Southern States - Kerala   

`Amritavarsham' fete begins today

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI SEPT. 23. Mata Amritanandamayi arrived at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here to a rousing welcome this evening, promising a darshan to lakhs of her devotees who have come from all over the world to celebrate the Mata's 50th birth anniversary.

Swami Amrita Swaroopanandapuri, vice-chairman of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, said today that whoever wishing to have a darshan of the Mata can have it during the next four days. No pass was needed for the functions, he said. However, there will be some security restrictions for the functions in which the President, the Vice-President and the Deputy Prime Minister take part, he said.

Thousands of foreign delegates from 191 countries have already landed here. Many more are still pouring in.

An interfaith worship to be held at 5 a.m. tomorrow will set the ball rolling for the mega festival called Amritavarsham-50. What follows would be four days of programmes — religious, intellectual and cultural — aimed at embracing the world for peace and harmony.

The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, will formally inaugurate the celebrations at 4 p.m. tomorrow. The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and the Mata will jointly address the youth on Friday afternoon. The other VIPs expected for the celebrations include the Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Union Ministers and a host of Parliamentarians from India and abroad.

The programmes will be divided between two giant auditoriums. The venue inside the stadium will host the functions in which the Mata, the President, the Vice-President, and the Deputy Prime Minister take part.

The large pandal outside the stadium, named Amriteswari Hall, will host all cultural and intellectual functions. The musical introduction to be held as a prelude to the spiritual and cultural extravaganza will take place at the Amriteswari Hall at 7.30 a.m. tomorrow.

A large yagnasala, set up outside the stadium, will witness a variety of poojas, including the `goma' ritual by the Japanese. Amritavarsham will embrace the world by honouring the flags and waters of 191 countries.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• 62.5 p.c. polling in Ernakulam
• Blueprint for Expressway by November
• Cabinet approves new industrial policy
• Nod for contempt plea against Speaker sought
• Mammen Mathai is dead
• Judicial panel to probe all aspects of carnage
• Kalam's itinerary
• Nod for plaint against Speaker sought
• Only I can recommend disciplinary action: Murali
• Public apathy casts its shadow on by-poll
• President to dedicate Kinfra park to the nation
• `Amritavarsham' fete begins today

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu