Bharata Yatra 2004
Tuesday, 24 February 2004 — On the road to Hyderabad
There was a second stop for Amma and Her tour group on the long road from Davanagere to Hyderabad, and as many anticipated, this one was for tea and practicing bhajans.
![Amma singing at night](https://www.amritapuri.org/images/2004/02/amma-night.jpg)
The sun had just set when Amma’s six buses pulled over to the side of the highway near a wide field. To the west, a thin line of rosy light remained, and in the sky hung a crescent moon, with Venus shining boldly just beneath it. Amma was seated in the field, and Her children gathered in a circle around Her feet as She looked down at them with loving glances. Soon, a lantern was placed in front of Her, and Her white-clad form shown brightly in the darkness.
Amma was presented with a book of bhajans, a harmonium was carried out and into the quiet of the night Amma began to softly sing. Her voice was as quiet and gentle as a lullaby. The song a new one in Telugu called “Nirajanam,” which means arati, or worship.
Amma also sang a new Hindi bhajan to Lord Ganesha and a new bhajan in Malayalam written by Swamiji.
The tour group sat in a ring of light, at the center of which Amma shined like a lighthouse on a dark sea. As darkness set in and the constellations began to shine, many noticed how the crescent moon seemed to mirror Amma’s nose ring.
—Emma