Delhi Tour - Part 14

When we reached the devotee's home, Swami had already begun His lunch. V had reached there much before us and he took some pictures that are the only documentation of this home visit. When we went in, Swami asked us as to why we were late. We were about to answer when an elder came in saying, “Swami as I said, there was a lot of traffic and so the boys got held up!”

So that was what they had said to save skins, I thought! I smiled and saw that Swami too seemed to be smiling inwardly. When the Lord comes in human form, it is so difficult to keep in mind His divine nature. And he too lets us make our own assumptions. He is in no hurry. He has waited lifetimes for us and if it takes a few more years for us to learn, how does it matter for Him?

Swami had blessed all the family members when He had come into the house. Presently, they arrived with food plates in hand and began to serve all of us.

We sat down on the comfortable carpet and began to have lunch. I was always tempted to take photographs but I did not know how it would be received. And so, I refrained. As we ate, we saw how lovingly Swami was being served. A baby was crying and it had been taken to an inner room. But even from the inner room, its cries echoed distantly in the house.

In between the lunch, Swami called A and PS. He asked them whether they were ready with the songs. A told Swami that there was a mixture of classicals, qawwalis and light songs in the preparation. Swami told them not to sing only classical songs. He told them to alternate and have a good variety ready.

This is why they say that students are blessed - for the Lord chooses to shower so much physical love for no apparent reason. Here was Swami visiting the home of a devotee and yet His attention was always on His students.

Even as we completed lunch, we wiped our hands with the tissues that had been issued. I wanted to go to a wash basin but access had been cut off since Swami's dining table was right next to the doorway.

We were all gifted with Mont Blanc pens which were blessed by Swami. It was 2pm when Swami received Aarthi and left the devotee's home. I stood on the road to take a few pictures of Swami leaving atleast. After taking a few shots of the convoy, I got into our car and we left. It has been such a comfort and pleasure to travel ever since we got cars. It ensures that we are always there along with Swami. It also gives me the opportunity to photograph both sides of the vehicle with ease, We reached the mandir and rushed up the stairs to receive Swami as He came up the lift. It was almost 2:40pm and Swami retired into His room and we retired into ours.

We were quite certain that the evening session would be delayed as the morning one had extended quite a bit. All of us got ready leisurely by 4:00pm. I felt that all of us were being pampered with such rich food and such treatment that each day we might be putting on half a kilo! ( In fact the eight days of the trip added six kilos to my frame!) And yet, Swami after so many years of touring and travelling, still maintains His figure and weight! That is absolute control over senses and not falling victim to the taste buds.

It was almost 4:50pm when Swami came out of His room in the evening. We were all assembled in the lift landing area and as soon as Swami told us to move in, we went in for tiffin. As Swami sat at the table, He enquired as to what the programme today was. AIP was a bit hesitant. After the Dwarka grounds had been cancelled yesterday, he did not know how to tell Swami about a programme in the same venue today also. He said that there was a Bhangra programme and that would be followed by the Sufi singer, Hans Raj Hans. After that, we can have the boys programme.

Swami then looked at A and PS and wanted to know what was their prepared programme. They went to Him with a list of the songs they had planned to sing. Each of the songs were shown to Him and He was told about the singer who would be singing it. Swami saw through the list and He particularly read out, Rama Nannu Brovara. (Please note the song He showed interest in. It will have a significance in a later part).

The tiffin session continued. Seeing that Swami had permitted these boys, the AIP was very eager have the evening programme frozen. So he went to Swami again, “Swami, firstu Bhangra dance chestharu........tharuvatha, mana pillalu.....” ( Swami first they will do Bhangra dance then our boys.....) He stopped, trying to formulate the next part of his sentence after seeing Swami’s response. Swami looked at him and continued, “Mana pillalu?? Dance chesthara?” ( After that, will our boys dance?) All burst out laughing. That ensured that the mood was light and nice for the AIP too as the tiffin session concluded. Swami told all of us to wash hands and get into the cars.

Thus began the long journey to the Dwarka grounds. The convoy was given VVIP status and clearance. In spite of that, we took almost 40 minutes to reach the venue. Just made me wonder as to how the traffic had grown in the Capital city! The traffic was so heavy that the cars that were in the latter half of the convoy got cut off and were left behind. It was a totally Toyota convoy - Toyota Corollas and Toyota Innovas being led by the Toyota Estima! I took quite a few convoy shots in the fading light of the evening.

It was 7pm when Swami arrived at the Dwarka grounds. The artiste for the evening, Hans raj Hans was standing with a rose to welcome Swami. As Swami came out of the car, a seva dal member offered a rose to Him. Then the artiste came forward and bowed to Swami. Swami seemed so happy seeing him and He blessed him with a beautiful smile. He accepted the rose that he gave and then gave it back to Him. Swami moved to the upper stage.

On the lower stage, the one on which He had sat watching the drama, a group of lads did bhangra to mark the occasion of Baisakhi. Watching them dance slowly and without much vigour, I felt that our students from the Institute who learn Bhangra, do a much better job of it! The dance lasted about 10 minutes.

Once the dance was complete, at about 7:20pm, the singer took centre stage. He offered his gratitude and salutations to Swami before he began. The performance was a memorable one for both the singer and the audience. The Sufi songs were profound and rich with meaning. The flautist who accompanied the artiste did a phenomenal job. In the beginning, I felt thrilled listening to the meaning and power of the singing. But after a while, it became a little repetitive and monotonous. The whole performance lasted a bit more than half an hour and after that, Swami called the artiste.

He blessed him with vibhuti packets and then lovingly smiled at him. He once again fell at Swami’s feet and offered another rose. The rose which was his naivedyam,(offering to God) came back to him as Swami’s prasadam.( sanctified gift from God) I dont know how much the devotees were able to have darshan. Giant screens had been erected for them but then the thrill of seeing Swami in the flesh is an altogether different experience. They saw Him from more than 200 metres away. Swami turned back and headed to the car. All of us were also told to quickly get into the cars. The dinner was scheduled at the residence of Sri Jatinder Cheema - the state president.