Events & Festivals calendar
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Given below are the main
festivals events days and important happenings.
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News archive to find more about previous events. * Note: Festival dates given below are only indicative and are subject to change. Events Calendar 2006* Archive: 2004 - 2005 - 2007 - 2008
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January February March April May June July August September October November December
Events Calendar 2006* Archive: 2004 2005
* Note: Dates given above are only indicative and are subject to change. Introduction New Year The dawn of the New Year on January 1st is observed every year in Prasanthi Nilayam by thousands of devotees. Multitudes throng Prasanthi Nilayam to spend the New Year day in a sacred manner in the Divine presence. On this day, Bhagawan reminds every individual that every day, every moment, a new year is born and every moment needs to be sanctified with noble thoughts, words and actions. He exhorts everyone who comes to Prasanthi Nilayam to take home the love and happiness experienced here and share it with everyone. Excerpts from
Bhagawan’s Discourses: - Divine Discourse: 1st January 2001 “The year becomes new, the day become holy, when you sanctify it by spiritual practices (sadhana), not otherwise. Sadhana can grow only in a field fertilized by Love. Love (prema) is the sine qua non of devotion (bhakthi). The love you now have toward material objects, name, fame, wife, children, etc. should be sanctified by being subsumed by the more overpowering Love of God. Let your tiny drops of love for things material merge with the stream of love for God and be elevated. Have the love of God filling and thrilling your heart; then you cannot hate anyone, you cannot indulge in unhealthy rivalries, you will not find fault with anyone. Life becomes soft, sweet and smooth”. - Divine Discourse: 1st January 1967 “On this New Year Day, you should resolve to start every day with love, spend the day with love, fill the day with love, and end the day with love. There should be no difference of caste, creed, color, religion, or nationality. Love knows no distinction of any kind. You must wish everyone to be happy. Fill the heart with love. The country will prosper and the world will prosper and everyone will be happy. Cultivate good thoughts, speak good words, and do good deeds with the broad view that everyone in the world should be happy. Give up your evil thoughts and evil qualities, since they are the cause for all sufferings in the world”. - Divine Discourse: 1st January 1994 Annual Sportsmeet The inaugural function of the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet of the Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions is held every year on the 11th of January in the Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium. Bhagawan has always emphasized that active sports and upholding of the Indian Culture are essential parts of an Integral System of Education in Human Values. On this day every year, the Primary School, the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School and the three University campuses of Anantapur, Brindavan and Prasanthi Nilayam come together for an exhibition of events demonstrating a high degree of perfection, co-ordination and skill. The Meet is inaugurated by Baba lighting the Sports meet torch followed by March Past by the students of all campuses, extraordinary feats of adventure, colourful and artistic group performances and well coordinated, rhythmic group drills. The various cultural, sports and games competitions in the campuses culminate in the Valedictory and Prize Distribution Function which coincides with the Makara Sankranthi day on 14th January in the Divine Presence. Makara Sankraanti This festival falls on the 14th of January. On this day, the sun enters the house of Capricorn (or Makara as it is known in the Hindu Almanac), so it is known as Makara Sankranthi. It marks the commencement of the sun's journey to the Northern Hemisphere and is considered to be of great spiritual significance in the scriptures. It is also the time when farmers rejoice after the toils of the year result in a bountiful harvest in the fields, and is celebrated all over the country. Indeed, the harvest festival is common to many cultures all over the world and is an occasion of joyful celebration and warm conviviality. In Prasanthi Nilayam, the festival coincides with the valedictory function of the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet of Bhagawan’s educational institutions, when the prizewinners of the various events and competitions held during the year are felicitated. Excerpts from Bhagawan’s Discourses: “Makara Sankranthi marks the movement of the Sun from the southern horizon to the northern horizon. This northward movement of the Sun has immense spiritual significance. The north is symbolised by Himaachala. Hima