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A two day interaction programme of the senior office bearers of SSSION, national coordinators, regional chairpersons, and regional coordinators was organized at ISSEN, Tokha on March 3-4, 2017. 93 office bearers attended the programme. This programme was mainly designed to make office bearers aware of their duties and responsibilities in their particular fields and clear the doubts and querries about the working pattern of the organization. All the attendees were very appreciative of the programme and felt that programme as such would be helpful in making them aware as well as clear of their duties and responsibilities in their respective fields in the organization. They felt recharged and energized by the participatory approach of the programme. They got opportunity to talk freely and understand many more unknown facts. The programme came to an end with Bhagava’s mangal aarati.
Women leadership programme 3/8/2017
March 8, on the holy ocassion of International Women’s Day, SSSION women wing organized women leadership programme in national level at Narayanchaur, Kathmandu. 600Women devotees and 30 men devotees from Sri Sathya Sai bhajan groups and centers of different parts of the country and attended the programme. The talks in the programme covered subjects like, Role of women in SSSION, Ideal Sai women as per Baba, Balancing home and organizational service work,Food and other habits, Interaction and Experince sharing with each other etc. The programme came to an end with mangal aarati of Bhagavan baba. The women devotees liked and felt energized and recharged by the talks. They suggested that SSSION should organize such programme as this once a year so that they would feel swami’s love and his presence all the time.
MEDICAL CAMP 3/14-20/2017
Sri Sathya Sai International Organization United Kingdom (SSSIO UK) in collaboration with SSSIO Nepal jointly conducted a series of medical camps in Nepal from March 14th to March 20th. A two-day medical camp was organized at Kavrepalanchowk district on March 14th and 15th. One-day medical camps were organized at Kathmandu, Chitwan and Kaski districts on March 16th, 18th and 20th respectively. A group of 60 volunteers (including doctors, pharmacists, clinical technicians and general volunteers) flew in from the UK to Nepal for the event. SSSIO Nepal provided a total of 59 doctors, 133 medical interns as interpreters, 3 pharmacists and 22 clinical technicians. The medical services consisted of general check-up, dentistry, optometry, gynecology, oncology, pediatric, otolaryngology (ENT), orthopedics, neurology, psychiatry, and cardiology. Pathology services were also provided in special labs setup at each camp. Medicines were distributed to the patients for free. During the 5 days of the camp, a total of 8071 patients were attended to, with 184 patients referred for further clinical checkups and or treatment. Ultrasound was performed on 56 patients, ECG on 344 patients and 92 patients underwent various pathological tests. A total of 196 eyeglasses were handed out to patients by optometrists. Over the period of five days, at least 9000 people (including patients, doctors, and volunteers) were served with free lunch as part of Narayan Seva.
The UK team of doctors and volunteers paid a visit to a number of ongoing service projects being run by SSSIO Nepal. In Kathmandu, the team took a tour of Sri Sathya Sai Health Service Center which provides various clinical services and medicines for free. In Chitwan the team stopped by the girls’ orphanage and spent some time with the children. Later they dropped in to inspect a new building in construction that is owned by SSSIO Nepal. The girls will be moved from the current rented property to this new building once it is completed. In Pokhara they visited the boys’ orphanage, recently started by SSSIO Nepal with 3 boys. In Pokhara the team also stopped by Sri Sathya Sai Vidyashrama to hand over tables, chairs, various outdoor play kits (see-saws, slides, etc.) and a projector all sponsored by SSSIO UK. SSSIO Nepal is currently running both the boy’s orphanage and the school on a rented property. Through generous land donation of Sai devotees in Nepal, SSSIO Nepal has already acquired its own land for both the orphanage and school. In Pokhara, the team also took a tour of Sri Sathya Sai Health Service Center. SSSIO UK donated 15 heart valves to Gangalal Hospital in Kathmandu meant for poor patients. The director of the hospital expressed his gratitude to Sri Sathya Sai Organization for this invaluable donation and also hoped that this tripartite cooperation between SSSIO UK, Nepal and the Gangalal Heart Center would blossom in future.
SSSION has started its helpdesks in two government hospitals of Kathmandu. Four Sai volunteers provide service to the OPD patients at each hospital.
At Tilganga Eye Center the volunteers serve from 08.00 to 12.00 and help the patients to get ready for Cataract operation and take them to the operation theatre. After the operation they take patients to the Post-Operative Ward. There they help to change and get them ready to return home.
The patients and authorities of the eye hospital are very much satisfied by the love and service of SSSION volunteers.
At Kanti Children Hospital the SSION volunteers serve from 08.00 to 14.00 hrs and make queue, give tokens, and make sitting arrangements to those patients who get the token and take them to their doctors. The SSION volunteers take care of the sick children when their parents are engaged in the OPD works. They also take care of the other children who come with their parents at the help desk. The loving service of SSION volunteers have received love and respect from the parents and relatives of the sick children.
