25 Sept, 2002
On Amma’s birthday proper, Amma descended from Her room at 8:45 a.m., pausing for a moment to allow Her largest darling son, the elephant Ram, to place a garland around Her neck. All those who had packed into the darshan hall rose to their feet to try and catch a glimpse of Amma as She made Her way up the center of the hall to the stage. Upon reaching the stage, Swamiji performed the pada puja and placed a beautiful garland of pink and white lotus flowers around Amma’s neck. He then proceeded to cover Her feet with lotus petals while chanting Amma’s 108 names.
![Amma's Pada Puja](https://www.amritapuri.org/photos/02-bday/02bday11.jpg)
After blessing everyone with her satsang, Amma gave darshan until 5:30 p.m. When She returned a few hours later to begin the Devi Bhava darshan, Her way was lit with thousands of tiny oil lamps and a path of lotus petals was laid all the way from Her room to the stage. However, Amma walked to the right of the flowers – never stepping on a one. If only all the world could imbibe just an infinitesimal fraction of such humility.
Amma’s Devi Bhava darshan lasted from 9:00 p.m. till 10:15 the next morning.