means snow. It is pure, untainted and soothingly cool. All these endow it with the quality of Prashanthi (perfect peace). Achala means that which is steady and unshakeable. Himaachala does not refer to the physical Himalayan mountains. It represents that which is cool, peaceful and steady. From this day the Sun is said to move towards such a state. The Sun symbolises the vision of man. The northward movement of the Sun is a call to human beings to turn their vision towards that which is cool, peaceful and unchanging, i.e. towards the divinity within. - Divine Discourse: 14 January, 1994 “Sankranthi day marks the arrival in the farmers' houses of the grains that are the fruit of their labors. It is also a cherished day of rest after a period of hard work when they can enjoy peace of mind. "Samyak kranthi iti Sankraanthi." Sankraanthi confers peace and heralds a welcome change. It brings out the inner joy in people. It effects a change in life-style. It generates sacred thoughts”. - Divine Discourse: January 14, 1997 Pray wholeheartedly for the welfare of humanity - Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu (May all the people of the world be happy). You can be happy only when the world is happy. There is an intimate and inseparable relationship between you and the world. Chant the Divine Name. Pray for the welfare of the world and participate in service activities”. - Divine discourse: January 14, 2002 “The Sankranthi festival should be regarded as the day on which man turns his vision toward God. Man's life may be compared to a stalk of sugar cane. Like the cane, which is hard and has many knots, life is full of difficulties. But these difficulties have to be overcome to enjoy the bliss of the Divine, just as the sugar cane has to be crushed and its juice converted into jaggery to enjoy the permanent sweetness of jaggery. Enduring bliss can be obtained only by overcoming trials and tribulations. Gold cannot be made into an attractive jewel without subjecting to the process of melting in a crucible and beating it into the required shape”. - Divine Discourse: January 15, 1992 Maha Shivarathri The festival of Maha Shivarathri is one of the most important festivals in India. It falls on the 14th day of the (Krishna Paksha) dark fortnight of the Magha month of the Hindu calendar. The very word ‘Shivarathri’ means auspicious night. All over the country, people throng Shiva temples and spend the night in worship and contemplation of the Divine. According to Hindu belief, the moon is the presiding deity of the mind and the 16 phases of the moon represent the 16 aspects of the mind. On Shivarathri, which falls a day prior to the new moon, only a streak of the moon is visible. This is symbolic of the waning influence of the mind, when 15 aspects have already merged in the Self and only one aspect remains. Hence on this day, it is easier to control the mind and direct it towards God. Therefore, the night is spent in contemplation and adoration of God, so that the vagaries of the mind can be totally subdued and transcended to attain realization of the Atman. Maha Shivarathri is generally celebrated by performing Akhanda Bhajana (continuous devotional singing) throughout the night. Shivarathri, as a festival has gained a lot of importance in Prasanthi Nilayam because it is during this festival that Baba, the supreme Iswara (Godhead), chooses to reveal His divinity. Baba, out of His infinite love for humanity, materializes lingas (an oval shaped object which is the fittest symbol of divinity) in the Shivarathri evening from within His being. This emergence of the Linga is called ‘Lingodbhavam’. Baba has explained, “The Linga is just a symbol, a sign, an illustration, of the beginningless, the endless, the limitless - for it has no limbs, no face, no feet, no front or back, no beginning or end. Its shape is like the picture one imagines the Niraakaara (Formless) to be. In fact, linga means - leeyathe (that in which all forms and names merge) and gamyathe (that towards which all names and forms are proceeding, to attain fulfillment). It is the fittest symbol of the All-pervasive, the All-knowing, the All-powerful”. Excerpts from Bhagawan’s Discourses: “Today we are celebrating Shivarathri. ‘Shivarathri’ means "Auspicious night". At least on this day, one should chant Shiva's name all through the night. At least on one day in a year, chant the Lord's name. This night, devotees are expected to stay awake by chanting the sacred name of Shiva. Keeping awake in any other way is purposeless. Spending the night reciting the Lord's name sanctifies one's life”. - Divine Discourse: February 25, 1998 “The lesson of Shivarathri is that devotees should foster good and sacred thoughts. They should be filled with godly thoughts. They should seek to become one with the Divine by reflecting on their inherent divinity. If you constantly chant the name of God, God realization will come in due course. Whatever other things they may possess, men suffer from lack of peace and bliss. These two can be obtained only from God. It is for these two that men should pray to God and not for anything else, because God alone can give them. When these are secured, all other things will come of their own accord by the grace of God. People should yearn for God. All other desires are worthless”. - Divine Discourse: February 26, 1998
