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Swami's Birthday Celebration on Sunday 23 November
2014 at Ram Mandir from 2:00 to 6:00.
Baba’s 89th Birthday
Celebrations in Leicester
On Sunday 23rd November
2014, all over the world, Swami’s 89th Birthday
was celebrated. Leicester was no exception. Hosted at the
Ram Mandir, a venue so infused with vibrations accumulated
over years of events and prayers, the celebrations ran in
full motion, compèred by sister Nirali Sisodia.
As some 600 people flocked into
the hall, they were greeted by a colourful photo of Swami
on the stage, surrounded by flowers and balloons. The
altar was adorned with symbols of different faiths, which
embodied Swami’s all-encompassing love for everyone
regardless of religion. Attracting the most attention for
some perhaps, was the birthday cake at the centre, baked
by the devotees and impressively decorated with miniatures
along with the well-known phrase “Love is my Form”.
At 2pm, the event commenced with
multi faith prayers and two bhajans. We were all initially
heart warmed by the adorable performances and dances from
the young SSE groups, twinkling like stars in their
outfits, and the Good Values Club, facilitated by Mr Dipak
Kumar. Swami tells us that the “students of today are the
teachers of tomorrow”. During this event however, the SSE
students were already teaching us a lesson about the
importance of our thoughts, words and deeds being in
harmony through a well performed play about a school boy
who questions the legitimacy of carrying out actions that
are not in tune with one’s own words. A necessary reminder
this was! We were also fortunate to enjoy the intricate
finger work from tabla maestro Anand Bhalsod and his
talented students.
The event was intertwined with
vignettes of Swami’s life by group 4 SSE students,
translated into Gujarati by Anand Lad so that all members
of the congregation could enjoy the Swami’s divine Leelas
in their full glory. Included in the programme was the
English choir conducted by the enthusiastic Jenni Robson.
Accompanied by harmonium, keyboard, baritone ukulele,
flute, tabla and other percussion instruments, the choir
sang nine songs including the Lord’s Prayer, a Hebrew song
and an American Indian song. The SSE orchestra were also
able to make an offering by playing an instrumental
version of “Happy Birthday to you”. Following this “Tere
Janam Dina Me Sai” was sung. The hall reverberating with
the lines “Happy birthday day to you Sai Rama”, devotees
could imbibe the excitement as the SSE children were about
to cut the cake.
The final part of the celebrations
was the all anticipated performance by Sairam Iyer. Known
as the 8th wonder of the musical world for his
ability to sing in both male and female vocals, he, eerily
yet magically, blew us away as he began with his female
rendition of “Allah Tero Nam”.
Awestruck as we
were, we sat listening with our eyes peeled to decipher
whether what we were hearing was indeed coming from who we
were seeing.
The occasion was undoubtedly
beautiful. This was not only because of what we saw and
heard but also because of the thought of the unity that
had to be present to ensure smooth running of the event.
Whether it was a child in SSE or an elderly aunty in the
choir, a confident musician or a first-time public
speaker, a member of the PA team or a volunteer in the
kitchen, it was a celebration where so many were able give
their personal gift to Swami on this birthday.
Swami says that “My birthday is
the date when divinity blossoms in your heart”. If this is
the case, why then do we continue to celebrate the
physical birthday of the Lord? Whether Swami is your God,
Guru, mother, father, best friend or a person you consider
to be more enlightened than yourself, he came on Earth to
spread his love and deliver his message. He came neither
to hurt, nor to convert anyone. He came only to confirm
each one in their own faith. His life was his message. He
was the one who would always “walk the talk”. It may
simply be because we truly adore the form that was born on
23rd November, and all that this form did for
us, that we continue to make an offering each year on this
this date. Needless to say though, let us pray to be
directed in the right direction so that we may plant those
seeds for the blossom of divinity in our hearts.
(
Click here to see more photographs from the
celebration......... )
Click here to see more photographs from the
celebration.........
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