Balimela, Nov 26: On 23/11, the 100th birth anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai Baba was celebrated by the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samiti, Balimela. A large number of devotees from Balimela and surrounding areas gathered to participate in the event. The devotional programme was held with great enthusiasm under the chairmanship of the Samiti’s convener, Shri Murali Krishna Pattanaik.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba is revered as a divine personality whose power of love attracts people from all walks of life—teachers, businessmen, administrators, politicians, and common citizens. His divine presence makes even the unbelievable seem believable. The centenary celebrations of this revered spiritual master were conducted in a deeply devotional atmosphere at the local Sri Sathya Sai Temple on Sunday.
On Friday, 21/11, women devotees from Balimela, wearing saffron attire, carried water-filled pots from the local river. They walked through Market Street, Post Office Line, and Aravind Colony before reaching the temple to ceremonially place the sacred pots. On 23/11, being the birth anniversary, devotees from Balimela and nearby areas gathered at the temple from early morning for rituals including Omkaram, Suprabhatam, Nagar Sankirtan, Shodasha Upachara Puja, Prashanti Dhwaja hoisting, and worship before the sacred image of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
During the evening, a spiritual conference and satsang were held. Devotees and spiritual seekers—including Shri Murali Krishna Pattanaik, N. Dasharath, Anil Kumar Pattanaik, Rama Rao, Govinda Raju, Swagatika Panigrahi, Sasmita Das, Smt. Lakshmi Patra, Sridevi Pattanaik, and Bikram Dev Padhi—spoke about the multifaceted life and teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
They reflected emotionally on Baba’s divine message, explaining how chanting the Lord’s name purifies the heart, awakens inner spiritual power, and yields the highest spiritual fruits. Baba’s teachings—rooted in the eternal wisdom of the Vedas and Upanishads—remain alive and immortal.
The evening also featured Deepa Aradhana, bhajans, and satsang. Prayers were offered for world peace and the welfare of all. Loving everyone and serving everyone were described as Baba’s core messages. The birth anniversary celebration concluded with the final Aarti to Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
The event’s success was due to the efforts of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samiti, led by Shri Murali Krishna Pattanaik and supported by members Govinda Raju, Shivani Dalapati, Sridevi Pattanaik, Bikram Dev Padhi, Anil Kumar Pattanaik, N. Dasharath, Rama Rao, Swagatika Panigrahi, Sasmita Das, Suchitra Raut, and Smt. Lakshmi Patra.
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