Twin Beauties Of Suvarna Rathotsavam and Jhoola Mahotsavam On The Birthday Evening…

Two traditional festive events, Golden Chariot Procession followed by the grandeur of Jhoola Mahotsavam (swing festival) marked the evening session of the 95th Birthday celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam today. A musical bouquet by the Prasanthi Mandir Bhajan Group coincided the Jhoola Mahotsavam.

The symbolic Golden Chariot Procession commenced at 1700 hrs from the ‘Ganesha’, escorting The Lord in His OmniPresent form on the Golden Chariot to the accompaniment of Vedam and Bhajans. Following the pandemic norms and regulations, a sizeable number of devotees participated in the procession that did circumambulate the Prasanthi Mandir precincts, finally reaching the venue in 40 mts at Sai Kulwant Hall. Mangala Arathi to the Lord marked the end of the chariot procession.

Twilight was slowly setting in, and a well lit up Sai Kulwant slowly turned reminiscent of the nostalgic beauty of the golden-olden beauty of the magical Divine Presence of Bhagawan.

With a packed hall of devotees awaiting with heartfelt prayers, with every single eye glued to the centre-stage where the blue-hued jhoola adorned by The Lord Supreme turned swinging and swaying, the blessed folk of Prasanthi Music boys took the next over 75 minutes serenading The Lord singing paeans at The Lord and Master Supreme. The musical began with the soulfully lilting melodies illustrating the ever fresh and eternally illustrious Sai Katha, The Story Of His Story!

Imagine cradling the Little Baby Divine on the Jhoola singing the famously heart-wrenching, soul-stirring Prasanthi’s own lullaby song, “Enni Janmala…” The evening had this and much more. After the initial phase of epochal Sai Katha, the session then meandered into a collective composition of selected melodies that Bhagawawn in His physical presence would ever relish, appreciate and acknowledge.

Anandam Tava Darshanam…, Mere To Giridhara Gopal (Mira Bhajan), Bantureethi Koluvu…, the famous Carnatic number of St Thyagaraja, Madhura Mohana Gana Shyama…, Saranam Saranam Saranam Saranam Sai Saranam…, Sai Tere Naam Ki… a qawwali, to the ‘grand finale’ piece of the evening musical, summing up the quintessence of the Sri Sathya Sai Avatar praying for one and all, in all the worlds, for all the beings, resonating ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’!!! Interspersed commentary in English served added flavour to the ‘beauty beyond compare’ presentation.

Discipline is the hallmark of success, it is said. Indeed, it is this disciplined duty bound devotion of Prasanthi Nilayam that made this day a true grandeur, celebrating the anniversary of The Divine Advent in blissful spirit. A capacity audience sat through the session with disciplined devotion, strictly adhering to the social distancing norms.

Bhajans continued, and prasadam distribution went on. Mangala Arathi at 1920 hrs brought the curtains down for the eventful day.

Truly, November 23 keeps smiling the smile on and on, for, this ‘chosen day’ has been ‘infinitised’ by the Lord Supreme, in His truest benevolence for the humanity and the creation at large, in His resolve to make every single devotee happy, celebrating His ‘BirthDay’.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II