November 14, 2009 – Music Programme by Tamil Nadu Sai Youth

Children's Day is celebrated in India on November 14, the birthday of India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, as a tribute to his love of children. He was very fond of children and believed that children are the future of the nation. But in Puttaparthi and with Swami, everyday is Children's Day for that is what it becomes when the Universal Mother descends to foster and tend Her children.

The youth from the state of Tamil Nadu had sought Swami's permission to put up a music programme and once that had been granted, they were ready in all eagerness. By 4:00 p.m., a portion of the marbled blocks had been occupied by these youth and everyone waited for Swami to arrive.

Swami came for darshan at ten minutes to five and completed the darshan round. There was another programme before the music programme. The staff and their families from the Bangalore Super Speciality Hospital plan to come every month in batches for Bhagavan's darshan and the first batch of 120 members had come and were seated inside the Bhajan Hall for evening darshan. They had arrived as Swami's guests and Swami had agreed to grant them a group interview.

The next half an hour or so turned out to be Childrens' Day for all these people assembled inside the Bhajan Hall and Swami moved up and down the aisles and 'paths made on request' granting namaskar and talking to them. Thus granting joy to all of them, Swami moved out of the Bhajan Hall into the interview room.

He sent word that all mikes should be kept ready and the youth should begin their programme. Even as they began the Aumkaram, Swami arrived on the stage and received the initial offerings of the flower and the card.  The songs were strung together with a commentary and all of the songs were in Tamil. They were in different ragas and composed by many a great person. A very young violinist, maybe 12 years of age, was prominent in the front of the performing group.

Every song was appreciated with loud clapping by the members of the audience. Once the songs were over, Swami permitted them to sing bhajans. As this went on, some of the youth presented Swami with their "Bhajan-Vikas" certificates which had been awarded to them for successful completion of Bal Vikas training along with training for the pursuit of music in general and bhajans in particular. Swami blessed the certificates.

Another set of boys showed Swami the hard copy of the July 30th issue of an e-newsletter named, "Bhajanamrutham". Swami blessed it and keenly listened to all that they explained about it. Swami also called and spoke to another member of the group, this boy requested Swami for a group photograph and Swami said, "Not now." Swami then blessed everyone and asked for aarthi to begin. It was 6:50 p.m. when Swami finally moved into Yajur Mandir.

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