On Friday November 23^rd we celebrated our Bhagwan’s 93rd Birthday at the Cooksville Sai Center, located at 5359 Timberlea Avenue, Mississauga.

Preparations for this auspicious event had started a few months earlier with dedicated practice of bhajans, the musical melody program and the recitation of the Vedas. The auspicious event started as early as 6 am with the recitation of Suprapatham followed by Nagarasankirthanam, Veda chanting and bhajans until 9.00 AM.  More than fifty devotees participated in the morning event.  A light breakfast was served. The Cooksville Center was open throughout the day for devotees to come at their convenience, meditate, and receive Swami’s blessing!

The evening program started at 6.30PM with bhajans that were offered to Swami for an hour.  An SSE musical program titled “Melody of the Divine”, was performed, thereafter. The program was the highlight of the evening as it was the effort of our SSE children. The Guest Speaker was brother Ketan Handa, an alumni of SSSIHL, Prasanthi Nilayam. Brother Handa shared his personal experiences with our beloved Bhagawan. Following this divine experience, the Youth of the Cooksville Sai center performed a finely crafted Musical that transported all devotees into a mystical trance.

After this musical, vibrant bhajans continued, a birthday song was sung for Swami and closing prayers ended the Birthday celebrations at 9 PM. After a vote of thanks, prasadam (dinner) was served.

The highlight of this year’s Birthday celebrations was that we set a target to collect 2018 pounds of non-perishable food for those in need and for shelters to commemorate Swami’s birthday.  The week prior to Swami’s Birthday, we had not even reached half way to this goal but by Swami’s Birthday, we had surpassed our goal of 2018 pounds!  Swami made it possible to donate all food collected to the shelters.

Cooksville Sai Centre Devotees also offered Likhita Japam which was written over 93 days. All sheets were collected and placed beneath Swami’s altar on this auspicious day. This event would not have been possible without the unfailing devotion that brought all devotees to together for countless practices in the months of September, October and the weeks in November leading up to the 23rd.  We were privileged to feel our Beloved Bhagavan’s presence on this day.