Easwaramma Day Celebrated in Australia

The annual celebration of Easwaramma Day in Australia was combined with observances for 13th Day of the passing of Sathya Sai Baba from his physical form.

Service in Perth

In Western Australia, sandwiches for homeless children were delivered to a care agency for distribution. These were simple take-away packets for those requiring lunch and dinner. These were prepared specifically for children who live on the streets of Perth.

For the sake of uniformity the packets contained a set menu:

• Fried Tofu seasoned lightly in soy sauce or vegetarian oyster sauce.
• Fried rice and a serving of steamed or stir-fried vegetables comprising of broccoli and carrots.

Details of the service activity and needs were finalised on the 4th of May, 2011. This service activity had to comply with local food safety and handling requirements. Service Coordinators stressed the importance of hygiene to all those involved in this service whilst devotees were preparing and delivering cooked food.

At the request of Anglicare thirty packets were delivered; ten packets from Willetton Sai Centre, ten from Warwick Sai Centre and ten from Perth Sai Centre. The packets were delivered before a 10:30 deadline.

Feedback from the care agency made told that the children thoroughly enjoyed the packets of food. Supervisers overseing watched as some of the street children ate the food in their presence, enjoying a warm meal which is a rare occurrence for them. (Some of the packets were still warm as they were placed in an esky upon delivery.)

The care agency mentioned that the children always look forward to the sandwiches that the Sai organisation provides, but a home-cooked warm meal was a real treat for them. They each had their own packet with their own disposable cutlery items.

The problem with obtaining warm food, the care agency advised Sai Organisation service coordinator was that some of the children can't access the organisations that provide warm cooked food after normal working hours (i.e. soup van and other venues.) According to this care agency supervisor, the children sometimes voluntarily opt not to go to these places, for occasionally, they are physically harmed by older patrons.

On this day of Easwaramma in 2001, the street children were given the opportunity to enjoy their meal in a safe environment - and it was stressed by the care agency that the meals today went to those children that were genuinely living on the street. In their opinion the food went to the children that were most in need of this service.

Also, in observance of Easwamma Day, all the Sai centres and groups in Western Australia donated baby goods for the inmates of women's prisons. Some of the inmates have access to their babies and this gives them an opportunity to give some gifts to their babies. The donations were taken to Boronia Pre-release centre - for Female inmates who are serving the final component of their custodial sentences, and to Bandyup Women's Prison.

Service in Melbourne

In Melbourne, the observances for Easwaramma Day took place at the Victoria Market in the City of Melbourne. Devotees lovingly prepared food and also collected breads and rolls from food distributors who set aside a portion of their daily production of food for charitable purposes. In the evening around 50 homeless persons very happily partook in the hot meals, drinks and cakes provided by various centres in Victoria. The recipients of this activity were delighted with this special treat and as there was an abundance of food some people took take-away for the next day. Indeed love from this weekly service activity has spread so far that we even received condolences from the homeless persons upon hearing about our Beloved Sai.

Service in Sydney

In New South Wales, on the occasion of Easwaramma Day, the Sai Centre of Toongabbie (one of two centres in NSW which focusses on newcomers to Sathya Sai Baba) undertook serving of meals to the homeless at St Vincent de Paul's Men Hostel in Granville. This hostel caters for single, homeless men in suburban Sydney.

Activities in Tasmania

In Tasmania, there was a meeting of devotees (very few in number) was arranghe in honour of Easwaramma, the Mother of the Lord, and the 13th day obsequies for the passing of Sathya Sai Baba. Whilst no coordinated service project was undertaken, a number of people contributed extra food and clothing donations towards our regular food distribution to St Vincent de Paul. Some of our participants have been supporting some works in an Indian village and also sent funds to the village and arranged for a food distribution to the poor.