A Birthday Party with a Difference
Baba’s life is summed up in the crux of his teachings: Love all – Serve all; Help Ever, Hurt Never. And His life has been a testament to this.
When a million hearts get together to offer gratitude to the one who gave them boundless love, it is a celebration like no other. The hundredth birthday of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is coming up on 23 November, 2025 and the celebrations are in full swing.
Baba had set up two super speciality hospitals where world class healthcare is available to the poorest of the poor, at zero cost. His water project supplies free drinking water to the entire Rayalseema region. The Sri Sathya Sai schools, colleges and University offer free education. Our sons too have studied there in grades 11 and 12.
Devotees from not just India, but from all corners of the world have congregated at Puttaparthi to offer, obeisance and gratitude for the love, guidance and care they have received. Baba has taught his devotees to live life on the five basic tenets of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa. He says that Prema or love is the most important emotion in the world. Love (Prema) as thought is Truth (Sathya). Love as action is Right Conduct (Dharma). Love as understanding is Non-violence (Ahimsa). Love as feeling is Peace (Shanti).
There are no birthday invites, no birthday gifts, but everyone is going back with hearts full of love. The Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi visited on 19th November, which is celebrated annually as Ladies Day here. The celebrations were in Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium, where over One Lakh people attended. As part of the celebrations the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana was extended to 20,000 girls from Sri Sathya Sai district. The Prime Minister gave the passbooks to three girls. Sh. Narendra Modi released a commemorative Rs 100 coin and a set of stamps having images of Baba on them to honour the life, teachings and legacy of Bhagawan Baba. The Sri Sathya Sai Central trust donated 100 cows to villagers and to the Gokulam Gaushala.
A galaxy of ministers like Nitin Gadkari, Chief Ministers of various states, as well as the Vice President and the President of India, visited between 20-23rd November.
It is indeed deeply humbling and overwhelming to be able to participate in this divine event, which is one of a kind. I doubt if such a big birthday celebration has ever happened anywhere. The celebrations revolve around Music presentations by renowned artists, singing the praise of the Lord, talks that Centre around the great projects that have been done by Baba.
The 11th world conference hosted on November 20-21 has been attended by 2500 delegates from 45 countries to discuss about ‘Pathways to the World Peace’. The grand birthday celebrations culminated on the 23rd.
The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has made arrangements to serve free food to all devotees visiting from November 13-23. Close to 1.5 lakh people are being fed everyday. German hangers have been set up for devotees to stay as well as have their meals in the form of Sri Sathya Sai Maha Prasadam.
Baba’s life is summed up in the crux of his teachings: Love all – Serve all; Help Ever, Hurt Never. And His life has been a testament to this.
Published in the Daily World on 23.11.2025 https://epaper.dailyworld.in/Details.aspx?id=101895&boxid=78125&uid=&dat=2025-11-23
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