Chinese New Year Celebrations in Puttaparthi

From 24^th to 27^th February 2015, about 300 members of the Sathya Sai International Organisation (SSIO) from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Taiwan celebrated Chinese New Year in Prasanthi Nilayam and offered colourful music and dance programmes to Bhagawan in Sai Kulwant Hall. Sathya Sai volunteers also served the needy of a village in Puttaparthi. “Love and Selfless Service” was the theme for the three-day programme, in keeping with the theme for the 2015 SSIO World Conference.

Dr. V.K. Ravindran, Chair of Zone 4, and other senior SSIO Officers opened the celebrations on 24^th February with the lighting of a lamp, and children presented Chinese delicacies as an offering to Bhagawan. The melodious and uplifting chanting of sacred Buddhist and Kuan Yin hymns filled Sai Kulwant Hall. Children from the Nanyang Zhi Hui School in Medan, Indonesia, performed music on the GuZheng, an ancient Chinese instrument. After the welcome address by Mr. Billy Fong, Coordinator of the Chinese New Year Programme, a graceful and colourful Chinese dance, “Thousand Arms,” was presented by the children from Indonesia.

On the second day, about 200 SSIO volunteers visited a village near Puttaparthi with two trucks filled with 300 bags of food and supplies for distribution to needy villagers. Each family happily received a 20-kg bag containing 18 types of food items. That evening, the programme began with an important announcement by Dr. Ravindran that the Indonesian Government had incorporated the Sathya Sai Education in Human Values programme into the main curriculum of primary and secondary schools in Indonesia. Sathya Sai children then presented a musical performance on the Angklong, another ancient Chinese instrument. The Honourable Justice Ms. Isabella Chu from Hong Kong spoke about her transformative experiences in finding Sai in 2012, after Bhagawan had left His physical form, and how she became a devoted and ardent follower of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

On 26^th February, SSIO members from Singapore presented an inspiring drama about practising human values in everyday life. On 27^th February, the ninth day of the Chinese New Year, pilgrims from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Hong Kong offered traditional Chinese delicacies along with prayers for world peace and prosperity.