Srikakulam, the pioneers of Parthi Yatra have arrived on their yearly pilgrimage to Prasanthi NIlayam. They were the group who started the concept of district wise holy trips to Parthi way back in 2001. On the 21st of August, the programme started with Vedic invocation by students at 1630 hrs. At 1700 hrs, the State Sevadal Coordinator, Sri R. Lakshman Rao with his poetic speech took a trip of nostalgia recounting the numerous blessings, the Srikakulam district has received from Bhagawan with special emphasis on the discourse given by Bhagawan in 2005, where He taught them the advaitic lesson of I am I. Sri Rao also gave a status report of the various projects undertaken in the district under Bhagawan's guidance.
At 1715 hrs, Sri Bharati Ramesh & co. started their music concert. He was accompanied by G. Sai Eswari as the female lead, Srinivas and Ashok on keyboard, Venkat Rao on percussion pads, Sandeep Varanasi on Gitar, Surya Naryana on Dolak, Kalyana Chakravarti on Tabla and Taraka and Teja providing the chorus.
Starting with a thundering rendition of the Ganesh sloka "Vakra Thunda"..., Sri Bharathi Ramesh cofessed his inability to enumerate the Lord's praises in the song "Yemmani Pugadethaiya", followed by the recounting of the Lord's Promise, "Parithranaya Sadhunam...". Ms. Sai Eswari sang an endearing number appealing to the Lord to come and speak once, "Ottesi Cheppava oka saari Swami". Sri Ramesh continued the performance with the songs "SaiRam, SaiRam, Sathya Sai Ram", "Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, Sathya Sai Mahamanthiram", "Anu Swarropama" and finally with an appeal to all to walk together singing the Glory of the Lord and listening to His teachings, "Sai Naama Vinura, Sathya Sai Bodha Vinura".
The programme was followed by Bhajans. Prasadam was distributed to the assembly and Arati offered at 1815 hrs.
Srikakulam had an opportunity to continue their programme on 22nd Aug with a Dance Drama entitled "Siva Leelalu". The presenter informed the assembly that Bhagawan has been blessing the Balvikas children for the past 5 years to perform in His presence. This year the children were guided by Sri Raghupatruni Srikanth, an internationally renowned Kuchipudi dancer. He has won over 8 Gold Medals in National competitions, performed in various countries including Singapore, Dubai and Sri Lanka and has been recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records.
The programme started at 1630 hrs with Vedic Recitation. The coordinators offered rose to Bhagawan before the commencement of the Dance Programme at 1700 hrs. The children dressed vibrantly in Peacock Blue, Gold and White started the programme with a dance on Lord Ganesha to the tune of "Ekdantaya Vakratundaya" followed by a paean in the praise of the Lord of Prasanthi, "Sharanam Sharanam Sai".
The backdrop changed to a photograph of a Shivalinga even as the song Sada Shivudu Vandanam heralded the arrival of Lord Shiva who danced the Thandava with His consort Parvathi. As the song continued we had the heart wrenching scene of the tribal devotee of the Lord, Bhaktha Kannappan, offering his own eyes to the Lord, in his innocent devotion. This song was followed the inspiring demonstration of Shiva conquering the God of Desire and the auspicious scene of the holy wedding of Parvathi and Shiva.
The last presentation was a song dedicated to the Mother in her protective form of Kali. After the initial invocation, the annihilation of the demon Mahishasura by Goddess Kali was demonstrated. At the end of the programme, all the participants were gifted clothes. The teacher was specially honoured with a shawl.
Bhajans commenced at 1750 hrs and Arati was offered at 1805 hrs. Prasadam was distributed to the entire assembly.
