The 86th birthday celebration of Sri Sathya Sai Baba was organised at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Educare, Nemilichery, Chromepet. The six-day programme was inaugurated on November 18.

It was marked by Laksharchana, where the sacred 1008 names of Sri Sathya Sai Baba was chanted by the students and staff , while doing Archana for world peace. Other programmes included, ‘Mahila Day, (Women Day), ‘vilakkupooja' and a rally by all Balvikas students of Chennai district, ‘Grama Seva'.

With reverence: Students sit around the Rangoli lit with 86 lamps to mark the 86th birthday celebrations of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, being organized by
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Educare, Nemilichery, Chromepet.

Students of the school did not spend money on crackers and clothes during Deepavali and contributed the amount for Grama Seva. Prasadam in the form of food packets and laddu were distributed to the inmates of old-age home and to the staff and students of Government High School, Nanmangalam. Various sports events were conducted among the students of Government High School and prizes were distributed.

On November 22, the students performed prayers at different places within the campus for the development of the school. On the concluding day, the prayer hall was beautifully decorated with a picture of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, done in colourful Rangoli with flower petals and 86 lamps lit around it. The inaugural lamp was lit by Visalakshi Mahadevan, school educational advisor. Then the students lighted 86 lamps symbolising wisdom in them. A cultural programme based on the theme ‘Deha Bhavam to Atma Bhavam' (From the physical form to the metaphysical form – Omnipresence of God) by the students entertained the visitors.

Pushpa Sankara Hariharan from U. S., Rajesh R Trivedi, managing trustee, ALERT, and Kala Balasundaram, founder president, ALERT, were present during the valedictory session.

The Hindu - Down Town, December 4, 2011