Richa Sharma regaled… Little Hearts enchanted…

After the rich exposition of the glory of Womanhood in the morning, in the evening it was the turn of music – melody – dance and drama, as Prasanthi Nilayam witnessed the second half of Ladies’ Day celebrations.

Beginning the session with a short invocatory Vedam session, the artiste for the evening Mrs Richa Sharma took over soon, regaling The Divine with her rich collection of devotional songs.  The singer, a famed name in the Indian musical circuit had earlier performed in Bhagawan’s Presence in the year 2007.

Richa Sharma began with the song “Prarthana Suniye O Bhagawan”, a song of prayer, beseeching The Lord to listen to the prayer. A host of fast-paced songs followed, notable among being “Sanson Ki Mala Pe…” an original song by Meerabai, made famous by legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. “Allahu Allahu…”, a Sufi Tarana followed next before her special song – special as Bhagawan had blessed her with a special presentation for this song in the year 2007, “Mouse Naina…”. Singing in inciting-infectious style, the singer sought public participation to sing in United Voice to make Bhagawan ‘happy’. A Prasanthi Bhajan “Giridhara Shyama Gopala…” that came next was followed by the final song, a Qawwali.

“I am very happy…I am blessed” whispered the artiste, recapitulating her long-time association with Prasanthi Nilayam.

Mrs Sharma was accompanied by a host of professional musicians on Harmonium, Guitar, Tabla, Keyboard, etc. At the end all the artistes were felicitated.

Next to come was the much anticipated presentation of the twilight, a presentation by the ‘Little Hearts’ of Primary School. The ‘Little Messengers’ presented a colourful Dance Drama entitled, ‘Lord Sai Yuga Yuga Avatara’.

Presenting a series of episodes, with bottom-line messages of Bhagawan, the Dance Drama essentially re-iterated the Truth of Sri Sathya Sai, as The Supreme Cosmic One.  A pair of little-storey-tellers forayed on to the centre-stage at every intermission, enlightening on the bottom-line message – all about Bhagawan’s unparalleled glory, only to follow up with tales from the yore and from Bhagawan’s Life. Intertwined with dance-story sequences, the one-hour presentation served as a reminder to the audience of His Messages and His Supreme Divinity.

All the children were felicitated at the end of the programme. Bhajans commenced and ended with Mangala Arathi at 1925 hrs.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II