Amma in Amdavad

Amma being greeted by devotees in Amdavad

3 March, Education Society Ground, Drive-in-Road, Amdavad, Gujarat — Bharata Yatra 2010

The crowd that comes to see Amma in the Gujarat capital wears some of the most colourful fabrics on this Bharata Yatra. Big white turbans and brightly painted dresses show a proud people – the tradition of India’s many cultures is evident. Amma arrived just after sunset. The car drove to the lotus-shaped mandapam where the devotees were ready to garland Her and perform the pada puja to welcome Amma.

The backdrop on the stage captured elements of the Amritapuri temple giving the simple message that Amma’s temple is everywhere and that it is up to us to build our own Amritapuri wherever we are.

The mayor of Amdavad, Mr Kanaji Thakore, welcomed Amma to Amdavad recalling the vast relief effort and rehabilitation in the Bhuj area in this state after the devastating earthquake of 2001.

The benefactors of the three villages that Amma rebuilt also came to the program. The men wore traditional white pants and turbans, and the women wore black dresses with colourful patchwork, displaying their traditional outlook on life. These proud people have come to see Amma in Amdavad ever since they met her during the relief operation. For them, she is their saviour, the amazing Hindu who built them new houses and a mosque after they had been destroyed.

Amma distributed scholarships to 100 poor students of the city. Together with Kanaji Thakore, senior IAS officers from the state government including K Kailashnathan, RM Patel, and Anuradha Mall were present at the function. Three Gujarati books based on Amma’s address were released at the function.

The Amrita Vidyalayam school that opened here in 2002 has grown fast and is now hosting 1500 children and students in 11 standards. They come from all kinds of backgrounds and classes. The children performed traditional and modern dances during the program representing the great culture of India, starting off with a young boy doing a classical Bharata Natyam dance representing Lord Krishna. Next, a group danced on Amma’s desire “Everyone in the world should sleep without fear…” Rajasthani traditional dance followed by Punjabi Bhangra dance, Goanese carnival, and Kalbelia tribal dance showed off the talents of the children in colourful performances.

As the night wore on and morning came, Amma kept giving her loving darshan to all who came. At the end of the program, the teachers and the devotees started singing and dancing on the stage in ‘Garbha’ – the traditional Gujarati style of dance. It was daylight and almost seven in the morning when Amma took the microphone and started singing ‘Meeti Madhuree’, an enchanting song about Krishna. The devotees clapped and danced while Amma sang.

– Dev

Amma stopped for evening bhajans & dinner at a diesel pump
Amma stopped for evening bhajans & dinner at a diesel pump – March 2, 2010
Amma's arrival at the venue March 3, 2010
Amma’s arrival at the venue – March 3, 2010
Devotees greeting Amma
OH, Amma…
Amma being greeted by devotees in Amdavad
Amma walking to the stage
Amma gives Vidyamritam scholarships
Amma giving Vidyamritam scholarships
Vidyamritam: My son, soar high. Only the sky is your limit.
Vidyamritam: “My son, soar high. Only the sky is your limit.”
Release of Amma's books in Gujarati
Release of Amma’s books in Gujarati
Amma singing bhajans in Amdavad
Bhajan
Amma's bhajans in Amdavad
Bhajan
Om Shanti
Om Shanti
Arati
Arati
Amrita Vidyalayam children singing bhajans
Amrita Vidyalayam children singing bhajans
Vishak, an Amrita Vidyalayam child, performing Bharata Natyam dance
Vishak, an Amrita Vidyalayam child, performing Bharata Natyam dance
Amma looking at Vishak
Amma looking at Vishak
Amrita Vidyalayam children performing a dance to Amma's song
Amrita Vidyalayam children performing a dance to Amma’s song “Everyone in the World”
Amrita Vidyalayam children performing a traditional Rajasthani dance
Amrita Vidyalayam children performing a traditional Rajasthani dance
Amrita Vidyalayam children performing Punjabi Bhangara dance
Amrita Vidyalayam children performing a Punjabi Bhangra dance
Amrita Vidyalayam children performing Goanese carnival
Amrita Vidyalayam children performing Goanese carnival
Amrita Vidyalayam children performing Kalbelia tribal dance
Amrita Vidyalayam children performing Kalbelia tribal dance
The teachers and devotees dancing towards the end of darshan
The teachers and devotees dancing towards the end of darshan
Amma singing and the devotees dancing at the end of darshan
Amma singing ‘Meethi madhuree’ and the devotees dancing at the end of darshan