The hospital authority is so much impressed with the service work that it has awarded the SSSION with a letter of appreciation.
New Center 1/2/2017
A new Center was inaugurated at Baluwa, Kavre district (Region 3) on 1 February 2017 with initial count of 70 members. With the addition of this center there are 210 Sai centers in Nepal. The program started with omkaar, suprbhatam and later followed by a rally. People carried Bhagvans photo circumamberating the area singing bhajans.later they placed that photo on the main alter of the Sadhana Bhawan. Bhajan continued for an hour. At the end mangal aarati was performed by the National president of the SSSION. Prasadam were distributed to more than 1100 people.
Interaction Program February 10-11/2/2017
Two days’Interaction Program for the Office Bearers of Region 3 of SSSION was organised at Kathmandu on Feb 10-11, 2017. 93 Office Bearers attended the program. The talks/ worshops in the program were focused on the Operational Guidelines which covered topics such as “Organization and Operational Guidelines”, “Spiritual Development and Organizational Activities” “Membership, Responsibility and Functions of Different Positions and Units”, “Organizations policy and programs for 2017″, “Central Trust and Financial Operations” and “Organizational Relations, Record Keeping and Reporting”.
Medical Camp 4/2/2017
SSSION organized a medical camp at lamsure, Hetaunda on February 4, 2017. 9 cardiologists and 9 nurses from a Government Cardic Center of Kathmandu provided heart checkup to 1051 patients including 321 ECO test.
Handover of the keys 12/2/2017
SSSION has built toilets on the bank of river Narayani at Devghat for the pilgrims.Thousands of pilgrims who come for holy bath in Narayani River use these toilets at Devghat. Pilgrims in general and women in particular felt very comfortable by this service.
The service is further extended by the construction of toilets and bathrooms near the electric crematorium in the premises of the Holy Pashupatinath temple at Kathmandu. Lack of those services were felt by the relatives and friends of deceased who had difficulty while waiting for their turn to cremate.In addition to these SSSION is also constructing a hall (shelter place) for the funaral groups to protect themselves from heat and rain. Amongst the veda chanting the Chairperson of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust Nepal handed over the keys of the toilets and bathrooms to the member secretary of Pashupati Development Trust on February 12, 2017.The member secretary, in his short speech expressed his gratitude to Bhagvanand wished to work with SSSION in future also. The program attained by 30 people came to an end with the Mangal aarati by the member secretary of Pashupati Development Trust.
Narayan Seva to express Gratitude to Bhagawan 19-20/2/2017
Inhabitants of Balkot, a remote village of Western Nepal expressed their gratitude to Bhagawan Baba for providing them the rarest thing of their life, water in their area on 19 February 2017. The day began with Omkaar, suprabhatam, Veda Chanting in the newly constructed Sadhana Bhawan at the same place.It was followed by a rally circumamberating all the 4 wards,where the water isprovided, with Bhagvan Baba’s photo kept in a chariot. People happily walked singing bhajans and carrying the chariot turn by turn. Children of 4 schools and the inhabitants of the 4 wards were present in the rally. The place was decorated with festoons and looked as if they were celebrating a great festival. After the rally they kept the photo in alter and continued the bhajans for some time. Then there was a public meeting where a senior officer of the SSSION gave a talk on life, work and message of Bhagavan Baba to the huge gathering. The programme came to an end with the mangal aarati. More than 3500 Narayans of that area were served with lunch for two continuous days. The people of that village have named the water as ‘Sai Ram Water’ and the place as ‘Saisthan’.
Shivaratri festival 24/2/2017
MahaShivaratri was celebrated on 24 February 2017 by Sai Centers throughout Nepal with the usual devotional fervor.Most of the Sai Centers kept an all night vigil by performing non-stop akhanda bhajans for 12 hours starting at 6 PM and continuing until 6 AM of the next day. This year, more than a million devotees both from India and different parts of Nepal throng the Pashupatinath temple on this auspicious day to pay their homage to Sri Rudra.The temple premise was crowded neck to neck on the day and devotees had to queue for hours at an end to catch a glimpse of the Shiva Linga, the Sanctum Sanctorum.
SSSIO Nepal conducted the medical camp and water distribution nearPashupatinath temple. During the medical camp, a team of 43 members including doctors and paramedical staffs provided service to 550 patients. Water Distribution consisted round the clock serving by SSSION volunteers to the devotees standing in a queue. Blood donation Camp was also organized on this holy day near the medical camp and 92 pints of blood were collected.
Including this camp SSSION has been able to collect 213 pints of blood in the month of February, 2017.
SSSEHV Training 26-27/2/2017
Two days SSSEHV trainings for the 76 government and private school teachers were organized by the Institute of Sri Sathya Sai Education Nepal at Biratnagar on February 26 and 27, 2017.
