New Year 2012 – Alumni Meet in Prasanthi Nilayam…
Sunday, January 1st, 2012
The Story of “The Eternal Bond of Love” that was on display on the New Year Eve, with the Primary School Alumni paying their offerings, crossed over to the next day with the senior folks, alumni from Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions, celebrating The New Year in the Divine Presence in Prasanthi Nilayam. For the past many years the alumni has been privileged to make their presence in the Divine Presence on the occasion of New Year.
Assembled in hundreds the alumni echoed, “Bhagawan! Our life is nothing, but full of Your Stories”, opening the floodgates of their Love Tale with their Swami painting the evening with their rich experiences at His Lotus Feet.
The programme commenced at 1700 hrs. with an introduction by one of the alumni. Reiterating their eternal gratitude, reaffirming that they have come to recharge their batteries, reconnecting to the Haven of Peace, they made a series of offerings at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet that included a New Year Cake, Chocolates, symbolically signifying Bhagawan’s love for students, latest edition of Alumni e-journal, Vidyullekha, 10th Edition of Music CD series – The Bridge Across Time etc.
TN Giridhar from the 1992 MBA batch, speaking on behalf of the alumni, spoke of His Divine Love, His ways of teaching the students sharing some of the most interesting tales, from his student days, with the audience. Bhagawan’s love is not alone for the students, but for the millions and billions of devotees across the world, said the speaker recapping many an incident from his college days at the holy precincts in Prasanthi Nilayam.
Abhimanyu Kaul who compeered the rest of the programme mentioned about the hide and seek game being played by Bhagawan. He said, Seeing God was easy…when Swami came late we would often complain that Swami was late….times have changed and now Swami is playing hide and seek… As the Alumni Brass Band took their position, Kaul gave beautiful introduction narrating some of the most humorous, learning experiences with Bhagawan, relating to the Brass Band.
Brass Band, conducted by Band Masters of yester years, with each one conducting different numbers, played some scintillating numbers with their trademark perfection, as taught by Bhagawan, inciting applause from the audience.
A couple of Instrumentals followed, that included ‘Why Fear When I am Here’ before the music troupe took over, with a welcome song, entreating Beloved Swami. As the songs continued, Kaul interspersed between the songs with beautiful narration of the college days. The narrations varied from stories of Bhagawan’s love and care for students, anecdotes involving greater teachings of His Supreme Divinity, Rare Revelations that only Avatar of His magnitude could do…
Songs full of variety, befitting the theme of Reconnect, inciting rich memoirs of their days with Bhagawan featured interspersed in the programme, all sung with great passion. The numbers included, “Yaadein…”, “Remember…Remember The Day The Lord Walked Your Way…”, “Charon Disha Se Hum Aaaye Hey There Dwaar…” “Tum Se Achcha Kon Sai Maa…”.
Ending the programme Abhimanyu Kaul presented Eternal Gratitude at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet, wishing that Bhagawan would end His hide and seek game, blessing the world with His Divine Darshan.
The alumni ended with the famous number, “Hum Ko Tumse Pyaar Kithna…” that was followed by the “Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam…” in Bhagawan’s Divine voice.
Mangala Arathi was offered at 1930 hrs. and apple prasadam was distributed to the capacity assemblage of devotees.
Earlier before the comencement of the programme a Flag Salute was offered to Bhagawan by the Flag Bearing Squad that marched into the Sai Kulwant Hall, followed by the Vedam Group.
Earlier in the New Year morning, the Brass Band from Prasanthi Nilayam Campus presented a half-an-hour band display.
Led by former Band Master and Institute Faculty Shyam Sharma, the troupe played some thematic numbers, that included I am Man…, Fire Works…, Love Story, based on Andy William’s famous number Where do I begin?, Tempest…, Easwaramma Priya Thanaya…, Hungarian Dance and Shiva Shankara. The Band Troupe that has a rich legacy of Divine guidance has always been an exceptional outfit maintaining high standards. Playing to its reputation, playing for half-an-hour, the Band Troupe incited audience applause for excellence.
Even as bhajans continued, students from the Senior Hostel presented a New Year Cake at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet that was followed by New Year Greeting Cards, handmade ones, by the Tiny Tots from Sri Sathya Sai Primary School.
After half-an-hour bhanjans Mangala Arathi was offered at 10:00 hrs. Special Prasadam was distributed to the entire assemblage of devotees.
Apart from various service activities in the nearby villages, commemorating the occasion, a Kritagnatha Yajnam, offering gratitude to Bhagawan was also performed outside Prasanthi Nilayam campus. Upon the end of the Yajna the alumni took out a procession into the Sai Kulwant Hall in the morning.
II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
Tags: Concert, Functions, Photos, Pilgrimage, Speeches, Student Programmes
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