Christmas at Prashanti Nilayam - News [1]

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Christmas Eve

 

December 24, 2003 Merry Christmas greetings from Prashanti!We just returned from

afternoon darshan Christmas eve. This is the time for the foreign devotees. The

program was put on by the foreigners.Darshan began at 3:17 p.m. Swami came in

the red car as usual. But instead of vedic chanting He was welcomed by

orchestral Christmas music played over the loudspeakers. Swami came onto the

veranda directly and got out on the left side. Before getting out of the car He

called the tall Australian gentleman with the white hair and white beard. The

man went to the car and spoke with Swami briefly before returning to his seat.

Swami then came out and walked to the front of the veranda. The hall is

decorated with the usual festival decorations of red lanterns, various colored

Indian-style garlands hanging from above, and different colored triangular

“flags” strung across the driveway section.. In addition there were Christmans

theme decorations: long red

cloths hung from the columns, silver “stars” hung from the ceiling, two

Christmas trees (one on each side of Ganesh), and more.This morning Swami had

given two-handed blessings, one for the gents and one for the ladies. We did

not get the same blessings this afternoon, but the program was still very

special. There were participants from 24 different countries. Foreign sevadals

“managed” the foreign devotees in their reserved seating area along the

driveway and closer to the front. We were able to go inside immediately without

having to line-up outside with the chit lines; there was a separate line for

foreigners. The sevadals were very organized and nice.As soon as Swami came to

the front of the veranda He walked to the center. A small boy and a smaller

girl came up to Him and gave a rose and the program. He returned the rose and

the red ribbon to them and He opened the program and read it. He then touched

the little girl on her cheek. They returned to their seats in

front. The Australian gentleman then came to Baba with a candle, which He lit.

The man then guided Swami to light two candles on stands on either side of

Ganesh. We clapped at this official beginning of the program. Swami then tried

to extinguish the candle in His hand by shaking it, but He did not succeed. The

man by His side blew it out for Him.Swami then took His seat at front and

center. The western choir began by chanting in unison the usual vedic chants

that welcome Swami into the hall. That was a very nice touch, unexpected for

westerners. What followed was a short re-enactment of what took place on

Christmas eve over two thousand years ago. A boy and girl playing the roles of

Mary and Joseph went from inn to inn asking for lodging. They were turned down

by the three inns they approached and were finally told to go to the stable

where the child Jesus was born. The children did singing along with live music

accompaniment at each inn. Finally they walked upstage towards

Baba carrying the infant in their arms and placed him in a “manger” set up in

front of the veranda where Swami normally sits. Baba blessed them before they

returned to sit.The children’s choir, directed by a Dutch lady, then began.

They sang to the accompaniment of various instruments: flute, trumpet, snare

drum, guitar, electric keyboards, tabla. Their songs were lively and upbeat,

and some were even done with harmonizing. They sang for 45 minutes.The adult

choir, conducted by an American lady, followed the children’schoir. They

performed familiar and new compositions. There were threesections: men, soprano

ladies, and alto ladies, each section singing inunison. They sang a few songs in

round. The crowd thoroughly enjoyed it, clapping after each song. The one who

enjoyed the singing the most was Baba Himself. Many times He sat there with His

head tilted back and looking “heavenward” with eyes closed. His left hand would

be upturned and “raise the

energy”, or just be still in mid-air.At about 5 p.m. He called the conductor and

spoke with her; He wanted her to continue with the music as He directed the

students to distribute prasad. The foreigners were directed by the foreign

sevadals to remain seated during distribution: they listened and followed. The

students were able to go through the devotees unharassed and everyone, or

mostly everyone (most of the ladies missed out) was able to get prasad (one

candy and one Indian baked sweetie). Then at 5:12 p.m. Baba lit the arati lamp

and arati was begun. Swami then walked towards the interview room and went

inside. The foreigners were asked to remain seated; they complied while the

bulk of the locals got up and left. When Swami came out again to depart in the

red car, the foreigners remained seated until Swami was almost at the gate.What

a very different and pleasant experience from the other festival days here.

Merry Christmas to all. Lovingly shared by a Sai Devotee

Posted on 25/12/2003

Source: http://10815.tripod.com/Christmas03/christmas_eve.htmSai Ram website

 

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