Our first stop on the tour was in Calicut (Kozhikode is the other name for the city). It is north of the ashram, but still in the state of Kerala. The trip there took 9 hours by bus, with a stop for dinner. Calicut seems to be a fairly large city. We had to travel up into the hills. The land is beautiful with coconut trees everywhere. I keep wondering what it would be like to have one drop on your head...then I met a woman who was hit by one....she said it hurt...not much more than that! ;-)
Amma's program was in the stadium in Calicut. WHen we arrived at around 4:00 pm, the stadium was almost completely full. Amma came out at 6:15 and by then it was full. I would estimate there were as many as 60,000 people. After speeches, satsang, and bajahns, Amma began Darshan at 10:30. Sitting up on the stage with her was incredible. I took a turn timing the prasad passers (will explain later) where I sat directly behind Amma from 10:30 to 11:00. THe speed she hugged people at was absolutely amazing. Being a witness to so many devotional Indian people being touched by Amma was breathtaking. Seeing so many people come and wait up to 18 hours for their moment with Amma was humbling. People here are devotional in a way most of us in the West are unfamiliar with. Amma was able to hug 10s of thousands of people in 18 hours. It is an experience that can't be written with words. There are no words. Amma is love...that is all I can say. There are photos, though, of the event. Enjoy!
The travel is difficult and the conditions challenging, but all is nothing compared to what Amma gives from her heart. She never got up once during the entire time. She only drank. She ate no food. She kept going and going and going.
Today we are in Kodungalur where Amma begins another event tonight that will last until Wednesday night or THursday morning when she finishes Darshan. This is a very different event and I will share the details with you over subsequent posts, just as I will with the event in Calicut. My time on the internet is so limited, but I will continue to share with you when I return. There is so much to share with you.
I am off to the evening opening of this next event and will share with you as soon as I can.
In the meantime, Be Well!
Hi Jules,
I loved reading your story of Amma's event in Kozhikode -what an amazing experience... Your heart must be open and full at the same time.
Love you and can't wait to see you when you return.
Katie
Posted by: Katie | January 12, 2007 at 08:03 AM