Prashantinilayam,26th January 2013
When the whole nation is busy celebrating 64th Republic Day, devotees from Delhi & NCR (National Capital Region) presented a medley of devotional and patriotic songs at Baba's Lotus Feet this evening here in Prasanthi Nilayam as part of their three day Parthi Yatra.
The programme commenced at 1700 hrs. with a brief introductory speech by Sri Jatinder Cheema, State President of SSSSO - Delhi & NCR. Offering rich gratitude to Bhagawan for the opportunity, Sri Cheema listed out some of the service projects undertaken by the Organisation, before inviting Sri Prasad Rao, IAS (Retd.), Secretary of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, to speak on the occasion of Republic Day.
Referring to the greater glory of Prasanthi Nilayam, being the centre of Sanathana Dharma, Sri Prasad Rao explained in brief the story of India becoming a Republic, 64 winters ago, on January 26, 1950. Sri Prasad Rao then continued with a reference to the 1950 Constitutional Declaration calling the nation Sovereign Socialist Democratic Secular Republic, explaining each term, stressing on the 'real' meaning referring to Baba's teachings. Sri Prasad Rao ended his speech exhorting fellow devotees to rededicate to make India strong and secular as per the original declaration at the time of becoming Republic.
Echoing Baba's teachings to let different faiths exist and let His glory be sung in different languages, youth from Delhi NCR then presented a musical offering, medley of devotional and patriotic songs, sung in different languages.
The youth began with propitiating Lord Ganesha with the song "Om Gam Ganapathaye Namaha..." followed by a Telugu version of Rabindranath Tagore's composition. Next to come was a Qawwali that was followed by a Shabad from Holy Guru Granth Saheb, extolling the Oneness of Divinity. "Araj Suno Meri Sainath Ji..." followed next before a Bengali composition by Tagore, commemorating the Republic Day occasion. "Hey Giridhara Gopala...", the beautiful Krishna bhajan, sanctified profusely by Baba Himself singing the same on many an occasion, was the penultimate number, sung in Sai style, before the parting number, a supplication to bless them to live in Him forever..."Sai Dhey, Sai Dhey...Sai Dhey..." in Hindi.
Apt to the occasion, singing men wore white pyjama-kurtas, with green and red shawl adorning their neck, symbolising national tri-colour.
Bhajans continued, all the artistes were felicitated with safari pieces followed by group photo session for the entire unit of pilgrims. Next, students from the Primary School offered their 'special handi-work' thematic of national flavour, on the occasion of National Republic Day. The session ended with Mangala Arathi offering at 1830 hrs.
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