Onam celebrations begin…

A programme by SRP,  Sri Sathya Sai Rehabilitation Programme for the post operative cardiac patients followed by a ‘Bhajan Sandhya’ marked the first evening of the three-day Onam festival here in Prasanthi Nilayam today.

The programme commenced at 1700 hrs. with an introductory speech by Prof Mukundan, State President Of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations – Kerala, who spoke of the rare nodtalgic beauty of Onam celebrations of yester years in the immediate Divine Presence. Presenting a brief outline of the ‘Hridaya Sanghamam’ programme by SRP, the State President next invited Dr Anand Mohan, the State co-ordinator of the SRP programme to elaborate on what entails SRP. Elucidating on the project in brief, Dr Ananda Mohan next introduced a couple of speakers, Sri Mithun, an SRP volunteer followed by Advocate Balakrishnan who was a beneficiary turned volunteer to speak on the activities of SRP.

The Sri Sathya Sai Rehabilitation Programme under the auspices of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations takes care of post operative care of patients operated at the twin temples of healing instituted by Bhagawan, at Prasanthigram and at Whitefield in Bangalore. Over four hundred beneficiaries have come to Prasanthi Nilayam as part of the Onam contingent.

A music programme  by Sri Sathyanarayanan Nair, a former Balvikas student, in the lead followed next. Beginning with a couple of Prasanthi Bhajans, Sri Nair, a disciple of legendary Anup Jalota, sang some interesting numbers, namely, Sai Baba Bolo…, Mera Jeevan Tere Havaley Prabhu… etc. Sri Nair was accompanied by Sri Nishikant Barodekar on Tabla and Sri Sridhar on Violin apart from his three sisters on vocal.

At the end of the presentation all the artistes were felicitated and Prasadam was distributed.

Bhajans continued and ended with Mangala Arathi at 1830 hrs.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II