Empower women through self-confidence

Amma walking to the stage in Mayur Vihar, New Delhi in 2010

8 March, Mayur Vihar, New Delhi — Bharata Yatra 2010

Amma started her programs in Delhi in one of the capitol’s new suburbs on the west bank of the holy Yamuna River, not far from where Lord Krishna used to dance with the Gopis. The entry to the venue was a temporary Rajasthani monument. The stage had six massive pillars. The crowd did everything possible to catch a glimpse of Amma as she walked to the stage. She sat in front of an arch decorated with flowers with thousands of crystals giving off a red hue.

Amma was welcomed by the Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit, the Chief Guest during the function.

After a prayer that was sung by some of the Vidyalayam students, she assisted Amma to gave away 100 Vidyamritam Scholarships to poor students. As the girls received Amma’s blessing, the Chief Minister made an effort to humbly bend down to Amma’s feet with each of the envelopes that contained a scholarship. “These girls are really blessed with these grants and I wanted to do an extra prayer for each one, hoping that it would bring an even greater blessing to all of them,” said Sheila Dikshit.

Amma commemorated Women’s Day in her address: “Even if women are socially and financially empowered, for their full potential to be realized, it is very important that they believe in themselves. It will be difficult for a dancer to dance on a stage that is continuously shaking. In a similar way, for women to achieve true success, the foundation should be self-confidence.”

The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Shashi Tharoor, gave away 50 “AmritaNidhi” Pension Schemes for women. “It is a great honour to be in the presence of the Mother and to greet you all on (International) Women’s Day.” He stressed the importance of educating women as one of the most important ways to uplift society. ‘When you educate a boy, you educate a person and that is good, but when you educate a girl, you educate a family and you transform a community. That is why it is so precious that under Mata Amritanandamayi’s blessings so many scholarships, bursaries and awards are given to girls today. These girls will have a much greater future now because of the education they will get. Let us celebrate this special day, let us never forget the benevolence, the kindness and the love that Amma fills us with by Her own presence.”

Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development, Smt. D. Purendeshwari, said there was no better way to celebrate this Women’s Day than to be in the presence of Amma. “If we look at her name: Mata Amritanandamayi, she who is filled with the nectar of eternal bliss, we can ask, ‘How is she filled? It is because she is affectionate, she is giving and She is caring. So ultimately the happiness is in the giving. That is what we can all learn from. Amma is reaching out to the most marginalised sections, to people who are in need. The good work that Amma is doing is blessing our country. We here should all feel proud that we belong to a country we call Bharat, in whose soil sages and saints have taken birth, all who have spread one message: Love all. As long as we have people like Amma, we don’t need to worry much about our country.’ The minister then honoured the women by giving away “Amritashree” to 5 women Self Help Groups.

The other Guests during the functions were Sri Amrish Singh Gautam, MLA and Deputy Speaker of the Delhi Assembly, Shri Dineshchandra, Mahamantri of International Council – Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Amma personally blessed thousands of people from all walks of life, during the night-long programme.

— Kannadi

Ready to go: Jaipur to Delhi
Ready to go: Jaipur to Delhi
Amma during an evening stop making Kozhukkatta en route to New Delhi
Amma making ‘Kozhukkatta’, traditional Kerala dumplings, during an evening stop. March 5, 2010 en-route to New Delhi.
A traditional welcome to Amma to Mayurvihar
A traditional welcome to Amma to Mayur Vihar – March 8, 2010
Waiting for Amma in Mayurvihar
Waiting for Amma – March 8, 2010, Mayur Vihar
Purnakumbh in Mayur Vihar, 2010
Purnakumbh – March 8, 2010, Mayur Vihar
Amma walking to the stage in Mayur Vihar, New Delhi in 2010
March 8, 2010, Mayur Vihar
Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi, receiving Amma's blessings
Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi, receiving Amma’s blessings
Sheila Dikshit while distributing Vidyamritam scholarships bend down to Amma's feet with each of the envelopes
Sheila Dikshit, while distributing Vidyamritam scholarships, bending down to Amma’s feet with each of the envelopes
Shri Shashi Tharoor receiving Amma's darshan
Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Shashi Tharoor, receiving darshan
Shashi Tharoor giving away AmritaNidhi Pension Schemes for women
Shashi Tharoor giving away AmritaNidhi pension schemes for women in the presence of Amma
Sri Amrish Singh Gautam, Dpty Speaker of Delhi Assembly giving away AmritaNidhi
Sri Amrish Singh Gautam, Dpty Speaker of Delhi Assembly, giving away AmritaNidhi pension schemes for women in the presence of Amma
Shashi Tharoor speaking about Amma
“Let us never forget the benevolence, the kindness and the love that Amma fills us with by Her own presence” – Shashi Tharoor
Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development, D. Purendeshwari giving certificates to 5 AmritaSree self groups
Union Minister of State for Human Resources Development, D. Purendeshwari, giving certificates to five AmritaSree self-help groups
D. Purendeshwari speaking about Amma
“As long as we have people like Amma, we don’t need to worry much about our country.” – D. Purendeshwari
View of the stage during Amma's program, Mayur Vihar, New Delhi
View of the stage
Amma singing bhajans, Mayur Vihar, New Delhi
Bhajan
Amma's arati in Mayur Vihar, New Delhi
During Arati
Amma's darshan in Mayur Vihar, New Delhi
Darshan
Amma giving darshan in Mayur Vihar, New Delhi
Darshan
Amma giving darshan
Darshan
Amma giving darshan in Mayur Vihar, New Delhi
Darshan