HOLI UPDATE:
Sathya Sai Baba Holi Darshan update: Holi celebrations by Sai Baba devotees
Wednesday, March 11, 2009

The twin states of Bihar and Jharkhand have made Holi their holy time to visit Prashanti Nilayam. Swami had permitted them to put up their programme and a colourful Kulwant hall awaited His arrival. Multicoloured balls and balloons with buntings hung everywhere and a massive backdrop with Swami’s picture and another picture of the Divine sport between Krishna and gopikas adorned the central block. Swami arrived at about 4:25pm and went around for a complete darshan round and then moved through the portico. There a teacher rose and offered a rose to Swami saying that it was his birthday. Swami smiled and almost exclaimed, “Birthday! Take namaskar.” Collecting letters, Swami arrived and took His seat on the stage. Immediately, He asked for the programme to commence. After the initial rose and card offerings by the State President and the children, the programme began. It was a medley of colourful songs and dances.

It began with salutations to the elephant headed Ganesha with a well choreographed dance set in the evocative Raag- Mishra Sohini. The little girls in shiny costumes moved in beautiful synchronization. Then there was a song which depicted the irresistible attraction of Lord Krishna as Radha danced in joy singing out, “Oh Yashoda! Why does your mischievous son affect me so?” Then arrived girls dressed in green finery as a Qawwali composed to celebrate the flower sellers’ festival was rendered. They danced as powerful feelings danced on their face singing, “Lord! We have come to your door, having cut all the ties that bind.” A few solo songs and bhajans were then sung. Swami then went into the interview room for a brief while. All the songs were rendered live along with the instrumentation too. The concluding piece was a lilting spiritual melody that built up in volume and tempo as dancers arrived in the many colours. Krishna too arrived with multi-coloured capes adorning him. The final formation was composed as the song reached its zenith and concluded.
 

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Swami came out and brought along with Him, lovely blue sarees. He called one from among the group of singing ladies and giving her the sarees, asked her to distribute them to all the other members too. They were beaming smiles as the sarees made their way into their hands. Swami also had sarees distributed to all the children participants of the dance. Bhajans began in the meantime. ‘Krishna’ moved towards Swami on the stage and requested him for a group picture and Swami seemed to tell her to wait. Seeing Swami from so close, the little girls began to weep spontaneously. Swami moved down to grant them group pictures and all the children began to weep more with no holds barred! Swami so sweetly kept telling them that they should not cry. He told them to smile for the cameramen who were taking snaps. It was with great difficulty that they stopped crying as they posed for photos. Swami looked around and asked for ‘Krishna’ to be seated near Him. And so it was that ‘Krishna’ came and sat by Him as more pictures were taken. Like bees humming around the lotus, the children buzzed around His lotus feet, taking namaskar as Swami blessed them all. Swami moved up the stage and blessed prasadam to be distributed to all. He sat listening to the bhajans as the distribution went on. Aarthi was then performed. On its completion, Swami raised both His hands and blessed the children. They let out a loud collective gasp of joy and surprise. Once again, floodgates opened as they began to cry. Leaving them thus cleansed with tears of their Love and devotion for Him, Swami retired for the day.