Easwaramma Day Celebrations, 1997

Annual Easwaramma Day Celebrations were held this year on May 10, as the first faint breath of springtime was felt in Morganville, New Jersey. A record-breaking number of devotees (400-500) of all ages from across the Mid-Atlantic Region participated in the festive event.

Coinciding with Mother’s Day, and commemorating the samadhi (attainment of ultimate peace) of Swami’s own beloved mother and her great love of children, this year’s Easwaramma Day was an occasion for all to bask in the unspeakable love of our Divine Mother Sai. A spirit of appreciation pervaded the day—appreciation for mothers, through whom Swami nurtures e and guides us, and appreciation for the precious children whom he has entrusted to our care, as parents and teachers. A sense of family was also strongly felt, both in the presence of large numbers of families attending together and in the feeling of brotherhood evident among the members of the larger Sai family.

The day commenced with bhajans, delightfully sung with the children’s characteristic innocence of heart. The young people then competed in a rousing game of Sai jeopardy, which showcased “Baba facts,” as well as their innate playfulness.

The highlight of the afternoon was a cultural program presented by the Centers. The duties of Master of Ceremony were shared by Joan Riggi and Michael Kaufman, who brought levity to their roles. Between performances, several devotees shared personal Sai experiences, often delighting the audience with examples of Baba’s inimitable sense of humor. The presentations were of an exceptionally high quality, with themes ranging from classical Hindu stories, folk singing and a play written by Swami as a child to moral fables, dramatic reenactments and Native American legend. Costumes and scenery were colorful, creative and professional. Musical accompaniments displayed considerable talent.

It was obvious to the audience that both SSE teachers and students had responded to the challenge of bringing a higher level of discipline to this year’s celebration. As the number of participants grows each year, teachers and students find themselves stretched to express their creativity within limited parameters. That challenge seemed to spur further creativity, as the cultural program was presented with alacrity, to the delight of all. The program’s effort, preparation, discipline and cooperation were greatly appreciated.

The children also displayed their creativity in the visual arts. An abundant Sai Darshan Art Exhibit decorated the auditorium with beautiful and inspiring examples of Swami’s teachings and spiritual themes expressed in paintings, drawings, collages and shoe-box scenes. The artwork was later displayed at the annual retreat.

The finale of the day was a spirited SSE rally, filling the auditorium with song, motion and color. The rally culminated with each child receiving a T-shirt bearing Swami’s exhortation to “Be good, see good and do good.” The T-shirts were created and presented by the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center of Central Park, New York.

The full and active day was brought to a close by Regional President Rajen Ghayal, who declared that “This was, by far, our best Easwaramma Day ever.” He acknowledged “the very high vibrations of the day and the spirit of cooperation and discipline, which was very evident.”

All participants went home happy and very grateful to Swami for providing such a joyful occasion.

~Pru Kaufman
New Jersey, USA