14 Feb 2008, Bangalore

Some people say that the people in Bangalore are quickly losing their traditions due to fast modernization and western influence but watching the locals interact with Amma yesterday convinced me that at least they have not lost their devotion and love. Amma reached bangalore early in the morning so not everyone had a chance to her then so they had been waiting all day to get a glimpse of her. In the evening Amma was recording some new Kannada songs and when she came out of the room she saw everyone gathered downstairs calling for her and wanting her to sing with them. She brought out some sweets from her room and called everyone to the balcony.

They came running so enthusiastically that I was almost squashed but they had so much love in their actions that it was almost nice to be slammed against the wall because their innocent love was so evident. At one point everyone wanted to stroke Amma’s cheek and hold her hand with some brahmachari’s trying desperately to contain them. Amma was beaming with love and started to sing a new Punjabi song with all her darling children. In the song there is a call and response part with everyone responding “Hoy” after a passage and Amma did her best to teach them when and how it comes, but in their enthusiasm everyone was responding immediately with a resounding “Hai” or “Hoy”.  Amma was in a very blissful mood and soon the whole balcony full of people was swaying and dancing.

If they have Amma, people of Bangalore are still on track, of that I have no doubt.

– Viswanath