A Sacred Pilgrimage of Sai Students – A Journey of Gratitude and Inspiration | SSSNCS - Day 1 - Morning

With the divine blessings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Prasanthi Nilayam witnessed a momentous pilgrimage of over 2400 children and academic staff from 103 Sri Sathya Sai Schools spread across the length and breadth of the nation. This two-day sacred offering is a glowing testimony to Bhagawan’s eternal mission of moulding young hearts into noble citizens, through an education that harmonises knowledge with values.

All these institutions, lovingly nurtured under the aegis of the Sri Sathya Sai National Council of Schools (SSSNCS), are ably supported by the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations. With the guidance of seasoned educators, the Council strives to build an exemplary educational ecosystem deeply rooted in Indian culture and spirituality. It aspires to present to the world an ideal model of education – one that not only imparts learning but also inspires the living of values, thereby creating a profound and lasting impact on society.

The morning proceedings began on an auspicious note with soulful Vedic chants by the boys from Sri Sathya Sai Gurukula Vidya Niketana, Bejjanki, Telangana. What followed was a vibrant and colourful procession, led by the boys of Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Visakhapatnam, who rendered melodious bhajans and the specially composed Centenary Theme Song. Children from across states, gracefully dressed in the traditional attire of their respective cultures, marched forward in disciplined rows, offering their humble pranams to their Divine Guru.

A series of cultural offerings then filled Sai Kulwant Hall with devotion and joy. The girls from Sri Sathya Sai School, Surat presented a graceful Garba performance, while the boys from Sri Sathya Sai Jagriti Vidya Mandir, Darwa, Haryana electrified the atmosphere with a spirited Bhangra dance. Following this soulful procession, the revered trustees and functionaries lit the ceremonial lamp and released a special compendium titled ‘Ātmodbhava’, marking the occasion with sanctity and purpose.

The morning continued with a beautiful welcome dance by the girls from Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Hyderabad, who offered their devotion through the song Satavasant Sundara.
Addressing the assembly, Mr Umesh Dang, Co-Convenor of SSSNCS, expressed how truly blessed the students and staff were to be in Prasanthi Nilayam during this sacred Centenary Year, offering their collective gratitude at Bhagawan’s lotus feet. Following this, Mr Tribhuvan Sachdeva, Convenor of SSSNCS, elaborated on the noble vision of strengthening Sai Schools, anchoring them firmly in the path of Educare as envisioned by Bhagawan.

This pilgrimage of love and learning thus stood as a shining example of the seeds Swami has sown in the field of education – seeds that continue to blossom into fragrant flowers of character, service, and devotion.