It is 4:30 PM, September 26, 2009.  The stage is already set for the mega events that are lined up for the next two days.  All devotees, including Vidyamritam children, are gathered at the venue of the function, awaiting anxiously their Spiritual Master’s appearance on the dais.  The dais, meanwhile, is occupied by many Swamis and brahmacharis of the ashram, who too are waiting with us, the arrival of the other guests.  Media people are lined up at the given slot, to take all happenings to the doorsteps of their readers, particularly, the devotees who are unable to join us at this venue.

It is now 4:35 pm, and the auspicious moment has arrived!  The guests arrive by car, and there is a loud cheer from the children.  Oh my God!!  This sight is beyond any description!!  Each and every heart in this huge gathering is overflowing with love and ecstasy and is united in receiving Amma and the guests of honour.  The children are dressed up in uniforms, with different coloured bands in their hands. They start waving it once they see Amma on the dais chanting “Amritasya Putrah Vayam” – we are the children of immortality.  Amma waves her hands to the gathering and there is a roar of applause and cheer, acknowledging her gesture.

After the inauguration, distribution prizes for the winners of the competition and speeches by the dignitories were there.  Then Amma interacted with the children making them aware of the need to preserve water, nature, not wasting food, benefits of vegetarian food, respecting the older generation, bad effects of smoking and drinking etc.

It is now 5:45 PM, and time for the ‘bhajans’.  The Vidyamritam children are seen very actively involved in the singing.  After the brief ‘bhajan’ session, the much awaited ‘darsan’ begins.  Vidyamritam children are today’s priority and they line up, to receive Amma’s hug and blessings.  As the children move down the queue, the other devotees line up behind them, to ‘fulfill the purpose of their lives’.

There is one incident of the evening worth mentioning here.  Amma suddenly turning to the children, the prize-winners, and asked, ‘Endu kazhichu?’ (What did you have?), in a voice typically overflowing with the richness of motherly love and care.  The spontaneous reply from several children came, ‘Choru kazhichu! (we had rice).  One should have been there to see the light that sparkled then in the eyes of them both!!  However busy, whatever the situation, which loving mother can afford to ‘forget’ to feed her child?

Let us all pray to our beloved Amma to bless us.  Let us strive to deserve her divine love and compassion as her devotees.

by  Raviteja.K & Jeayaram.S