Thiru Onam Day
Friday, September 9th, 2011
Prasanthi Friday celebrated Onam, Kerala’s most important and colourful festival, with traditional gaiety and fervour commemorating a mythical past of plenty, peace and equality.
Onam, the Kerala fetival that has been greatly privileged to be present in the immediate Divine Presence of the Mighty Avatar of the age, year after year over the past more than three decades, returned to Prasanthi once again with a miniscule of Kerala present here this morning welcoming the advent of the auspicious day. Today is Thiruvonam, the day when the whole of Kerala await, as per the legend, the arrival of erstwhile emperor Mahabali who is supposedly making his annual goodwill visit. More than the emperor, it is sure, on this beautiful friday morning, every single Kerala soul present in this township, has been on the look out for The Presence, of the Beloved of all beloveds, Bhagawan Himself, for Onam has always been the rarest and most beautiful happening for both Prasanthi and Kerala in His direct physical presence eversince its inclusion in the Prasanthi festive calendar.
The auspicious morning dawned wearing a Kerala garb, with many from the state, coming out in the early hours participating in the early morning schedules of the Ashram. Men and women came out in typcial Kerala costume and with them, many others, belonging to other states also took a cue from the state, joined wearing the traditional Kerala costume and what one could hear was ‘Happy Onam’ Greetings.
Mandir had aesthetic decorations in place, with plantain leaves, coconut leaves along with colourful parasols adoring the hall bringing in an added flavour.
In the morning, bhajan troup from the state rendered soul-filling bhajans, presenting some new compositions as well. In the evening a cultural programme is scheduled where the children from Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Aluva along with Bal Vikas chilren from the state will stage a dance drama, Krishna Kripa Sagaram.
With the state of Kerala celebrating its most colourful festival Onam, with gaiety and fervour commemorating mythical past, peace and equanimity as practised by its erstwhile Emperor Mahabali, a miniscule of Kerala camping in Prasanthi celebrated the festivity commemorating the golden past of Onam in the immediate Divine presence.
Legend has it that Kerala was once ruled by the ‘Asura’ king Mahabali, under whose reign everyone were happy and lived in an Utopia where falsehood and deception were unknown. The ‘Devas’, however, grew jealous of the popular king and had him banished down to the netherworld by Lord Vishnu, who incarnated as Vamana, the dwarf, for the purpose. Before going down, Mahabali secured a boon from Vishnu that he would visit his subjects on ‘Thiruvonam’ day every year.
The evening programme commenced with Veda chanting by Balvikas children from the state at 1700 hrs. after the regular stint of Vedam. Prof. Mukundan, President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisatons, Kerala introduced the evening briefing about the scaled up activities in the state. He introduced the distinguished speaker for the evening, Sri K. Jayakumar, IAS, who is currently serving as Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala.
In an illuminating and inspiring speech, Jayakumar, an accomplished poet by himself, burst into a spell of poetic imagination, ruminating over the current phase of physical absence of Bhagawan. Talking about the futility of grieving, the speaker conceded that emotional frame of our heart does miss the Beloved form. He compared his mind of the day with that of a clouded sun, while thinking of Bhagawan physical passing over.
Defining Bhagawan as Eternal Truth personified, running into infinity, Sri Jayakumar said, Bhagawan showed what could be possible with a human birth by following His own dictum, My Life is My Message. By looking into His actions we should be able to understand what and how we can reciprocate for all that Bhagawan has bestowed upon us, most selflessly; we need to focus on two things, that Bhagawan has left on us to complete and these are: Purification of Heart and Love All Serve All. The speaker spoke with confidence calling Prasanthi Nilayam to become a Worldwide Revolution of Love. He exhorted the gathering on the importance of being united while pursuing most selflessly rendering greater service to humanity to bring the meaning of “Samastha Lokaaha…” in action.
Annual winners of Essay Writing Competition held at college and school level were felicitated next with Sri Sathya Sai Gold Medal. All India President of SSSSO, Sri V Srinivasan gave away the medals to Ms. Manju Krishna and Thara Elizebath (was not present).
Sweet immortal stories of enchanting Lord Krishna took precedence at the final phase of Onam 2011 celebrations as students from Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Aluva along with Balvikas children from the state presented a colourful dance drama entitled ‘Krishna Kripa Sagaram’.
The drama entwined with colourful episodes of Little Krishna stories had interludes of melodious songs adding flavour to the programme. Some of the episodes were, Krishna’s inimitable style of teaching Sandeepani His true form, how the fruit vendor lady at Brindavan was blessed by Lil Krishna abundantly, when a handful of rice grains turned into glittering diamonds, the water pot story, where Krishna initially refuses to ‘put the burden’ on to the woman who requested the Little One to help her, but later volunteered Himself to carry the burden, Radharani’s travail to enter into Brindavan as Krishna forbidden any woman to enter into, Krishna’s gurudakshina to Sandeepani etc.
The drama ended with a group song of prayer to Bhagawan. All the children participants were felicitated with clothes and prasadam was distributed to the entire gathering. Bhajans continued for sometime and Mangala Arathi was offered at 1900 hrs.
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