Report on Swami's arrival to Parthi on 9th July, 2003

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Report on Swami's arrival to Parthi on 9th July, 2003

 

Lovingly shared by Manoj and Vijay

Posted on 17th July, 2003

 

Sai Ram to all Sai Brothers,

 

Mahesh Talreja (MT) & myself consider ourselves very fortunate to

have witnessed arrival of Bhagawan to Parthi from Whitefield on the

9th of this month.

 

It was like we were witnessing the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya &

the welcome showered by the Ayodhya Vaasi to Him.

 

It was MT's idea to hire a Auto (To & Fro) for Sri Sathya Sai

Airport. As the Auto proceeded from Students Hostel, we could see

Men in White (Swami's Students) with colorful Flags (Like we see

flying on 5 star hotels), Girl students, Prashanti residents (with

Aarthi thali, flowers, garlands & Coconuts), Devotee's (Indian &

Foreigners) awaiting His arrival on both sides of the road. Hardly

an inch would have been spared. All along the road we could see

colorful Rangoli decorations. These rangoli decorations actually

started from Gopuram Dwar till the SSS Airport.

 

Further on, we saw a huge 'Dindi' group from Maharashtra holding

Safron Flags, Chanti Bhajans & carrying Lejim's as the occassion was

Ashadi Ekadashi. Mr. Ramesh Sawant was also present there. They

were holding Banners of "Welcome Swami" & had installed a large

Cloth Mandap.

 

They were similar groups with Banners, singing & praising the Lord's

names all along the road. Some of them had even put large banners

across the road welcoming Swami.

 

As we neared the airport, we saw that already devotee's in large

numbers were present from the no. of auto's & cars parked on the

road side. The airport visibility was was better from a nearby hill

top, so we decided to climb to the top. Again WE felt like the

monkeys must have, during Lord Rama's time, excited over His return

to His kingdom.

 

>From the hilltop, we could see the entire landing strip, the

airport, the control tower & the airplane's parking space. After 15-

20 minutes, we saw a big red flag being hoisted over the control

tower's terrace. Both MT & myself having done the airport duty,

knew that this was the signal to the Seva Dal & their leader placed

strategically along the entire tarmac, that Swami's plane was now

into the SSS Airport's zone & would arrive within the next 30

minutes.

 

Finally, His plane arrived, circled the airport & the hospital once

& then prepared for landing. The Pilot had the front light ON &

slowly descended for landing. Moments later His plane landed &

taxied to the parking area. His car, a light grey Benz, started

towards the plane. The plane seemed a 10-15 seater. Few minutes

later the motor's stopped & the door opened & finally Swami appeared

in the doorway & was helped into the car. From far we could see

only His Orange robe & mop of black hair.

 

Meanwhile, MT & myself climbed down from the hill hurriedly & ran

towards the entrance of the Sri Sathya Sai Airport & stood there.

By now the crowd had multiplied. As His car came out on the road,

we saw Him sitting behind the driver. People started Aarthi, broke

coconuts, threw flowers & garlands on His car. They were wanting to

touch the closed window on His side or to even touch his car to

seek His blessings. Swami with His anupam karuna, blessed the crowd

from inside the car. Since His devotee's had almost blocked the

road, Swami's car moved very slowly initially. As His car moved,

people too ran along. So He gave us a chance to do some security by

allowing us to form a cordon on the rear side of His car. Thus we

could touch His car & have His darshan from behind.

 

About half a Km later the crowds thinned out & then His car took

speed. MT & myself ran back to the Airport, got into the waiting

Auto & told the driver to speed up behind Swami. All along the road

we could see flowers, gulal, broken coconuts, group's singing

bhajans, native people with huge smiles writ on their otherwise

weather beaten faces. As His car neared the Hostels, the crowd

again thickened & so His car again slowed down. WE paid the Auto &

ran towards His car. Again we got a chance to cordon off the rear

of His car. Slowly His car proceeded towards Prasanthi Nilayam &

then finally entered Prasanthi Nilayam through the Gopuram Dwar into

Sai Kulwant Hall.

 

Thus Swami gave MT & myself a chance to witness the excitement of

His arrival into Puttaparthi. He had also provided us a opportunity

earlier to see Him off in His plane at the Nanded airport when He

had visited Nanded about a couple of years ago.

 

Om Sri Sai Ram.

 

Vijay Vazirani

__________

 

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