Latest News from Prashanti Nilayam, 30 Dec 2003

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Latest News from Prashanti Nilayam

Posted on 30th December, 2003

Sai Ram, Happy Sai Ram Holiday. The mandir and hall were decorated beautifully

with angels, Santa Clause, snowflakes, wreaths and many other designs. There

was a Christmas tree decorated with white balls and a candle on on both sides

of Ganesh on the verandah. There were streamers on some of the columns. The

center driveway was richly decorated for Baba to see as he drove by. The

holiday spirit was evident. In addition, there were the usual decorations. Many

people came for the three events filling the hall. There was special seatting

for foreigners. The choirs sat front-center of the mandir covering the white

area. Behind them on the other side of the white line foreigners sat on the

floor and those that needed chairs sat by the center driveway. There were seva

dals consisting of only foreigners for the foreigners. The regular seva dals

handled everything else. Christmas eve program

started about 3:45 after Baba sat in his chair which was in the center front on

the verandah. The children choir sang for about an half hour. They were

enchanting. The adult choir sang for about an hour. As they finished the first

time, Baba called the director, Sylvia, to him. Baba told her to continue

singing so the last three songs were repeated. Meanwhile Baba walked around on

the verandah by the railings and instructed the students to distribute prasad.

They gave everyone a generous portion of small candies. As I reached to take

mine out of my lap, I cried. So intense was the vibration with the candy. Baba

was in ecstacy as the choirs sang. He moved with the music. His head was back

and even eyes closed at times. The love and devotion of the music and the

singers came through to everyone even to God in physical form. Christmas

morning carols was at 5:40. Many carols were sung before being interrupted by

the regular morning

bhajans as they marched by. Baba was not physically present. Many Indian friends

said that they enjoyed the programs very much. It helped put foreigners in a

more favorable light. Security was very happy with the job done by the foreign

seva dals. Officials were pleased with the programs. Word is that Baba was very

very happy. There were no negative comments. Everywhere we went Merry Christmas

was uttered. It was nice coming from people who were saying as a sign of

respect. On Christmas Day, at about 7:15, Baba entered the hall to begin the

students celebration of Christmas. Three different groups played music and/or

sang. At one point, Santa Claus came running up the driveway and distributed

Candy to people on the verandah, students and a few others. One group consisted

of drums and other band instruments.

A primary school group dressed as elves played the violin. It was a fun morning

to be followed by a divine discourse in the afternoon. Two days later, the

decorations came down. Gerald

 

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