Pilgrim town of Puttaparthi had worn to celebrate the 84th birthday of Sathya Sai Baba.In this sense, the ceremony was the launch Satya Sai University held on 22 November. Sai Baba's birthday is November 23.

Influx of foreign tourists and devotees have already begun, and the city is well decorated and bright.The formal celebration week was launched with the holding of the festival carriage Venugopala Swamy on Wednesday.

Several cultural events were held during the week at Prashanti Nilayam.Some of his devotees tell me later that such experiences are common in the presence of a “realised master” because his mind is saturated with “God consciousness” and a great ecstasy will develop within any individual close by, without any mental or intellectual effort.

Baba is pushed slowly along an aisle lined on both sides by over 10,000 devotees; he stops occasionally to receive letters and wedding invitation cards from his followers, and some cry with love and joy when he’s close.

According to Baba, surrender means not having expectations, not being upset if the outcome of events is different than anticipated. He says he can only help when an individual completely entrusts him or herself to him totally.

Baba says energy passes from him to devotees in his presence, and that whatever his eyes see will be vitalised.