2 Jan 2008, Amritapuri

While most of the rest of the ‘world’ would have looked for ‘different’ ways of celebrating the New Year, many of Amma’s children chose and sought Amma’s company. That nothing is really different just because a few numbers change has already been made known to Amma’s children – even at the turn of the millennium. Then why did we still have a New Year’s celebration? One may ask.

Amma is always for celebration, for happiness, for joy. Whenever She sees Her children, especially in such big numbers, Amma goes out long lengths giving joy and more joy. Oh She is inexhaustible, irresistible!

And what an array of cultural programs on New Year’s Eve! It had all of Kerala, of India and the world at large… all linking to the One beyond. The western girls in plain whites who were dancing out Amma’s Dhyanasloka in the Bhartanatyam style spoke many cultural things. Students from the medical school performed a group dance in a style that blended the popular western style with the Indian classical style –  which again spoke volumes on the cultural strides Amma is allowing Her children to take. The Panchavadyam from Paripally orphanage girls was done in a way prohibited by conservatives: done by girls! The dance depiction of the English song starting with Amma’s famous lines ‘Awaken Children’ was directly pointing to the meaning of celebration with Amma. The Indian classical Kuchipudi dances by young girls, the violin-tabla performance by young boys of Amrita University….The Fire Dance (was it a dance or a sacred ritual) performed by the glowing youngster from the West! The Folk Song by the natives of Attapadi hills (actually by the students of Amrita Nursing College) was more a live-dialogue with the folk hero being the Lord. Amma joined in the folk song with Kaimani (hand bells) and responses of HOHOHO! God, there is so much more….

The two babies…quite grown-up babies in Amma’s arms… One of them made all of us jealous as he played a hundred sports with Amma, lying comfortably in the warmth of Her bosom…. All these and more: Amma was constantly buffeting kisses to Her San Ramón children through webcasts, the virtual Amrita Setu, who were celebrating the New Year much in advance, almost half a day before 12 midnight there!The chanting of Amma’s favorite Mantra, Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu….The soul-stirring Satsang through which Amma touched all our hearts, stirring feelings of compassion and love…The singing of and dancing to ‘Mata Rani,’ to top it all, with a crowd of a few thousands…

Yeah, it was just a matter of the second hand crossing over the number twelve: then it became Year 2008.

But with Amma around, was it just that?

It was eternity itself.

— Sandhya