The program was successful in penetrating the heart of the teachers. The Chief of local chapter of National Center for Educational Development (NCED), who was the chief guest said in his opening address to the teachers that this sort of training will be helpful in energizing their teaching profession.He said that by integrating HumanValues in education teachers will be able to eradicate the present degradation of values in the society and imbibe the rich ancient values.All the teachers were very appreciative of the program with comments that they received many teacher training programs but training as such was the first ever in their life. One of the participants, who was also the principal of a school told that he declared holiday on these two days and brought all his teachers in the training.He also said that being the head of institution he had conducted many in house training programmes to the teachers but was not able to convey the message as such in them.Although he was not a sai devotee, he was very grateful toBhagvan for providing such a wonderful opportunity to participate in this program.Another participant said that with money in hand one can receive trainings as one wishes but to get this training one needs his/hergood fortune. The programcame to an end with Mangal Aarati by two participant teachers.
Public outreach program 28/2/2017
SSSION organized a public outreach programme with the title,” Sai Adarsha(Sai Ideal)” at Biratnagar on 28 February 2017.The programme started with Omkaar, Gayatri and offering flowers to our beloved Bhagvan Baba. The advent of sai avataar, His life, His works, His messages, and His miracles were discussed in the program.Swami showed his presence when One of the young adults, a sai devotee told his story of miraculous recovery from Heart ailment. The doctors in the Christian Medical Hospital in Velor, India had told him that he could not live more than three years. On the last day of that dead line he had a excessive pain; he cried and prayed to Sai intensly. At that time what he asked with the lord was to grant him death not life. Where the science ends spirituality begins. When the doctors fail the lord steps in.He slept after some time. And lo!Bhagvan Baba appeared in his dream and said,’ you go to Velor for treatment. But why don’t you come to me?’ He managed to reach prashanti anyhow. But the lord was not there. He was at Whitefield. He went to the SSSS Specialty Hospital Prashantigram for checkup.The doctors told him that he had a hole in the heart. They told him to come the following day. The following day before going to hospital he offered insense to lord ganesha and prayed to the father through him. There he suffered from severe coughing. Then he went to the hospital.After checkup the doctor told him to come in the afternoon. He was called in the conference room and there were many cardiologists. They said to him what he did the previous day and before coming to them.He was shocked because the only thing he did was pray to god and lit insense in the morning to Ganesha. Then the doctor disclosed his miraculous recovery.The Lord had cured his disease not with the medicine, not by operation or by vibhuti but simply through the prayer and severe cough. The doctors’ doctor did his work.The doctor told him that his heart was stronger and healthier than his heart.After some time of this miraculous recovery he went to Prasaanti Nilayam.When he was in the darshan line at front in the first row the compassionate Lord came to him and stood before him.The sevadal who was sitting with him restricted the devotees from doing padnamaskar,so he could not move or bend his body.But when the Lord wishes what can the poor sevadal do? The lord played another leela. He mercifully inserted his feet under his lap, seeing this he could resist no longer and with tears of gratitude flowing from his eyes he did padnamaskar.Lord placed his hands on his head and went away. Now he is healthy with a wife and two beautiful daughters living happily. When he was telling his beautiful story none of the eyes were dry. He stood in front of the gathering as the live example of His Mahima, His leela and His miracle. Every one present there felt grateful to swami for his love and compassion for His people. About 85 non sai devotees and 55 sai devotees were present in the programme. The programme came to an end with mangal arati of Bhagvan by two non Sai devotees.
On July 4th, 14 Sai devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Center Hetauda (Region 4) planted 91 saplings of different trees like Lavender, Ashoka, Pine, Gulmohar, and others in the premises of Sri Shankar Jyoti Lower Secondary School at Golfutar Hetauda.
Similarly On the occasion of National Forest Day, 93 saplings were planted on July 8th at Sathya Sai Uddyan, Shankhamul situated at the bank of Bagmati River. The chief guest of the program, former forest minister Mr. Agni Sapkota, offered flowers to Bhagawan and lighted the lamp amongst the vedas chanting by the youths. The Sai youths were singing bhajans while the minister, district forest officer (DFO), the former secretary, other guests and the Sai devotees planted tree saplings. About 200 Sai devotees attended the event. Due to the selfless dedication of SSSION in the campaign to clean Bagmati River, the government has given responsibility to SSSION to construct a park in 12 ropanis of land. SSSION has named this garden as Satya Sai Uddhyan (Sai Garden). The program as usual started with Omkar and Gayatri and ended with Aarati to Swami.
A follow up cleaning program was organized by SSSION at Satya Sai Uddhyan on July 23rd. A total of 35 Sai volunteers collected a truck of garbage.
