Date: September 25, 2009; 11:30 AM
Venue: Under Construction Hall where AMMA’s birthday will be celebrated

Happy to report to you from the venue of Amma’s birthday celebrations!
“All roads lead to Amritapuri” will not be an understatement, the way streams of children and their parents are pouring into Mata Amritanandamayi Math and the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Campus.

Preparations are on for the eagerly-awaited mega event slated for the 27th of September.  The astonishing pace at which the work progresses in Amritapuri does indicate the Divine Shower of Blessings, Grace and Love on those at it.  Over a thousand people, sinking all their differences and forgetting their status and stations in life, are jointly at the task.  It is an overwhelming sight to see these people from all walks of life putting their shoulders together for the single and noble cause of celebrating the birthday of their beloved Amma.

The stage for the purpose, with the necessary audio and video arrangements and lighting, is being readied on one side.  Several girl students of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeedam, who are active members of the Amrita Sanjeevani Seva Organization, are doing voluntary selfless service, right here, in front of us.  On another side, we see several Brahmacharis actively involved in setting up huge LCD screens and multi-stage sound amplifiers at several points to facilitate the huge gathering view the programme from wherever they are seated.  As we move towards the stage we see a lot of people at work, erecting several supporting wooden planks and pillars.  Another section of people are involved in putting up a ‘temple-look’ decoration, at the back of the mega Dias. The stage is meant to be viewed by about a lakh of people off the dias that day.

With hygiene in mind, a row of temporary toilets are being set up on either side of the venue with copious supply of water.  Excellent arrangement for supply of clean drinking water to the entire assembly, too, is being done.

A senior Brahmachari, in charge for setting up the venue of the programme, told us, that all work is bound to be completed well before the expected hour with the dedication seen in these selfless workers and the Grace of Amma.

Nearly 350 mercury vapor lamps, and over a 50 flood-lights are pressed into service to light up the entire area.  An exclusive gen-set has also been installed at the venue, to take care of any unexpected failure in power supply.

Everyone we talked to, opine unanimously, that it is nothing but the Grace of Amma at work behind the progress of such a mega preparation nearing completion in record time!!  We welcome all to partake of this Divine Shower of Love on this occasion which holds all promise of colourful, wonderful and spectacular days ahead!

Jeayaram S , MBA student