Amma Blesses Hyderabad

Bharata Yatra 2004

25 February 2004 — Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Amma's Hyderabad devotees welcomed Her Wednesday night on a grand scale. The massive backdrop of their stage—a beige façade of a palace—reached some 20 feet into the night sky. In each of the palace's windows candles were lit, and in the centre was a majestic poster of Amma's smiling face.

Upon Amma's arrival at the Nizam College grounds, Amma was welcomed by Andhra Pradesh's High Court Chief Justice, the Honourable Shri. Devinder Gupta, who presented Her with flowers and a shawl. Later Chief Justice Gupta presented pensions to destitute widows on behalf of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math, officially initiating the Math's Amrita Nidhi free pension scheme in Andhra Pradesh.

Among the many dignitaries to welcome Amma to India's hub of hi-tech were the Honourable Justice of Andhra Pradesh's High Court, Shri. Ramulu; IAS Director of Youth Affairs, Shri. Kamal Rao and IAS Commissioner of Food & Civil Supplies, Shri. Banwarlal.

Upon the conclusion of the formal part of evening's program, Amma gave Her satsang and bhajan, singing the majority of songs, such as "Lalitamba" and "Nirajanam," in the local language of Telugu.

Thus marked the beginning of Amma's three days in Andhra Pradesh. The remaining two programmes are to be held in Amma's Ashram, which rests across the river in Hyderabad's twin city of Secunderabad.

—Sakshi