Tuesday, Aug 10, 2010:- Sai News & Photo Updates: Today, in the evening, emerging at 1700 hrs. to the chants of Vedam, Bhagawan went for a lengthy round of darshan before showing up onstage at 1720 hrs., marked by 'heightened' chanting.
The evening was earmarked for Delhi & NCR to stage a cultural offering, a Sufi & Folk Song presentation by popular North Indian Sufi Singer Lakhwinder Wadali and troupe. Sufi rendering is an off shoot of Sufism, which in turn promotes religious harmony was in fact the best offering to the Great Master who is the greatest proponent of religious harmony. Sufi songs reflect the pure state of one's mind and are focussed on one's love towards God.
As Vedic chants continued, Mr. Jatinder Cheema, State President, Delhi & NCR, as per the command of Bhagawan presented a prelude to the programme introducing the singer to the august assembly. Profusely thanking Bhagawan for His nine days' North Indian sojourn in April, Mr. Cheema called the evening's presentation as an offering of gratitude for Bhagawan's greater benevolence that took Him to Delhi and Shimla. Introducing the singer, he made a mention of the singer's father, Padmashree Ustad Puran Chand Walia, who had the blessed opportunity to sing in Bhagawan's Divine presence 37 years ago, in Moga, Punjab.
Commencing the programme, the blessed singer, singing from the depth of his heart to the heights of exalted heavens, rendering high pitched numbers reverberating the packed 'amphitheatre' in Prasanthi, took the entire audience with his special 'twists and turns', typical of sufi style, complete with meaning, to the accompaniment of high beat music, resulting an electrifying musical evening. The singing was so alluring that the verve in the air was catching up with the packed assembly tuning rapt attention onto the stage. Among the numbers included Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's popular Sufi Qawwali, Dama Dam Mast Kalandhar...enjoyed by one and all.
An hour passed by when the singer was into his fifth number and at the end of the same Bhagawan moved off, asking the singer to continue. As he continued to make merry of the life opportunity bestowed upon, the twilight's shadow was soon catching up engulfing Prasanthi, and adding to this splendour arrived The Lord, in fifteen minutes, onstage at 1655 hrs. ...and the hall literally turned lit with His re-entry as the tempo was soon building up before the final whistle. The singer, by now into his seventh number was repeatedly singing "Aaja Mahi...Aaja Mahi.."; bringing a sudden twist pausing the song He addressed The Lord: "Sai jab chale gayethe tho hamara man nahi lag raha tha...tho hum aapke jaane ke baad ye sab kahne lagi..." Loye Loye Aaja Mahi, meaning, when Bhagawan moved off, he was feeling odd (in the absence) and was repeatedly invoking Him, calling out Aaja Mahi..Aaja Mahi)...The tune was melodious and mesmerising and the love of the devotee was expressive in these lines, in a most catching tune, enticing the audience...and the singer continued ending the electrifying musical extravaganza to a grand finale. It lasted for ninety long minutes.
Bhagawan called the singer unto Him to felicitate him by draping a shawl over him before blessing the whole troupe with safari pieces. It was 1910 hrs. and Bhagawan indicated for Mangala Arathi. Upon accepting Arathi, Bhagawan sat on and the session continued. The artiste on the Tabla who was vibrant with his 'hand-finger-tabla' combo won special acclaim as Bhagawan made a typical gesture indicating rhythmic beat of Tabla on his fingertips and as the artiste moved towards Bhagawan to receive his share of blessings, 'crowd' went into raptures in special appreciation.
Next to come was an emerald ring for the singer and subsequently Bhagawan asked the State President to announce about the next evening's programme. Delhi Youth would be staging a drama entitiled "Guru Krupa" as per the announcement made. Time clock ticked to 1922 hrs. and Bhagawan indicated for another Mangala Arathi. Upon accepting Arathi, after blessing the concourse with abhayahastha, Bhagawan sat for a while gesticulating the students and the youth to go and have food. They burst into 'silent' laughters enjoying every bit of His Love and concern! A short interaction with a bhajan singer ensued before Bhagawan went for the the 'final move' to retire to Yajur Mandiram at 1930 hrs.
|| Samastha Lokaaha Sukhino Bhavanthu || |
