19th Ladies’ Day celebrated…

Today, 19th November, is Ladies’ Day, the day to honour and pay reverence to Womanhood, the day The Supreme Mother Divine bestowed upon to the makers of the home, makers of the nation, makers of the world. It was in 1996, 19 years ago, Bhagawan declared the inception of Ladies’ Day, to be celebrated on 19th November every year. Ever since this day has been a very special day in the Prasanthi Festive Calendar, with women from Sai fraternity around the globe celebrating the event with great devotional zeal. This day stands apart in the annals of human history, as Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Bab, with His Divine vision, designated it to extol and glorify, for the world to follow… honouring, respecting and worshiping Womanhood. The ‘fraternity’ that boasts of the glory of women of exemplary virtues, of the likes of Sita, Sati and Savitri joins Prasanthi Nilayam today recounting the occasion with much religious passion.

Prasanthi Nilayam celebrated the occasion, 19th Ladies’ Day, this morning with great devotional fervour, attended by a minuscule of devotees from different parts of the globe.

The programme commenced at 0800 hrs. with Vedic chanting by the students of the Anantapur Campus of SSSIHL. A brief ‘Band Display’ by the Anantapur Brass Band followed next, who played a couple of scintillating pieces straight into the Heart of Beloved Mother Sai.

Invocatory Vedam by the Anantapur students followed next.

Dr. K.P. Sai Leela then delivered a brief speech, introducing the ensuing session. Three speakers, Dr Snehalatha Deshmukh, Ms Madhuri Naganand, Prof. (Miss) Madhu Kapani were the three speakers for the session.

Beginning with greeting the audience in Telugu, Dr Snehalatha Deshmukh, formerly Vice Chancellor of the University Of Mumbai, elucidated on the importance of the day, pointing how and why womanhood is important. Hailing disciplined Prasanthi Nilayam and ‘its’ holy environs…speaking of virtues through beautiful ‘live’ anecdotes the speaker exhorted the audience to be disciplined, to be courageous. “I came here to appreciate, learn good habits, even at this old age, as old age is no bar for learning” concluded the speaker on a positive note.

The next speaker Ms Madhuri Naganand, Trust Member, Smt Easwaramma Woman’s Welfare Trust, spoke about the Trust’s inception by Bhagawan with a view to uplift womanhood. Enumerating statistical highlights of the Trust’s achievements in the field of service, Ms Naganand reminded women of the responsibility of mothers in tending children by being role models in their lives. “Be aware of Sai and His Teachings to follow and to uplift our souls in our journey of life” said the speaker in conclusion.

“There is no higher God than Mother” highlighted Prof Madhu Kapani, Director of the Anantapur Campus at SSSIHL, speaking on the profundity of womanhood. Delivering a structured speech laden with profound practical wisdom, Prof Kapani hailed women as Embodiment Of Sakthi, who become one with Divine in the process of creation. ‘What better fortune can be expected than to be equated with God, The Creator,’ concluded the speaker, ending her inspiring speech with a prayer hymn.

Divine Discourse on the occasion of Ladies’ Day was played next on the Public Address System.  Bhajans continued and ended with Mangala Arathi at 0950 hrs.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II