Nine floats to honour Sai Baba's legacy during centenary celebrations
Birth anniversary
One of the floats being completed.
Image: Supplied
NINE floats are being built in KwaZulu-Natal and Johannesburg as part of a commemorative event to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai Baba on Sunday.
The 5m long floats - 7 being built in KZN and 2 in Joburg - will be on parade on November 30 during a week-long celebration hosted by the Sri Sathya Sai Global Council SA at the People’s Park East from November 26 to 30.
Each float has a name: love, enviro, non-violence, peace, truth, unity of faith, right conduct, golden chariot and educare - that reflect spiritual values.
A day earlier, November 29, there will be a cultural performance by artists including Sri Karthigesan Pillay and the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra featuring Shanjeet Teeluck. A special children’s production titled Golden Thread of Saiwill also form part of the performance.
Devan Naidoo, the national seva co-ordinator of the Sri Sathya Sai Global Council SA, said the birthday celebration was more than a chronological milestone; it was also a salute to Sai Baba's philosophy of “seva” (service to mankind).
The programme
Image: Supplied
He said community service projects embodied the spirit of Sai Baba.
“Swami says service is the highest form of spiritual practice. Any selfless act that is done, big or small, is supposed to bring about some level of self-transformation within the devotee,” said Naidoo.
“Service to man is service to God, and God is omnipresent, which means he is the in-dweller of all beings. So, when we serve fellow beings, we are serving the Divine within them. Most importantly, if we understand that God is the doer and we are just the mere instruments that he is working through, then there is no doubt we will progress quicker on this spiritual path.”
Naidoo said the Tongaat tornado relief in June 2024 was one of the projects undertaken by the organisation.
“We assisted numerous uninsured families to rebuild their homes. All the work and materials supplied were at no cost to the recipients.”
Other projects include building classrooms and ablution blocks, medical clinics, vet clinics, wheelchair distributions, and meals.
The event, opposite the Moses Mabhida Stadium, will start