June 9, 2017
Sai Ram Dear Pilgrimage Attendee,
Count down has begun for our Spiritual Homecoming! We are looking
forward to being at Prasanthi Nilayam for the National Pilgrimage.
This communication contains lots of detailed information about the
pilgrimage.
·
PILGRIMAGE DATES
·
CHECK-IN
·
DRESS CODE
·
DAILY DARSHAN & GROUP SEATING
·
GRAMA SEVA
·
DAILY SCHEDULE - ADULTS (TENTATIVE, SUBJECT TO
CHANGE)
·
SSE PROGRAM SCHEDULE
·
COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE ASHRAM
·
WEATHER IN PRASANTHI NILAYAM
·
WHAT TO BRING
·
SUGGESTED PACKING LIST
·
GETTING HELP WITHIN THE ASHRAM
·
ATTACHMENTS
PILGRIMAGE
DATES
July
6th thru July 10th, 2017
The full group must be together for the entire time, beginning with
morning Darshan on July 6th till evening Darshan on July 10th. A
Welcome/Orientation meeting is planned for July 5th at
8pm.
ARRIVAL
AND ACCOMMODATION
Please
plan to arrive Prasanthi Nilayam by July 5th evening.
For your safety, we do not recommend travel from Bangalore Airport to
Prasanthi Nilayam (and back) in the dark. A list of available Taxi
Services is provided. The average cost of taxi from Bangalore airport
to the ashram is in the range of Rs. 1800 – Rs. 2400.
If you are planning to stay in the ashram, you must enter ashram
premises by 6:30 pm. Ashram gates are closed between 9:00 pm and 6:00
am. Accommodation office is closed between 7:30 pm and 6:30 am. Per
night room rate is about Rs. 250.
If your family has outside accommodations, you can stay outside the
ashram, provided you will be in the ashram and with the group for all
group activities during the day.
Upon arrival, please report at the Online Booking, Check-in Counter at
the Accommodation Office (next to the N-9 block, behind North Indian
Canteen). View map here. The
office is open from 6.30.a.m. IST to 7.30.p.m IST.
Families will be accommodated in a room. Those traveling alone will be
accommodated with other devotees from the USA based on gender. If you
are a room donor, then you will have your own room. You do not need to
make advance reservations for rooms inside the ashram. The pilgrimage
planning team will block rooms and the accommodation office will have a
pilgrimage attendee list.
You will need your
- Passport and
- Indian Visa or Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card or Person of
Indian Origin (PIO) card
Non-Indian Passport Holders without OCI / PIO cards will need to submit
attached Form C plus two passport size pictures. Please bring these
items with you.
We are unable to make arrangements for you to enter the ashram and get
accommodation once the ashram gate/accommodation office is
closed.
CHECK-IN
After
receiving your accommodation and settling down in your room, please
check-in with the Pilgrimage Registration/Help Desk at N7 building. The
registration desk will be open from July 5th. All pilgrimage
attendees whether they are staying inside the ashram or outside must
check-in with us. During check-in, you will receive
1.
Your Badge (needed for
group seating)
2.
Sarees for women older
than 16
Remember
to bring USA scarf for each member of your family. There is just one
desk for all attendees.
DRESS CODE
Men/Boys: Long
white trousers and white collared shirt. No sleeveless vests or shorts.
Please bring your own clothing.
Girls up to 16 years: White Salwar suits with a white shawl
(dupatta). Please bring your own clothing.
Ladies 16+ years: Uniform saris will be provided during check-in
at the Ashram. There are two Sarees in each set. Petticoats
(underskirts) and Blouses are not included. Please bring appropriate
color blouses and petticoats to go with your sarees.
DAILY
DARSHAN & GROUP SEATING
Since
unity and discipline are really our greatest offerings to Swami,
participation of the entire group in morning and afternoon darshans
cannot be emphasized enough. The entire Sai Kulwant Hall area
and Mandir (temple), is charged with Swami's vibrations
and presence, and His Mahasamadhi infuses us with Divine energy.
Therefore, we must make every effort to enter this holiest of shrines
as many times as we are blessed to do so.
Special seating will be provided by the ashram authorities for our
group during each darshan. It is therefore imperative that our group
members gather for each darshan in a timely manner at the location
provided and jointly proceed for darshan. Unfilled seating or
inconsistent attendance will likely result in fewer special arrangements
for our group.
