Hello dear friends,
Greetings from Shantivan.
So here things are
hotting up for one of the most significant programs that BK has ever held, or so I am told : a governor attending, some ministers and a good size list of distinguished folk from media, politics, religion, industry and bollywood. Security
is tight...the decorations are a marvel : every possible vertical surface is draped in flashing, running and jumping fairy lights...and now I can see the big trees are wound with brightly lit garlands of green. Everything that isn't alight is festooned
with bunting and great swirls of coloured cloth..and big Dadi heart balloons are strung along the roadways and dance in the breeze...and floating above everything is a really big round Dadi balloon at the ned of a string of red lights.
In the 20,000 seat Diamond Hall the stage has been widened to twice the size, and there are rich red drapes hung across the back of the stage
in a great arc and a big screen now obscures the customary founder portrait. 'Dadi Prakashmani's Meeting Room has been turned into a pleasantly posh VIP dining room, and, blessings upon us, there be subtle mealtime music there played from the little
stage. The Russians, Indian dance groups and Bollywood session singers are entertaining between this and that and all the well known Indian BKs will be sharing from the stage from time to time: its a 3 day event. If the Medicasl Wing conference a few
days ago, a modest affair for 2000, is anything to go by , this will be spectacular!
I am hoping to be sitting near
to Anna Hazare the activist or, imagine, the religious icon "His Holiness Shree1008 Jagadguru Channa Sidharam Pandtardhya Shivacharya Mahaswamijee -Jagadguru Suryosimhasan Mahapeeth Shrisailam Shreesail Peetha". There's lots more Swamis,
at least one Imam and a peace and civil rights activist Christian priest from Sacramento. Oh yes and another Swami who is a famous Pontiff.
So as you can see the latest Dadi Janki 100th birthday party has morphed, as per the 30 page program, into a celebration of the roles and achievements of both 'Global Divine Mother Dadi Janki' and 'Divine Messenger of
God Dadi Gulzar'...though as more and more party balloons are blown up and tied around the hall, to barriers, ceiling braces and everywhere there's a knob, it looks more like a huge party that the Grannies are throwing for the kids...very
appealing! This morning's 'Bhog Message' suggested a feeling for the Subtle would be a good theme for the event..but..well... we'll see what the children come up with.
Dada Janki is giving brief and chatty classes which are both endearing and motherly, her energy at 100 astonishes ..though myself... I visit the silence of Tapovan ( a creatively
designed organic farm nearby) and sit in the little forest every afternoon for an hour or two, have a lemongrass chai, pat the dog, wander round the herb garden along its stony massage path... and watch the cabbages grow. Recommended.
Love to all
#dadijanki100thbirthday,#brahmakumaris,#madhuban,