The 72nd birthday of Satguru Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma) was celebrated with profound devotion and unity at Amritapuri, drawing lakhs of devotees and well-wishers from across India and around the world.
The festivities began at dawn with 72 Maha Ganapati Homa rituals and indigenous rituals from the tribal communities, invoking peace and prosperity for the world. This was followed by a satsang by Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, Vice Chairman of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, and a soulful devotional music session led by music director Sarath and playback singer Manjari.
The grand celebration began at 9 am when Amma arrived at the stage and was formally welcomed by Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar. This was followed by the sacred Padapuja ceremony. Representatives from tribal communities across India then led a special world peace prayer, uniting under Amma’s vision of “One World, One Heart.”
Union Health Minister and BJP National President Shri J.P. Nadda inaugurated the official programme. He praised Amma’s tireless dedication to selfless service, saying:
“Amma’s entire life is dedicated to serving humanity, and in every sense, she is a true role model. Her humanitarian initiatives have reached every corner of the world. The healthcare services of Amrita Hospitals are highly commendable, and Amrita has also made remarkable progress in the field of education. Through her women empowerment initiatives, Amma has uplifted countless women in society. Time and again, during disasters like the tsunami and floods, Amma’s compassion has stood as a beacon of hope. That is why her birthday celebrations are uniquely meaningful—because they are marked by new service initiatives.”
As part of the event, renowned literary figure P.R. Nathan was honoured with the prestigious Amritakeerthi Puraskaram. The award, designed by artist Namboothiri, included a citation and a cash prize of ₹1,23,456. Receiving the honour from Shri J.P. Nadda, Nathan said he was dedicating the award back to Amma, whose compassion has deeply influenced his life and work.
As part of the silver jubilee celebrations of Amma’s historic Malayalam address at the United Nations, the event also saw the inauguration of Malayalam essay, art, and other competitions for school students on the theme “One World, One Heart,” along with the release of “Ammakkadal,” a compilation of reflections from 72 eminent personalities.
The gathering was graced by Union Ministers George Kurian and L. Murugan, Haryana Minister Rajesh Nagar, MPs Shashi Tharoor and K.C. Venugopal (AICC General Secretary), Justice Jayakumar, Justice Nagaresh, Mahamandaleshwar Santoshanand Maharaj, Swami Satswarupananda Saraswati, Swami Gururatnam Jnanatapaswi, Swami Geethanandan, Swami Vishalananda Giri, former Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and V. Muraleedharan, MLA C.R. Mahesh, Kummanam Rajasekharan, Vellappally Natesan, Tushar Vellappally, and several other dignitaries.
During the ceremony, dignitaries distributed certificates of new service initiatives, which included:
- 300 free surgeries at Amrita Hospitals in Kochi and Faridabad
- An MoU between Amrita Hospital and ISRO to provide free epilepsy surgeries for 1,300 underprivileged patients
- Establishment of a new UNESCO Chair in Assistive Technology in Education under Amrita University
- A commitment to construct 6,000 free toilets for impoverished families across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka
- Release of new Ashram publications
- 17 mass weddings for couples from economically disadvantaged backgrounds
- Distribution of working capital for self-help groups.
Following the ceremonies, Amma personally blessed every devotee who had gathered, offering darshan in the form of her embrace, filling hearts with love, compassion, and hope.