Ugadi According to the Hindu Calendar, Ugadi is celebrated on the first day of the bright fortnight ('Shukla Paksha') of the first month ('Chaitra') in the first season of the year i.e., spring ('Vasanta'). This day is celebrated as the New Year Day in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. While it is called Ugadi or Yugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, it is celebrated as Gudi Padva in Maharashtra. The word ‘Ugadi’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Yugadi’, which means ‘beginning of a new Yuga or era’. Legend has it that this was the day on which Lord Krishna shed His body, signalling the end of the Dwapara Yuga and the commencement of the Kali Yuga. It is also believed that Brahma created the universe on this day. On Ugadi, it is the tradition to begin the day by partaking of a special preparation known as ‘Ugadi Pacchadi’. Six ingredients go into the making of this dish, each one representative of the six tastes – sweet, sour, spicy, salty, savoury and bitter. This reminds us to accept both the joys and sorrows that life offers us with equal mindedness. Excerpts from Bhagawan’s Discourses: “There is no need to wait for a new year to bring new tidings. Every moment is new. Many are wondering what troubles and losses the New Year will bring. But the year is not responsible for all our troubles and difficulties. Only our conduct is responsible. If our actions are good, the results will be good. Bad actions lead to bad consequences. People think that good and bad are related to time. It is not that way. Their thoughts are the cause. Hence, they should develop good thoughts and do good deeds. They should cherish good feelings and associate with good people. People should realize the preciousness of Time. People waste most of the time available. This is utterly wrong. Time should be used always for right purposes. That is the foremost duty of every man. Waste of time is waste of life. The Lord of Time protects those who take refuge in Him, even against the Lord of Death, Kala. Time takes its revenge on those who misuse it. A nation's prosperity is dependent on how people use their time in the performance of good actions”. - Divine Discourse: 7 April 1997 “Today is Ugadi, the beginning of the New Year. Since ancient times, man has celebrated many Ugadis, but he is yet to give up bad qualities. True Ugadi is the day when man gives up bad qualities, fills his heart with love and takes to the path of sacrifice. Do not limit the celebration of Ugadi to merely putting on new clothes and partaking of delicious items. Today you may wear a new shirt, but how long will it remain new. Tomorrow it becomes old. Nobody reads the same newspaper everyday. Today's newspaper becomes a waste paper tomorrow. Our life is like a newspaper. Once you have finished reading a newspaper, you do not like to read it again and again. You have been given this birth which is like a newspaper, and have gone through varied experiences of pleasure and pain. Enough is enough. Do not ask for one more newspaper, i.e., another birth. You should pray, "Oh God! You have given me this 'newspaper' and I have gone through the experiences of this life. I don't want to have another birth. On this day of Ugadi, take a firm resolve to purify your heart. Past is past. It cannot be retrieved. When you are walking on the road, you should look at the path ahead of you. What is the point in looking behind? Likewise, there is no point in brooding over the past. Future is not certain. What is the guarantee that you will be alive until tomorrow? So, do not worry about your future. Live in the present. It is not ordinary present. It is omnipresent, meaning the results of past as well as the future are contained in it. So, when you make proper use of the present, you can be rest assured that your future is safe and secure”. - Divine Discourse: April 13, 2002 “We will achieve victory in every walk of life when we foster good thoughts and good deeds. Today is the first day of the New year. From today onwards, all devotees must undertake his holy task. Past is past. Do not think of the future, because it is not in our hands. What is the guarantee that we will live until tomorrow? Therefore, this present time is very important. Make good use of it. Do not go against your inner self. That is what I tell my children, the students here, "Follow the master". Who is your master? Your inner self is your master. So there is no need for anyone else; follow your own inner self. That is your God. That is your happiness. That is your wealth. That is your peace. Happiness and