New Bhajan Group
By the grace of Bhagawan Baba, on July 4th, a new bhajan group was added at Dhapasi, Kathmandu (Region 3) with initial count of 23 members. This brings the total number of bhajan groups in the region to 16. With the addition of this group, there are 109 bhajan groups and 99 Sai centers in Nepal.
Re-inauguration of Sri Sathya Sai Center Kuleswor
Sri Satya Sai Center at Kuleswor was badly damaged during the earthquake in 2015. Bhajans and other service activities of the center were being performed in a rented room. After completing the reconstruction of the center, it was reopened on July 16th. The devotee and youths were very happy to reclaim their “Sadhana Bhawan.” Thus to commemorate the happy homecoming, they named this day as “Happiness is Back.” The youths of this center offered Bhagawan a picture book containing photos of their service activities till date. The youths saved their pocket money, tiffin and other expenses to contribute in the reconstruction of the center. The chairperson of Region 3 and national spiritual coordinator lighted the re-inauguration lamp. About 100 Sai volunteers were present at the occasion. The program concluded with bhajans and Aarati to Swami.
Award for Blood Donation
The SSSION received a running shield (award) and certificate from the Blood Donors Association Nepal for collecting 360 units of blood. This was the 3rd continuous year that SSSION received this great recognition. Till date, 715 pints of blood has been collected from different blood donation camps organized by SSSION. The next award certificate was handed on July 23rd at the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the aforementioned association for helping the association by organizing blood donation programmed at 116 times.
Guru Poornima Celebrations
SSSION celebrated Guru Poornima organizing various spiritual and service works.
A total of 2000 Bal Vikas children from 25 Sai centers took out rallies at different parts of the country. The sweet little flowers of Swami’s garden offered their gratitude to their Satguru Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba singing bhajans as they walked through the streets, witnessed by crowd of Sai devotees and curious onlookers. The children were adorned in colorful costumes representing different religions of the world. They were holding placards with Swami’s messages on religious harmony.
The SSE children of Lamsure bhajan group, Hetaunda (Region 4) cleaned a nearby temple and planted saplings of 21 different tree saplings and 150 flowering plants. A group of 43 Sai volunteers along with the children were present during this occasion.
On the same day they organized a public bhajan at Kalika Mandir in the afternoon. After bhajan they performed aarati to Bhagawan Baba and distributed prasadam. A total of 51 Sai devotees were present on this occasion.
On July 23, SSSION organized a Blood Donation Program and collected 31 pints of blood at Birgunj (Region 4). On this very day SSSION acknowledged Sri Keshar Prasad Manandhar, a centenarian and a former teacher of a local school with Bhagawan Baba’s photo and a shawl at Birgunj.
The SSE children of Adharsha Nagar Bhajan Group, Nepalgunj (Region 7) provided a 15 year old disabled boy with school uniform and stationaries. He came from a poor financial background and had been disabled since birth. On the very day they also organized art and elocution competition and a special bhajan session.
The SSSION performed Paduka Pooja at SSS Center Simalchaur (Region 5). A total of 32 lady Sai devotees took part in the ceremony.
Supervision and Inspiration Campaign
On July 23rd, with the motive of monitoring and inspiring each other’s work, 8 centers and bhajan groups of the northern belt of Kathmandu (Region 3) jointly organized a day long program at SSS Center Khopasi. The program started with Omkar and Gayatri. The Chairperson of SSS Center Nala offered flower to Bhagawan and the Chairperson of SSS Center Banepa lighted the lamp. The deputy chairperson of the SSSCT Nepal spoke briefly on the various activities of SSSION. An hour long study circle was held on the topic, “how to run SSS Centers in an effective way”. After study circle, a training session (as prescribed by Prashanti Mandir) on bhajan singing was organized to train lead singers. The chairperson of Region 3 appreciated the work done by Sai centers and groups of her Region and prayed to Swami that they continue to do service and spread His message with even more faith and zeal.
Book release
“Dharma Bahini” one of the books from Bahini series, written by Bhagvan Baba was translated in Nepali. It was released on July 30 by the Chairperson of SSSION at Sri Sathya Sai Center Abukhaireni.
Came January, and SSIO Nepal organized two days Orientation Programs for its newly appointed office bearers at various parts of the country. At five places (Butawal, January 6-7; Kathmandu, January 16-17 ; Pokhara January-22-23; Bhadrapur, January 31 and Feb1 ; and Chitwan- )of the seven regional sai committees such programs were organized where altogether — office bearers received orientation from senior office bearers of the organization. The program started with Aumkar, Veda recitation, covered topics such as “Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization and our Responsibility”, “Modus Operandi of the Organization” and “Organizations Policy and Programs for 2014”. Second day starting with Omkaram, Suprabhatam, Nagarsankirtan, and the program reviewed the progress made in 2015 vis-à-vis the agreed target and also setting new target for 2016.