About the Event:

 

To start the year-long celebration of Shri Sai Baba’s Mahasamadhi Centenary Year, Shirdi Sai Global Foundation, Gurugram, organized an event on 15th October 2017 (Sunday) at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi. The event showcased the life and message of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba. The event was attended by a large number of Sai devotees from India and abroad, who have been working for spreading the Sai Consciousness across the globe, under the able guidance and patronage of Dr. Chandra Bhanu Satpathy, a renowned Scholar, Philanthropist and Spiritual Thinker.

 

The event was organized in the following two sessions:

 

1. The Morning Session consisted of a conference attended by delegates from 100 organizations from all over the world to deliberate on the theme of the event. This was a grand Global Conference which had representatives from USA, UK, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Malaysia and from almost all the States of India. General (Retd) V K Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State, External Affairs, Government of India, attended the Morning Session of the event as Chief Guest.
    

2. The Evening Session consisted of grand and spectacular cultural programs to showcase the life and teachings of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba. Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice President of India, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Culture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, graced the event as Guest of Honour.

 

Event Coverage

 

Morning Session:

 

In his address Gen (Retd.)V K Singh emphasized the importance of Sai Baba's teaching, who had lead a life of a fakir and set án unprecedented example of kindness and charity. Gen. Singh also appreciated the magnitude of Philanthropic works being carried out by various trusts under the guidance of Shirdi Sai Global foundation and with Dr. Satpathy's inspiration.

 

To spread the teachings and philosophy of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba and the true essence of Guru-Disciple traditions, valuable literature in different languages were unveiled during the event. These were:

 

1. A special edition of Sai Baba Darshan magazine in Hindi language, on the Centenary Year Celebrations.

2. The Malayalam translation of ‘Shri Guru Bhagavat (Vol-I)’ authored by Dr. C B Satpathy.

3. ‘Shri Guru Bhagavat (Vol-IV)’ in the Marathi Language

4. ‘Shri Guru Bhagavat (Vol-I)’ in Braille - Hindi (Then a copy of the book was presented to the National School for Blind in Braille)

5. The German language translation of the book titled “Devotees' Questions” authored by Dr. C B Satpathy

 

A Mobile application on Shri Guru Bhagwat was also launched.

 

The session was followed by a panel discussion chaired by Dr. CB Satpathy and the representatives from Chicago and Dallas in US, Germany, New Zealand and Tirupati and Hosur in India. Various ways of spreading the Sai Consciousness, by connecting the Sai Devotees across the globe through digitally viable means were also discussed.

 

The event also showcased Ganesh Vandana by renowned Bharat Natyam Dancer, Rajeshwari Sainath, and presentation of Shri Guru Paduka Stotram by Children's Choir from Sai Ka Angan, Gurugram

 

Evening Session:

 

The Evening Session consisted of grand and spectacular cultural programs to showcase the life and teachings of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba. Shri Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice President of India, graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Culture and Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, graced the event as Guest of Honour.

 

Dr. Satpathy in his discourse laid emphasis that the temples of Baba should also function as centers for philanthropic and humanitarian activities like to provide healthcare, education, centers of excellence for natural disaster management and skill development. Dr. Mahesh Sharma highlighted the simple life led by Shri Shirdi Sai Baba and the important role played by Shirdi Sai Global Foundation in spreading Sai Baba’s message across the globe. He congratulated Dr. CB Satpathy for being the first Indian after Swami Vivekananda, who was invited as a Guest Chaplin in the US House of Representatives in June 2015.

Honorable Vice President while addressing the audience pronounced the art of giving and sharing as a supreme virtue mankind could imbibe.  He urged upon the audience to follow the path shown by Shirdi Sai and contribute positively to the society at large. He appreciated the efforts of Shirdi Sai Global Foundation functioning under the inspiration of Dr. C B Satpathy in undertaking different Philanthropic activities, such as humanitarian support during natural calamities, health and education services to the poor, infirm and destitute.

 

A souvenir magazine ‘The Heritage of Shirdi Sai’ was unveiled by the Hon’ble Vice President of India, specially compiled and published to be released on the occasion. The Souvenir also contains the messages on this occasion from Hon'ble President of India, Hon'ble Vice President of India, Hon'ble Governors from many states, Union Cabinet ministers and Hon'ble Chief Ministers from many states.

The grand and spectacular cultural evening witnessed an array of  events by renowned Bharat Natyam dancer Shri Rajeshwari Sainath, bhajans by Shri Suresh Wadkar, dance performance by the Prince Group and act on the manifestation of events from Sai Baba's life by children of Shirdi Sai public school, Moradabad and the Children's' choir from Sai Ka Angan, Gurugram. These events were hugely appreciated by the audience who gave standing ovations to the artists.

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