Intro: “Amma’s guidance would make Bharat, the country which would lead the whole world into spiritual renaissance. Bharat can move in the direction of peace only with Amma‘s blessings.” —Rajnath Singh
Amritavarsham, Mata Amrita-nandamayi’s (Amma) 61st birthday was celebrated in a befitting manner on September 27 in the Mission’s headquarters at Vallikkavu near Kollam in Kerala. Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh came for Amma’s darshan. Lakhs of disciples congregated in Ashram premises to have Amma’s darshan and a glimpse of their ultimate spiritual guide and universal mother. Colour and gaiety of last year’s 60th birthday celebrations, addressed by the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, was not at all missing this time too.
| Kerala |
Rajnath Singh said, “Amma looks after the welfare of humanity in the universe. He added Amma’s guidance would make Bharat, the country which would lead the whole world into spiritual renaissance.” He congratulated the Mission for declaring the relief projects of Rs 25 crore for flood-hit victims of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). He also distributed keys of 250 houses constructed for the people who turned homeless in Rudraprayag when Himalayan tsunami hit Uttarakhand last year.
Rajnath Singh stated that Amma is not a mere individual but a divine force. Addressing the birthday congregation, attended by thousands of devotees, the celebrity devotee said that love, kindness and sympathy are the real solutions for the problems being faced by the whole world. Narrow minds cannot have the ocean of love and kindness. It waves and surfs only in broad minds. Rajnath added, what bothers him as country’s Home Minister is the growth in terrorism, fissiparous activities, etc. He emphasised that he is sure that Bharat would move in the direction of peace with Amma’s blessing.
Chief Minister of the State, Oommen Chandy awarded prestigious Amrita Keerti Puraskar to Poet and Lyricist S Rameshan Nair, State President of Tapasya Kala Sahithya Vedi. He inaugurated several Mission projects including Amrita Sphuranam, the solar power project.
Senior leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) participated in the Amritavarsham programme.
Even though the programme took place in the southern district of Kerala, people were virtually flowing to the Ashram for attending Amritavarsham across the State. Prakash Babu, an Amma devotee told Organiser that the whole Vallikkavu area was in a festive mood. Devotees from not only several parts of Bharat but also from abroad had thronged there. But, the arrangements were in tight discipline. Babu said people were even served with food of their choice cutting across country’s borders.
—T Satisan from Kochi
