Sathya Sai with Students: Sri Sathya Sai Visits Delhi

Friday, April 9, 2010 to Sunday, April 18, 2010

Sri Sathya Sai in New Delhi

In response to earnest prayers of the devotees in Delhi and Shimla, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba graced these two places with His Physical Presence and showered His love and benediction on the mammoth gatherings of devotees at both these places. Bhagavan was given a loving, prayerful and reverential send off by a large gathering of devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall on 9th April, 2010, at 1.45 pm. After receiving Mangala Aarati, Bhagavan left for Sri Sathya Sai Airport, Puttaparthi, with His entourage from where He left for Delhi at 2.30 pm. Bhagavan reached Delhi at 4.45 pm, and was welcomed at Indira Gandhi International Airport by Sri Maharaja Krishan Rasgotra, former foreign Secretary; Sri S. K. Birla, Chairman, S. K. Birla group; Sri Jatinder Cheema, State President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Delhi and other senior members of the Organisation.

After an hour long drive by car, Bhagavan reached the Sri Sathya Sai International Centre which was magnificently decorated to welcome Bhagavan to Delhi after an eleven year hiatus, the last visit of Bhagavan to Delhi being in the year 1999. Bhagavan was offered a traditional welcome with Poorna Kumbham amidst Vedic chanting and joyous band music, when He arrived at the Centre with His entourage. Bal Vikas children greeted Bhagavan with lighted lamps in their hands. Bhagavan was welcomed on the stage with a welcome song. He blessed the gathering with His blissful Darshan, received Mangala Aarati and then retired to His Abode at Sri Sathya Sai International Centre.

On the morning of 10th April, 2010, Bhagavan blessed the gathering of devotees during Bhajan session at International Centre. Many dignitaries came to seek Bhagavan’s blessings. They were, Sri Sunil Bharati Mittal, Managing Director, Bharti Telcom; Sri Brij Mohan Lal Munjal, Chairman, Hero Honda Group; Sri K. M. Muniappa, Minister of State of Railways; Justice Karpaga Vinayagam, Chairman, Appellate Tribunal for Electricity; Smt. Indu Jain, Chief of Times of India, and secretaries of various Ministers of Government of India.

The morning programme commenced with Veda chanting from 8.30 am to 9.00 am and was followed by Bhajans. Bhagavan came on the stage at 10.45 am, and blessed the gathering. The Bhajan concluded at 10.55 am offering Mangala Aarati to Bhagavan. Thereafter, Bhagavan visited the Primary School block and witnessed the drama presented by the children adopted from the slum areas by the Sai Organisations, Delhi. Bhagavan showered His blessings on the participants of the drama.

Sri Sathya Sai with the Bal Vikas Students

On the afternoon of 10th April, 2010, Bhagavan blessed the devotees with His Divine Darshan during Bhajans at the International Centre and proceeded to Dwaraka, a township of National Capital Region, to bless the devotees gathered there for His Divine Darshan. A large number of devotees from the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh also assembled at Dwaraka for the Divine Darshan. The programme commenced with Veda chanting followed by devotional singing by Bal Vikas children. Thereafter, the Bal Vikas children of Delhi staged an excellent drama in the Divine Presence. Bhagavan blessed the children at the conclusion of the drama and posed for group photos with them. The programme concluded with offering of Mangala Aarati to Bhagavan at 7.30 pm.

Sri Sathya Sai Darshan at Dwaraka in Delhi

On 11th April, 2010, Bhagavan blessed the devotees with His Divine Darshan at the International Centre, both in the morning from 10.50 am to 11.25 am and in the afternoon from 4.20 pm to 4.40 pm. In the evening on 11th April, Bhagavan granted His Divine Darshan to a select gathering of gatherings and dignitaries in Mavalankar Auditorium near Parliament House. Many senior lawyers, bureaucrats, technocrats, Parliamentarians, business magnets, media personalities, members of diplomatic community and CEOs of MNCs were present on this occasion. Bhagavan arrived in the auditorium at 5.00 pm. The programme started with the speeches of three distinguished speakers blessed by Bhagavan to address the gathering. Air Chief Marshal (Retd.)

Sunil Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, with Sri Sathya Sai
at the Mavalankar Auditorium, New Delhi

N. C. Suri introduced the speakers. The first Speaker, Sri Sunil Bharti Mittal, observed that the life and teaching of Bhagavan and His Universal Message of Love for the redemption of entire mankind without any differences of religion, countries, nationalities and races. The second Speaker Sri S. V. Giri, former Vice-Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai University, explained in detail, how Bhagavan’s mission was spreading worldwide and bringing about transformation in the lives of people of different countries and various faiths from all strata of societies. The last speaker Dr. G. Venkatraman, former Vice-Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai University, made an impressive presentation with video clippings and slides on Bhagavan’s Chennai water project highlighting its salient features and Bhagavan’s concern for the weaker sections of society. Then Sai Youth of Delhi presented a drama entitled ‘Life is a Game – Play it’, which highlighted the importance of Bhagavad Gita’s message for modern man.

