– Amma’s orphanage at Parippally
Fifty-one people from all over the world spent the day with children at the orphanage. They danced and sang for each other; the best form of communication as many people spoke only Spanish, French, Italian and even Czech. The children were particularly fascinated by a singer from the Cameroons who really got everyone moving!

The hard-working staff cooked a wonderful Kerala style meal and everyone commented that it was the best food they had eaten so far on their visit.

Many new children have joined for this academic year and for them seeing all these foreigners was a new experience. But they quickly got over their shyness and tried out their limited English on the visitors. One boy sweetly offered some flowers to some of the ladies.

We were interested to learn that on this day a new cultural program initiated by Amma was being launched at the Niketan in conjunction with adjacent Amrita Sanskrit Higher Secondary School managed by the Ashram. Both the day school students and the orphanage students are being given the opportunity to learn some esoteric and disappearing Sanskrit arts. We saw some of the children being initiated into their first class. They were deeply engrossed in the subject and we look forward to seeing their first performances which is expected to happen on Onam.

After many final hugs, kisses and photographs the group finally boarded the bus for the hour and a half journey back the ashram. All were deeply moved by the open-hearted welcome of these happy children. They have clearly overcome the many difficulties and tragedies in their personal lives and are living a happy and productive childhood under Amma’s care.
5 Aug 2006
Rita Sutcliffe, USA