GRAMA SEVA
We have
been given the opportunity to serve 12 villages around Puttaparthi
(i.e. 'Grama Seva'), on July 10th. Please note that SSE Groups 1-3
children will be not able to take part in this service. Group
4 children can participate. Children and SSE volunteers will go for
Darshan and take part in alternate activities around the ashram. Grama
Seva volunteers will not attend the morning Darshan in Sai Kulwant Hall
on this day and will instead gather at 8:30 am at a location
to be announced. Starting at 4:00 am, at a location to be
announced, volunteers will also participate in the preparation and
packaging of food and supplies to be distributed during Grama
Seva.
DAILY
SCHEDULE - ADULTS (TENTATIVE, SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
July
5th
Timings
|
Description
of Activity
|
Location
|
8:30 am to
7:30 pm
|
Arrival and
Check-in
|
N7 (North
7) Building
|
8:00 pm to
9:00 pm
|
Welcome /
Orientation Meeting
|
TBD
|
July 6th thru July 9th
Timings
|
Description
of Activity
|
Location
|
7:00 am
|
Line Up for
Morning Darshan
|
Outside N7
(North 7) Building
|
10:30 am to
12:30 pm
|
Music
Program Practice or Speaker session
|
TBD
|
12:30 pm to
3:30 pm
|
Lunch,
Rest, and Reflect
|
|
4:00 pm
|
Line Up for
Evening Darshan
|
Outside N7
(North 7) Building
|
6 pm to
7:30 pm
|
Dinner
|
|
7:30 pm to
9:00 pm
|
Music
Program Practice
|
TBD
|
9:30 pm
|
Lights Off
|
|
July 10th – Grama Seva & Music Program
Offering
Timings
|
Description
of Activity
|
Location
|
4:00 am –
7:00 am
|
Prepare
Food Packets
|
TBD
|
8:30 am
|
Leave for
Grama Seva
|
|
8:30 am –
3:00 pm
|
Grama Seva
|
|
3:00 pm –
4:00 pm
|
Freshen Up
|
|
4:00 pm
|
Line Up for
Evening Darshan
|
Outside N7
(North 7) Building
|
5:00 pm
|
Music
Offering by the USA Pilgrimage Attendees
|
Sai Kulwant
Hall
|
8:00 pm
|
Reflection
Meeting
|
TBD
|
SSE PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Please see this link.
COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE ASHRAM
Location and timings can change often and quickly. To
stay up to date, please check the notice board outside of building N7
at least 2 times each day. We will not be emailing within the
ashram.
WEATHER IN PRASANTHI NILAYAM
Please expect the days to be hot with sudden, heavy
rains. Average highs of 33 degrees Celsius or 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Staying
hydrated will be key for good health. Bottled water is available
for purchase inside the ashram.
WHAT TO BRING
The accommodation includes one room with 2 cots, 2
mattresses, and 2 pillows with an attached bath. Additional mattresses
might be available in the accommodation office. Please bring your own
linens, blankets. Rooms do not have AC and bathrooms do not come with
tissue/toiletries. The ashram has only a few rooms with hot water
geysers and those might be reserved for donor rooms.
Each building has a couple of designated individuals who provide
laundry service. Generally, they wash the clothes and bring them back
the next day. You can also opt to wash your own clothes. There are
clothes lines available outside the room for drying them.
SUGGESTED PACKING LIST
Personal Toiletries:
Bath towel/wash cloth
Shampoo/conditioner
Soap and Lotions
Sunscreen
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Room Slippers
Clothes detergent
General Items:
Comfortable Clothing and Shoes
Contact lens case/solution
Sneakers for outdoor grama seva
Mosquito repellent
Other essential personal Items
Personal medications
Umbrella/Rain Ponchos
Hand Fan
Combination Lock
Printed Song Lyrics (attached to this email)
Hand Sanitizer (Needed during Grama Seva)
SSE Items
Water Bottle
Comfortable shoes for outdoor activities
Sun Hat
Sun Block
Books and Other Games
GETTING HELP WITHIN THE ASHRAM
For Medical Help: Please go to the International Medical
Camp between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. in N4 (North 4). For after hours, please
go to the emergency room of the Sathya Sai General Hospital.
For Operations Help: If things are not working in the room, please go
to the operations desk located in the N7 building.
For additional Ashram information - http://www.srisathyasai.org.in
/Pages/AshramInfo/Ashram.htm
ATTACHMENTS
This letter in PDF
Music Program Song Lyrics (print and bring a copy)
Form C
Taxi Information & Rates
Please let us know if you have any questions.
In Sai’s Service,
Pilgrimage Planning Team
|