25 Dec 2024, Amritapuri Ashram – Christmas Celebrations
Amritapuri Ashram was adorned with Christmas trees, twinkling lights, and stars, creating a festive atmosphere filled with love and devotion. Small groups of devotees from abroad began their day singing and practicing Christmas carols, setting the tone for the heartwarming celebrations that followed.
A powerful moment of unity was witnessed when devotees from Ukraine and Russia joined hands to sing traditional carols from their homeland, demonstrating that peace is possible even amidst external challenges.
The cultural performances were a highlight of the day. A heartwarming skit conveyed the message of love. In a strict orphanage for girls, the grumpy headmistress, forbids Christmas celebrations. But when the girls uncover her hidden pain, they choose compassion over mischief and create a heartfelt surprise to bring her joy. Inspired by Amma’s teachings of love and compassion, the girls come together to show the headmistress that she’s not alone. Their act of kindness transforms the orphanage into a home full of warmth and joy. Other performances included a “Wave Dance” symbolizing the journey from the self to the infinite, a Bharatanatyam piece dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and a unique blend of Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, and Kuchipudi.
Laughter filled the hall during a hilarious clown skit, depicting the challenges of maintaining focus during Archana while battling distractions like desire, pride, and delusion. Amma and the audience joined in joyous laughter, cherishing the humor and wisdom.
In her Christmas message, Amma emphasized the deeper essence of Christmas, urging everyone to reflect on the values of love, sacrifice, and selflessness:
“The compassion of mahātmās serves as constant support and refuge for this earth and the human race. Like the spring season, they infuse human hearts with the beauty of love and spread the fragrance of peace. Christmas reminds us of the remarkable and inspiring life of such a mahtāmā. However, it is essential to recognise that the true essence of Christmas lies not in the external celebrations and decorations but in the values and spiritual principles it represents.
“When people reflect on Christmas, they often recount memories of time spent with loved ones, the festive meals shared with friends and the gifts exchanged. But they rarely speak of the spiritual lessons they learnt or the efforts they made to incorporate those lessons into their lives. Embracing and living these values would embody the true spirit of Christmas.
“Our thoughts and actions should be filled with enough goodness to reflect the divine power within us. Amma doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate and have festivals. However, Christmas gains true meaning only when we use the occasion to reflect on Christ’s life of sacrifice and assess our own spiritual growth. Christmas should thus be a celebration of the love and selflessness within us, extending beyond just the momentary festivities. It is not when we take but when we give; it is not when we spread anger but when we spread love, that the heart becomes expansive.
“When our hands reach out to provide comfort in places of sadness and suffering, and when our words speak kindness and sweetness where hatred and hostility prevail, that is when heaven descends to earth. We feel the presence of God there. It is this spirit that we must awaken during Christmas. The resurrection must take place within our heart, allowing us to create the kingdom of heaven both within ourselves and in the world around us. May divine grace bless my children to attain such a heart.” Amma concluded.
The evening concluded with Amma singing soul-stirring songs like “Kushiyon Ki Bahar” and “May the light of unity dawn in our minds,” filling the atmosphere with peace and unity. She then cut a large Christmas cake, and prasad was lovingly distributed to all, symbolizing Amma’s boundless blessings for the world.
-KaliCharan
