PUTTAPARTHI: The birth anniversary celebrations of Sathya Sai Baba at Prasanthi Nilayam turned out to be a low-key affair.
This is the first time after the demise of the godman in April that major celebrations were being held in Puttaparthi. There was no pomp and gaiety, with dignitaries, high-profile personalities and celebrities giving it a miss.
Sai Kulwanth hall, which houses Sai Baba's samadhi used to be teeming with people when Baba was alive. But on Wednesday, it was a pale shadow of its original grandeur as only 10,000 people attended the functions, in place of 60,000 to one lakh, when Sai Baba was alive.
Very few leaders like Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah, state ministers J Geeta Reddy and Raghuveera Reddy, former Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams chairman D Adikesavulu Naidu, former Maharashtra CM Ashok Rao Chavan and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal were present along with the members of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.
Celebrities who otherwise used to queue up at Puttaparthi on Baba's birthdays, Guru Poornima and other functions to take his blessings were also conspicuous by their absence. The only celebrities to be seen were yesteryear actress Anjali Devi and singer P Suseela.
President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had attended the last birthday celebrations of the spiritual leader.
The functions began at 9.30 am and continued till mid-afternoon. The decorated idols of Lord Venugopala Swamy and Lord Anjaneya Swamy were taken out in a procession from Sai Kulwant Hall and placed on a chariot.
The week-long celebrations of the 86th birthday of Sai Baba began last Friday with Rathothsavam. The famous cultural fete conducted every year also turned out to be a lackluster affair.
This is the first time after the demise of the godman in April that major celebrations were being held in Puttaparthi. There was no pomp and gaiety, with dignitaries, high-profile personalities and celebrities giving it a miss.
Sai Kulwanth hall, which houses Sai Baba's samadhi used to be teeming with people when Baba was alive. But on Wednesday, it was a pale shadow of its original grandeur as only 10,000 people attended the functions, in place of 60,000 to one lakh, when Sai Baba was alive.
Very few leaders like Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah, state ministers J Geeta Reddy and Raghuveera Reddy, former Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams chairman D Adikesavulu Naidu, former Maharashtra CM Ashok Rao Chavan and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal were present along with the members of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.
Celebrities who otherwise used to queue up at Puttaparthi on Baba's birthdays, Guru Poornima and other functions to take his blessings were also conspicuous by their absence. The only celebrities to be seen were yesteryear actress Anjali Devi and singer P Suseela.
President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had attended the last birthday celebrations of the spiritual leader.
The functions began at 9.30 am and continued till mid-afternoon. The decorated idols of Lord Venugopala Swamy and Lord Anjaneya Swamy were taken out in a procession from Sai Kulwant Hall and placed on a chariot.
The week-long celebrations of the 86th birthday of Sai Baba began last Friday with Rathothsavam. The famous cultural fete conducted every year also turned out to be a lackluster affair.
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