Sri Sathya Sai Trust For Universal Welfare 

Day 1 Dasara Celebrations-2024

The Dasara Divya Mahotsavamulu for the year 2024 made its beginning at the Sri Sathya Sai Divyaamritam, from the very first day of Sharannavaratrulu, on Thursday, the 3rd of October.

The precincts of SRI SATHYA SAI DIVYAAMRITAM wore a new look with the Devotees of Sai Baba gathering in large numbers to experience the Divine Moments from the very beginning. Colourful Arches and festoons installed on the roads making way upto the Abode greeted those who arrived from outside with the blessings of their Supreme Master while they served all the information of the intended daily proceedings during the 10 day festival. Truly, the devotees could not believe their own eyes having the panoramic view of this Holy place pregnant with natural beauty. They exclaimed yet another time -“It’s not the same place;it’s different”. One cannot remain without recalling Swami’s’ Words – “My Life is My Message-Expansion is My Life”. Everything changed to provide required infrastructure and additional facilities to house everything needed towards providing the increasing services.

The Celebrations commenced with the Prayers offered to Lord Ganesha in the Divine Presence of Baba. The Gou(Cow) puja, symbolic of worshipping the entire three crore celestial Devataas was then performed invoking their Blessings as well. One did not miss The Bommala Koluvu, a traditional exhibition of a number of idols and toys that not only caught one’s attention but also pleased those who were blessed to follow their Master on the way to making an entry into the Yaagashaala – the place where the offerings and Prayers would be made during the next ten days. Various rituals were performed at the entry time after which the Lord moved into the Yaagashaala, admired the Sri Chakra, did the Kalasa Stapana and lit the Akhanda Deepraadhana (the lighting of lamps that would continuously glow during the Prayers offered at the Place).

The Sri Chakra is a mystic drawing In a geometrical design consisting of triangles within triangles with a small central bottu(dot) in the Centre of the Chakra which represents the Supreme Mother, said to be installed with the Cosmos represented by the drawings in the periphery. Kalasaas are copper containers that contain a mix of sacred waters brought from various Celestial and Holy rivers across the country. The Parayana (reading) of Sri Mad Ramayana and of Devi Bhagavata also commenced simultaneously by the designated ones within the Yaagashaala. Offerings to the celestial deities were made into the Homam (sacred fire) by the Ritwicks and these rituals were followed in the form of Kumari Puja i.e., by worshipping 9 Girls of not more than 5-7years old in age by a designated couple in the traditional way symbolic of worshipping the Divine form – Shakti.

In the Satsang that followed the speakers talked about the Supreme Master and Swami’s’ Divine Will that brought Sri Sathya Sai DIVYAAMRITAM into existence and the ever expanding activities were cherished and relished. Who is Sai Baba? HE is none other than the Supreme Consciousness ONE that chose to become Many by Its WILL and then take birth time and again in Human form in different Avatars for the ascension of Man from Human to The Divine, to merge back into the ONE out of which one originated.

The Lord on His part emphasised that His Descent is purely with an objective of Veda Samrakshana-protecting the Chanting of Vedas and Vidwat Poshana – nourishing and fostering the Ones that enabled the Vedas to be chanted, protected and propagated .

Divya Prasadam was then served as Lunch to all.

The evening Vedic rituals continued with the designated schedule and the devotees sat with devotion to their Master awaiting the proceedings that led into the Musical programme recalling the Kolatam and other local cultural dances performed in the Divine Presence in the afternoon. The lighting, decorations and the pleasant environment pleased everyone present. Several Bhajans and songs were offered in the Divine Presence by the disciples of Gayatri Academy and the devotees. The day’s proceedings came to an end with Aarati offered to the Supreme. Divya Prasadam was thereafter served as Dinner to all those present!