greetings on the holy occassion of Christmas. Christmas in Parthi is very special and always unique. Millions would have attended this tiny hamlet for the christmas celebrations over the years and there are others who are still craving to visit this holy land especially for christmas....
This Christmas will be remembered for generations for the beautiful decoration which was very very special for this year. This year, which also commemorates Swami's 85th birthday, South Africa the most happening country in Sai activities was blessed to decorate Prasanthi Nilayam. It is a historic moment in South Africa as they are celebrating 150 years of arrival of Indian indentured labours. They also made history in Prasanthi Nilayam by getting this great chance of decorating heaven on earth Puttaparthi.
The deco team arrived on the 10th of december with tons of decoration things from South Africa. It was 6 months of tireless effort to organise these things says brother Deven Naidoo, who along with Uncle Soobri, Balan, Jeeva,Prem Naidoo and others worked day in and day out to make this christmas memorable. Sure enough, on the 22nd Swami did ask: who did the decoration? (as if Swami doesn't know) and the reply came South Africa and Swami replied: it is very nice.
These few words were enough for the devotees to dip in the ocean of bliss forgetting all the troubles undergone these 6 months.
It was a memorable christmas even to me. On the 14th december brother Deven asked me to do some more shopping for the chirstmas as they were short of some decoration stuff. I went to bangalore and for the first time, I was doing the Chirstmas shopping. at about 6pm, when I was about to leave for Parthi,brother Deven calls me and asks me to see if I can get a candle. I asked him how big should the candle be and he said atleast 4 feet tall. I immediately rushed to a candle shop in Bangalore and asked the shopkeeper for a 4 feet candle. He looked at me strangely and said, you will only get those if you order in advance and it will take a minimum of one week to make it. I was praying to Swami and pleaded the shopkeeper to get one. He made a phone call to one candle factory and finally he traced one place where there was one 3 feet square candle and was red in colour.I called brother Deven and he said he prefers a white candle round in shape.I asked the shopkeeper to bring it any way and when he brought the candle, it turned out to be a white one, round in shape, exactly the same size and shape that was needed.It was a bit of emotional one, when Swami was lighting the candle this evening..
This evening Swami came at 6pm. The Sai Kulwanth hall was beautifully decorated and all the overseas devotees were given special seating in the front area.As the bhajans were going on, Swami drove into Sai Kulwanth hall and made a full round. Swami alighted just before the interview room and came upto the dais. He threw some Vibhuthi packets to devotees on the dais and listened to bhajans for about 20 minutes and then signalled for the international choir to start. This year's choir had 750 devotees about 100 from Germany, 150 from Russia,145 from South Africa, 26 from Australia and about 50 countries participated in this year's christmas.
Swami enjoyed the whole session and at 7:15 Swami for the first time, came down the dais and blessed every one with a group photo which was un expected but every one were very very happy.
Arathi was given to Swami at 7:20 thus ending a beautiful day filled with Sai Love. Tomorrow, the 25th of december, would be yet another beautiful day. Swami has blessed the South africans again to sing the carols....
Wishing all a Merry Christmas,
with pranams at the Lotus feet of our beloved Lord,
Sai Devotee
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