Sri Sathya Sai at the Bahai House of Worship (Lotus Temple)

On the morning of 12th April, 2010, Bhagavan blessed the devotees with His Divine Darshan during Bhajans in the International Centre from 10.25 am to 10.55 am. On that morning, Sri Susheel Kumar Shinde, Minister for Power and many old devotees of Bhagavan came to seek Bhagavan’s blessings. After receiving Mangala Aarati, Bhagavan proceeded to Bahai House of Worship. Bhagavan was offered reverential welcome by its senior functionaries. Bhagavan was then conducted to the main temple, where passages from the scriptures of all faiths were read in His Divine Presence. This special meeting was attended by about 300 persons.

On the evening of 12th April, Bhagavan granted His Divine Darshan in the International Centre during Bhajans at 6.20 pm. Bhagavan received Mangala Arati and proceeded to Krishna Menon Marg to visit the residence of Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India, who could not come to the Centre to receive Bhagavan’s blessings due to his ill health. After blessing the veteran leader, Bhagavan returned to the International Centre at 8.30 pm.

Shivraj Patil, Governor of Punjab and Haryana; and Praful Patel, Union Minister for Civil Aviation, with Sri Sathya Sai at the International Center, New Delhi

On the morning of 13th April, 2010, Bhagavan granted His Divine Darshan in International Centre during Bhajan session from 11.40 am to 12.30 pm. On this morning, Sri Sivaraj Patil, Governor of Punjab; Sri Praful Patel, Union Minister for Civil Aviation; Justice M. M. Punchhi, Former Chief Justice of India; Smt G. Geetha Reddy, Minister for Information and Public Relations, Government of Andhra Pradesh; Sri Suresh Wadkar, a renowned playback singer and many members of Parliament came to International Centre to seek the blessings of Bhagavan Baba. This day, 13th April, 2010 being the auspicious day of Baisakhi, the New Year for the people of Punjab and Delhi, members of Sikh community came to offer their salutations to Bhagavan. Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Delhi arranged the distribution of clothes to about 1000 couples in the Divine Presence. Prasadam blessed by Bhagavan along with Vibhuti packets were distributed to all the devotees on this occasion. Bhagavan, seated on the stage, spotted a mentally challenged child in the crowd and instructed the Seva Dal to give Vibhuti to that child, to the joy of the mother and the other devotees. Bhagavan received Mangala Aarati at the end of Bhajans at 12.30 pm.

Hans Raj Hans performing for Sri Sathya Sai

On the afternoon of 13th April, 2010, Bhagavan proceeded to Dwaraka after granting His Divine Darshan and receiving Mangala Aarati at the International Centre at 6.15 pm. A mammoth crowd was waiting at Dwaraka for Bhagavan’s Darshan. Bhagavan blessed them with His Divine Darshan at 7.00 pm. Thereafter a Bhangra dancing troupe presented a ten minute Bhangra sequence. Then, Sri Hans Raj Hans, a renowned Sufi singer, presented an excellent programme of Sufi songs, dedicating all songs to the Divine glory and Mission of Bhagavan Baba. At the conclusion of this concert Mangala Aarati was offered to Bhagavan.

Sri Sathya Sai Darshan at the International Center

On 14th April, 2010, the sixth day of Bhagavan’s Delhi visit, Bhagavan granted His Divine Darshan both in the morning and in the evening at the International Centre. The dignitaries who came to seek Bhagavan’s benedictions on that day were Sri L. K. Advani, Former Deputy Prime Minister of India; Smt. Nazma Heptullah; Sri Shantonu Sen, Advisor to Government of Delhi. At 10.15 am, Bhagavan left for Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Higher Secondary School for girls, Kalkaji extension, New Delhi. In the school, the students presented a dance-drama entitled ‘Sathya Sai Katha’ (Story of Sathya Sai) in the Divine Presence of Bhagavan. This drama depicted a few events from the childhood days of Bhagavan.

Sri Sathya Sai with devotees

On the evening of 14th April, 2010, Bhagavan granted His Divine Darshan at the International Centre during Bhajans at 7.25 pm. Bhagavan went amongst the devotees collected letters from them and spent nearly 15 minutes amidst them. Then at the conclusion of Bhajans, Bhagavan accepted Mangala Aarati and returned to His Abode. The dignitaries came that evening to seek Bhagavan’s blessings were Air Chief Marshal Pradeep Vasant Nayak, Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force; Sri Ajay Kasyap, Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police and family members of Sri L. K. Advani, Former Deputy Prime Minister of India. The State Presidents and Conveners of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, North Indian states were present throughout Bhagavan’s stay in Delhi.