Diwali Celebrations 2011
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
Today is auspicious Deepavali, the festivity that is often referred to as The Festival Of Lights! Like many other festivities Prasanthi would also celebrate Deepavali in the past with students rejoicing the occasion bursting crackers in the Divine Presence. Until the inception of the Divine Abode, Yajur Mandiram, the green lawns opposite Poornachandra, where The Divine Abode was built, used to be the venue where students from Prasanthi and Brindavan campuses burst crackers on the auspicious evening in the Divine presence. Deepavali earlier years was also blessed with Bhagawan’s Divine discourses. …And during the occasion last year, all loving Mother Sai drove Himself down to Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium where His grateful students had arranged a ‘multi-colour shower from the heavens’ – a memorable fireworks display, heralding 85 Years of Love…!!!
On a damp overcast evening with occasional drizzle, today, Prasanthi celebrated Deepavali with a sizeable number of devotees from Gujarat presenting cultural programmes.
Before the commencement of the programme State President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Sri Manohar G. Trikannad spoke for a while greeting one and all on the auspicious occasion. He also presented a brief profile of various seva activities in the state.
The programme commenced with Ganesha Vandana followed by a couple of traditional Folk Dances by the Youth of Gujarat reminiscing the golden days of Lord Krishna during Dwapara Age.
The lead item for the day was to follow. Rajendra D. Raval, an Ahmedabad based whiz in Sword Dance, ‘Talwar Nrutya’ took the centre-stage drawing attention of the riveting eyes, whirling himself continuously for the next more than fifteen minutes, weaving magic with precision. Beginning with a sword, the accomplished artist gracefully whirled with one-pointed attention, while moving the sword at ease, relaxing his grips and leaving the same quite free. He followed his feat with twin swords, stunning the audience, receiving rapturous applause. Non-stop he was whirling that the artist continued with weaving magic, this time creating a peacock from multi-coloured cotton sari. Two more feats followed wherein, in tandem with his whirling movement, he created a pigeon followed by a rabbit.
At the end of the programme artistes were felicitated with safari pieces and group photograph was taken. Bhajans by Gujarat Youth continued for the next half-an-hour. Prasadam was distributed and Mangala Ararthi was offered at 1800 hrs.
Gujarati New Year that follows Deepavali will be celebrated tomorrow.
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