23rd Nov, a Laksharchana

was held with participation of over 130 devotees and

lasting from 9 am to 1 pm. Each devotee was given a

package of ritual materials and a framed picture. The

mantra chanted was “Om Sri Sathaya SAI Krisnaya

Namaha”. As Bro Ravi Chandran later explained, this

was revealed by no less than Swamy himselfto Sai

Charan.

 

Pl find below is the detailed report on Riyadh

celebrations by Sister Renuka Patra. She will be

taking over from me the task of posting this weekly

report within 3 to 4 weeks. Thank You Sister Renuka.

 

Our beloved Swami’s Birth day special posting:

 

ON 22nd Nov, Thursday evening Riyadh devotees had a

special party:

 

1.Mens dandiya dance was performed by 8 devotees.It

was led by Bro Haren Sampat

2. Ladies dandiya was performed by 10 ladies led by

sister Bhanu ManiShekhar and sister Jayashree Sampat.

3.Special music by bhajan guru Bro Ravi Shankar,

Jeevika Raj gopal and Abhinav Raj gopal.

4. Children’s game and quiz

5. Men’s quiz

6.Swami’s b’day cake cutting with the special

b’day song.

 

On the next day 23rd Nov, Friday, the programme

started at 9 am with 3 AUMS.Then Vigneswar puja and

Sankalpam was done by Nada uncle and Maheswari aunty

on behalf of everybody .It was led by brother

Narayanan.Then was Vedam recitation .More than 130

people attended the event & chanted “OM SHRI SATYA

SAI KRISHNAYA NAMAHA” 1100 times in chorus. After

exceeding the 100,000 (One Lakh) times chanting, 2

special devotional songs were sung .Finally everyone

did individual aarthi. Everybody could feel the divine

vibration. The organizers had arranged everything

flawlessly ----Swami’s photo framed (the sweet Ganesh

sticker on each photo frame),sacred lamp, rice grains,

plates ,water to drink & the polythene bag to carry

everything after the pooja. It will be incomplete if I

don’t mention the Sai Majlis- a beautiful tent was

built on the roof top which could accommodate so many

people. It was very beautifully decorated. Even 3

sevadal volunteers continuously stood there with

vigilant eyes throughout the event to meet our needs.

Our hearty salute to all who worked behind it to make

it a grand success.

 

10 minutes break was given .Everybody gulped

laban and bhajan started. There were 16 bhajans and

finally cake cutting was done by Nada uncle with a

special birthday song written and composed by

trio—Bro. Manishekhar, Bhajan guru Ravi Shankar and

Bro. Karthick. Arathi was taked by Bro.VenuGopal. We

dispersed after taking a sumptuous Lunch.

The message of the Avathaar must be born, must become

alive, must grow in you, your heart - that is the

birthday you have to celebrate... You need not travel

long distances to where I am physically. Plant the

seeds of Love in your hearts, let them grow into trees

of service and shower the sweet fruits of Anandha

(bliss). Share the bliss with all. That is the proper

way to celebrate the Birthday.

- Divine Discourse, November 23, 1972.

 

Pranams

P.B.V.Rajan

rajanpbv

 

 

 

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