peace are not outside”. - Divine Discourse: 20 March 1996 Sri Rama Navami Sri Rama Navami is the festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Sri Rama, the Avatar of the Treta age. It falls in the ‘Chaitra’ month in the Shukla Paksha Navami (ninth day of the bright fortnight) of the Hindu lunar calendar. Lord Rama is revered as being the very embodiment of Dharma (righteousness) and one whose life serves as an ideal for all mankind. The Ramayana, an epic poem composed by sage Valmiki on the life of Lord Rama, is one of the sacred scriptures of the Hindu religion. “The Ramayana, the story of Lord Rama, teaches two lessons: the value of detachment and the need to become aware of the Divine in every being. Faith in God and detachment from objective pursuits are the keys for human liberation. Give up attachment to sense objects, and you gain Rama. Sita gave up the luxuries of Ayodhya so she could be with Rama during His exile. When she cast longing eyes on the golden deer and craved for it, she lost Rama's proximity. Renunciation leads to joy; attachment brings about grief. Be in the world, but not of it. Rama is the in-dweller in every body. He is the Source of Bliss (Atma-Rama) in every individual. His blessing, surging from that inner spring, confers peace and bliss. He is the very embodiment of Dharma, of all the codes of morality that hold mankind together in love and unity”. - From ‘Ramakatha Rasavahini’ authored by Bhagawan Baba. Excerpts from Bhagawan’s Discourses: “The Ramayana teaches the principles of Dharma and the path of duty to every individual. Though ages and aeons have passed by, the Ramayana remains ever-fresh guiding humanity on the path of truth and righteousness. Even today we think of the characters of Ramayana with respect and reverence. You can very well understand its greatness. There is no morality higher than what is depicted in the Ramayana. The Ramayana should be the subject of our Parayana (worship). You should install the principle of Rama in your heart and experience bliss. Practise the teachings of Ramayana in your daily life. Obey the command of Lord Rama. It is to understand and assimilate the principle of Ramayana that we are celebrating the festival of Rama Navami today. It is not enough if the celebration is confined to merely partaking of sweet pudding and other delicious items. - Divine Discourse: April 11th, 2003 “From time immemorial, every individual in Bharat (India) has regarded Sri Rama's life as an ideal and has sought to sanctify every moment of his life by living up to it. Sri Rama incarnated as a human being to promote peace and happiness in the world. "Rama is the very embodiment of righteousness (Ramo Vigrahavaan Dharmah)." It was as if righteousness itself had incarnated on earth. Dharma and Rama are inseparable. We must learn to chant the sweet name of Rama with a pure, unsullied heart, in a spirit of selfless devotion. Men should learn to speak sweetly and pleasingly. Sweet speech confers peace. It is the means to self-realization. Sri Rama loves to dwell in the heart of the man who speaks sweetly. Wholehearted chanting of the name of Rama even once can destroy mountains of sins. But the chanting should not be done mechanically, like a gramophone record. It should emanate from the depths of the heart. You must seek to redeem your lives, by living up to Rama's ideals and proclaiming them to the world. Remember the name of Rama with love. God can be realized only through love and by no other means”. - Divine Discourse: 14 April 1989 The New Year Day of the Tamilians (people belonging to the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu) usually falls on the 14th or 15th of April every year. Devotees from Tamil Nadu gather in thousands in the Divine Presence to begin their New Year with Divine Darshan and benediction. They also place a bouquet of cultural programmes at His Lotus Feet. Excerpts from Bhagawan’s Discourses: “Today, you are celebrating the commencement of the New Year. But, in fact you should treat every second as the beginning of a New Year. Many people are worried as to what changes would the New Year bring in the social, political and economic fields. Any change if it were to take place will not wait for the arrival of the New Year. In fact, many changes are taking place from moment to moment. One need not be concerned about these things. You should be concerned that there is no transformation in your heart though years are rolling by. You have to get rid of evil tendencies in your thoughts, words and deeds. You should celebrate the arrival of New Year with noble and divine feelings. You should experience bliss by visualising the non-apparent Atmic Principle in this apparent world”. - Divine Discourse: 14th April 2002 “Embodiments of | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
New Year -2006- at Prasanthi
Nilayam Pictures of Sri Sathya Sai Baba- 
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Flight with Divinity pictures 
