India’s Farmer Suicide Problem and Amma’s Solutions
25 February, Bharata Yatra 2008 — Ahamed Nagar, Maharashtra, a roadside stop between Pune and Mumbai
It was only after Amma’s program in Vidarbha that some of the Western devotees travelling with Amma learned the full extent of the region’s suicide epidemic. Figures that baffle the mind: farmers committing suicide [...]

24 February, Bharata Yatra 2008
Washim, Vidarbha Region, Maharashtra
Amma’s first visit to Washim, an agricultural town in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha Region, was truly something to see. The people had never met Amma before, but they welcomed her with all the hearts and souls—filling the streets and offering her their pranams as she drove past and surrounding the [...]

22 February, Bharata Yatra 2008 — Secundarabad, Andhra Pradesh
“A mother gives amrita [nectar] to her children; this is indicated by Amma’s name itself,” said Dr. T. Subbirami Reddy, Union Minister for Mines. “Just by getting her darshan we are filled by that shakti [divine energy].” Dr. Reddy was addressing the 30,000 or so people [...]

23 February, Bharata Yatra 2008 — Biloli, Maharashtra
Not far past the border from Andhra Pradesh into Maharashtra, Amma and the caravan of busses pulled off to the side of the road. Everyone got out and sat around Amma on that quarry grounds. Granite pieces were there all around. The moon was near full and the [...]

8 Feb 2008, Kannur, North Kerala, Bharata Yatra
The program in Kannur was held at the Jawahar Municipal Stadium which was crowded with devotees from all parts of the district. This was the second time Amma’s program was held in this venue.
Amma was welcomed with a ‘poornakumbham’ ceremony performed by Jayasuryan Bhattatirippad, and a padapuja by [...]

28 Jan, Nellai, Tamil Nadu, Bharata Yatra 2008

Amma held her first public program in the city of Tirunelveli, in southern Tamil Nadu. This district is well-known for its diverse landscapes; it contains everything from deserts, forests, rivers, mountains, to sea coasts. The name ‘Tiru-nel-veli’ means ‘sacred fenced paddy.’ One of the ancient [...]

24 Jan, 2008, On the Road to Kumbakonam, Bharata Yatra 2008
On the way to Kumbakonam, Amma pulled over and stopped at a side road, with grassy fields on either side. The site was in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, the sun was setting. One could hear the sound of crickets chirping, along with the [...]

Fulfilling Promises- Amma in Kumbakonam

26 Jan 2008, Kumbhakonam, Tamil Nadu, Bharata Yatra 2008
Amma held her first public program in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu. The program was held on a huge Banadurai Higher Secondary School grounds, capable of holding tens of 1,000’s of people.
In July of 2004, a disastrous fire took place in this city. The fire [...]

23-24 Jan 2008, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Bharata Yatra 2008
Amma held two days of programmes in the Chennai Brahmasthanam. The crowd overflowed the small Brahmasthanam grounds on both days, as the people continuously filed in from the busy streets to have darshan. On the second day, mass pujas were performed, led by Amma herself.
Chennai is one [...]

21 Jan 2008, Pudussery, Bharata Yatra 2008
Amma visited Puducherry (formerly named ‘Pondicherry’) for an evening public program on the 21st. The program was attended by many respected dignitaries, including the chief minister of Puducherry, Sri N. Rangaswami. The chief minister expressed his wish for Amma to become more active in the state.
‘Amma has helped to [...]