Category: Festivals
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Mahatmas never die
25 December 2006 — Amritapuri Christmas celebrations in Amritapuri Christmas is always a special time in Amritapuri. Not only does it mark the anniversary of the birth of a Jesus Christ, but also—with so many people around the world having time off from work—the Ashram is overflowing with devotees from Europe, America, Russia, Japan and…
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Vidyarambham by Amma
2 Oct 2006 Amma initiates babies into the world of alphabets, first lessons of tabla, harmonium and veena during Vijaya Dashami celebrations. At Amritapuri, the ceremony involves tracing each letter of the alphabet in a plate of rice or even in sand on the ground. Traditionally, the writing was alternately done on the tongue with…
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Victorious beginners: importance and meaning of Navaratri festival
Amma’s message on Vijayadashami day 2nd October 2006 Amritapuri Navaratri is a festival that is celebrated all over India. The word nava-ratri itself means “nine nights.” We are presently living in the night-i.e. in darkness, in the darkness of ignorance. The Navaratri Puja signifies the removal of this internal darkness and the dawning of the…
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Prathiba Ray received Amrita Keerthi
September 27, Amritapuri As part of Amma’s upcoming 53rd birthday celebrations, Smt. Pratibha Ray was awarded the Ashram’s Amrita Keerti Puraskar for her meritorious contributions to the field of Indian literature. Ray is an award-winning writer from Orissa who has captured reader’s hearts through insightful narratives that often shed light on historical and mythological characters of India’s…
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Amma’s essence and wealth are her children
Amma’s 53rd Birthday Celebrations 27 September 2006 — Amritapuri Amma’s birthday began in the Brahma mahurta with a Maha Ganapati Homa performed by Brahmasri Surya Kaladi Jaya Suryan Bhatathiripad. In fact, only two hours prior to the start of the homa, Amma was still out and about, cutting vegetables and checking into the preparation of…
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Birthday Camaraderie
27 September 2006 — Amritapuri During Amma’s 53rd Birthday Celebrations, there was a very precious moment between Amma and Sri. C. Divakaran, the Honourable Minister for Food & Civil Supplies of Kerala. In the speech the minister delivered when inaugurating one of the Ashram’s new humanitarian projects, Divakaran said, “The first time I saw Amma,…
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Dancing celebration
Amritapuri, Israel, Ooty & California Merge in Devotion 27 September 2006 — Amritapuri It seems Bala Bhaskar’s Indo-rock fusion ensemble that performed on the eve of Amma’s birthday was a harbinger of things to come. In the final hours of Amma’s birthday celebreations, music and dance from several lands merged together like a confluence of…
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Icing on the cake: Amma in the kitchen
3:00 a.m., 27 September 2006 — Amritapuri In the wee hours of Amma’s birthday, Amma paid a visit to the kitchen, where hundreds of devotees had been busy for hours, preparing the rice, sambar and curries needed for the next day’s meals. On Amma’s birthday the Ashram feeds everyone without charge—anna-danam. With the potential of…
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Eve of the Birthday
3 a.m. 27 September 2006 — Amritapuri After finishing darshan at about 5:30 pm, Amma briefly returned to her room, and then came out for bhajans at 7:00. The hall was filled to the brim with devotees who had come to celebrate Amma’s Birthday. After bhajans, Amma then returned to her room again, and the…
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Birthday buzz starting in Amritapuri
25 September 2006 — Amritapuri There is a buzz that starts in Amritapuri around the time of Amma’s birthday. It starts about a week prior to the actual date, increasing in intensity until the day finally arrives. Each day more and more devotees from all over India and abroad have been arriving in Amritapuri. The…