Ashadi Ekadashi morning in Prasanthi Nilayam…

Prasanthi was gripped in Maratha festive fervour this morning as twin western Indian States of Maharashtra and Goa celebrated Holy Ashadi Ekadashi in the Divine Omnipresence of Bhagawan here in Prasanthi Nilayam.

Popular traditional ‘Varkari Sampradaya’ of Maharashtra, wherein lakhs and lakhs of devotees walk on foot to the Holy Abode Of Lord Vitthala at Pandharpur every year in the month of Ashada, had its symbolic replica here this morning, with hundreds of Sai Varkaris arrived at the Sanctum Sanctorum singing paeans to Lord Sai Vitthala, commencing the auspicious morning’s proceedings.

Adding colour to the ‘gaiety galore’, youth from the State danced to the tune of a Maratha devotional number, sharing devotional ecstasy of the grand festive occasion.

Adding unadulterated Maratha Vitthala flavour, the session then continued with a musical offering by young legendary classical vocalist Swaradhish Bharat Balvalli.

Singing ecstatic elixir of Lord Vitthala in classical Marathi, the session ensued sent an apparent message, to the auspicious morning’s assembly, of the unmatched significance, of the 11th lunar day of the month of Ashada and of Lord Vitthala to the Maratha community.  The talented singer regaled the audience for over fifty minutes, immersing them in ecstatic Vitthala devotion. The numbers included an inciting “Hari-mana Tumi Govinda-mana Tumi Gopala-mana Hari Narayana…”. The artiste was accompanied by Sarvasree Makarand Khandave on Harmonium, Prasad Padhye on Tabla, Dada Parekh on Pakhawaj and Naidoo on Tanpura.

Earlier, MLA of Kolhapur Dr Sujit Minchekar offered a Tulsi garland at Bhagawan’s Sanctum Sanctorum, paying obeisance to Beloved Bhagawan.

Bhajans continued and ended with Mangala Arathi at 0950 hrs.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II