29 Dec 2007, Amritapuri

The scene here in Amritapuri  brings back memories of Amritavarsham. There are more than 1000 International  visitors here – a record for the season. They represent at least 50 countries and span all continents except Antartica. Countless others are coming just for one day.  And of course, there are the thousands of Indians who come from all over the country to receive Amma’s darshan.

Walking through the canteen, one can virtually tour the world.  They come from as far away as South America, South Africa and China. From exotic places like Mauritius and Reunion.   From Chile, Argentine, Brazil, Venezuela.  From practically every country in Europe – including Poland, Estonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Luxembourg.   From the US, Canada, and Mexico.  From South Africa, Mauritius, Reunion,  From North and South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkey.  From Israel.  From Australia and New Zealand.

To support this influx of visitors, hundreds of volunteers and Ashramites are working together to help things run as smoothly as possible.  The café and canteen are bustling with activity to make enough pizza and veggie burgers to satisfy the everyone’s appetite.  The waste collection and recycling crews work overtime to keep things clean. The accommodations office manages a group of volunteers to make sure that all the rooms are ready for new visitors. The Seva Desk makes sure all the positions are filled.  And the International Office is practically working around the clock to  processes the constant flow of visitors who come to spend at least one night here.

It will only to continue to grow.  As Amma’s Love and Compassion reaches out to the world, more people will feel the pull to be with Amma – to experience Her embrace, and to bring it back with them when they return to their lives in the world.

— Sri Pati