PUTTAPARTHI (ANANTAPUR): Over 3,200 Sai youths from 70 countries gathered at the spacious Sai Kulwant Hall in Prasanthinilayam marking the commencement of the first-ever Sathya Sai World Youth Festival 2016. The theme for the three-day festival is ‘Love Is the Source... Love Is The Path... Love Is The Goal.’ Beginning with India and India’s customary greeting ‘Namaste’, youths from various nations marched past, greeting in their language.
Minister of state with Independent charge for Power, Coal and New and Renewable Energy, Piyush Goyal, who was the chief guest, urged the youth from around the world to be in service of society. “If each one of us pledges a small part of our life, time, effort, commitment and passion, imbibing the teachings of Baba, then, compassion will be the basis of our happiness,” said the minister. Youth can adopt the 5D's preached and professed by Baba in the service of humanity, country and the world at large, he added.
Recalling how he had been impressed by Baba's speeches, the minister said that there could be no better teacher than Baba when it came to explaining “service to society.” “The large following that the organisation (Sri Sathya Sai) commands in India and across the world, and the power of each one of us can change the destiny of the individual, family, country and the world and each one of us has that power within us,” concluded the minister invoking the power within, to dedicate in the service of the society.
Dr Shivendra Kumar, International Youth Coordinator, highlighted the elaborate schedule for the next three days. Dr Shivendra welcomed the august assembly to the inaugural session of the SSWYF2016. Commending the phenomenal effort in the run-up to the massive festival, he elaborated on the uniqueness of the festival and activities happening around the world. “The unique Sai Ram City in Kazakhstan involves Sai Ram River, Sai Ram Mountain and a whole range of inspirational Sai Service activities,” he said.
Nimish Pandya, All India president, SSSSO- India, addressed the assembly next, that was followed by a song presentation titled Mi Destino by the youths from Venezuela. Minister for information and public relations, information technology and communications Palle Raghunatha Reddy, and former cricketer V.V.S. Laxman were present.
