Onam Festival
9 September 2000, Amritapuri
|
Onam is a festival of sharing. On the tenth and last day
of Onam, all the people of Kerala enjoy a great feast. Even
though traditionally people stay at home and celebrate with
their families, many of Amma's children came to spend this
holy day at Amma's abode, feeling Amritapuri to be their real
home.
|
 |
On Sunday, Mother came out early so that She could give darshan
to as many devotees as possible before the feast began. On Her way
to the temple, Amma fed Ram, the ashram's baby elephant, some bananas.
He approached her like all devotees on this auspicious day: freshly
bathed, wearing his best clothes-a bright yellow cloth on his back!
 |
At 11:00, without a moment's break or even a drink of water,
Amma moved from giving darshan in the temple to serving food
in the new darshan hall. In only one and a half hours, 5,000
people were served. When the queue was finished and it seemed
that all had received prasad, Amma surprised everyone as She
waited, patiently, for more of Her children to come.
|
Some devotees were crossing the backwaters, fervently praying that
they would arrive in time. Amma stayed until the last of Her children
had received prasad, even though there was very little time before
the start of the bhajans that preceded the Devi Bhava darshan.
|
Archives 
