By Governor Rajendra Arlekar
Copyright thehindu
The 72nd birthday of Mata Amritanandamayi was celebrated at Amritapuri on Saturday. The festivities began at dawn with 72 Maha Ganapati Homa rituals and indigenous rituals from the tribal communities.
It was followed by a satsang by Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, vice-chairman of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, and a soulful devotional music session led by music director Sarath and playback singer Manjari.
The grand celebration began at 9 a.m. when Mata arrived at the stage and was formally welcomed by Governor Rajendra Arlekar. This was followed by the sacred Padapuja ceremony.”
Union Health Minister and BJP national president J.P. Nadda inaugurated the official programme. He praised her tireless dedication to selfless service, saying: “Amma’s entire life is dedicated to serving humanity, and in every sense, she is a true role model. Her humanitarian initiatives have reached every corner of the world. The healthcare services of Amrita hospitals are highly commendable, and Amrita has also made remarkable progress in the field of education. Through her women empowerment initiatives, Amma has uplifted countless women in society. Time and again, during disasters like the tsunami and floods, Amma’s compassion has stood as a beacon of hope. That is why her birthday celebrations are uniquely meaningful—because they are marked by new service initiatives.”
As part of the event, literary figure P.R. Nathan was honoured with Amritakeerthi Puraskaram. The award included a citation and a cash prize of ₹1,23,456.
