Re Union with Amma

Reunion Island, 3 April 2007

Amma arrived in Reunion Island on the evening of 1st April. It is her first visit to the island in four years. Inside the airport, as Amma rounded the corner into the arrivals terminal, softly lilting voices could be heard singing "Om Namah Sivaya," in anticipation of Amma's arrival. There were hundreds of devotees filling the arrival terminal, and Amma took the time to embrace each one on her way out of the airport. At her rustic but spacious ashram in the hills above St. Louis, Reunion Island, many hundreds more awaited Amma's arrival. Reunion Island is populated largely by Indians of Tamil descent, and though they now speak French Creole as a mother tongue, they have clearly not lost touch with their motherland. This was clearly evident as Amma was greeted in the traditional way with padapuja and the arati flame.

The next day, at Amma's public program in St. Leu, Reunion's diverse culture was in full bloom for all to see. Upwards of 2000 people were gathered at the hall and were entertained by traditional panchavadyam musicians. Free food, sponsored by the Amritanandamayi Mata Ashram of Reunion Island (A.M.M.A) was distributed to all those who attended the program.

 In a public function precipitation Amma's satsang, Amma was felicitated by Shri. Jean-Luc Poudroux, Mayor of St. Leu. The Honourable Mayor showed his support for Amma's mission. In his speech, the Mayor humbly declared, "I won't speak for long, because I know that you have all been waiting to see Amma for the last four years. In the name of the governing board of St. Leu, and personally as well, I am so very pleased to welcome Amma to St. Leu. In our city where people of so many diverse origins live in harmony together, I pray that Amma will help us to continue in this way long into the future."

Amma was also welcomed by Shri. Philippe Pelen, Director of the internationally acclaimed theater troupe, Talipot. Based in Reunion Island, Talipot has performed worldwide and was invited as the principal entertainers at the 50th anniversary of the United Nations UNESCO.  Though Shri. Pelen has been widely celebrated in the international community, his comments made it clear there's more to life than name and fame. He said, "In our human life, it is a wonderful opportunity and an amazing blessing to meet someone like Amma."

After the bhajan, Amma led a guided meditation and the crowded hall descended into pin-drop silence before the darshan began.  Amma is giving programs in four different cities on Reunion Island over the next four days before flying to Mauritius for a 3-day Brahmasthanam Festival.

—Tulasi