SRI SATHYA SAI GLOBAL COUNCIL – ZONE1 (USA- REGION 2)

A Warm and Loving Sai Ram Dear Members,

Hope you all had a divine and wonderful week with Swami's Grace !  

With the divine grace of Swami shining upon all of us, we had a wonderful Sri Rama Navami Special Bhajans offered by our Members, SSSE kids, and hosted by Nistala’s family last week. We thank Swami, our members and the Hosts for giving us all this divine opportunity.

Let’s now get ready for Bhagawan’s Aradhana Mahotsavam with special guest speaker Dr. Dhurjati Mudigonda (National Devotional Coordinator, SSSGC – USA), who will be taking us into a musical journey with his Veena offering our gratitude to our Dear Bhagawan.(See details in Devotional Section). Let's continue to spread Swami's love and light wherever we go by our thoughts, words, and deeds !

We eagerly look forward to seeing all of you this SUNDAY, April 28th 2024 @ Hovatter Elementary School at 8:30 AM EST.

And following Sunday May 5th, we will be celebrating Easwaramma Day. Please stay tuned for more details coming out soon, and please join us with family and friends to enjoy the lovely offerings by our SSSE students.

Please Note and mark your calendars, We have major events lined up at the Center, Regional and National during the next couple of months.

See below for important details.

Please find this week's Centre Newsletter, updates from all wings (Devotion, SSSE, Seva & YA) along with Center Calendar for April 2024 and Zonal/National and Regional updates.

Sai Ram

Please check the attached April 2024 Calendar above.             

Look for more details from Devotional, SSSE, and Seva Sections.

Please mark your calendars so that you can attend the Center with family and friends, and enjoy the bliss of these special programs.

Subscription

Don’t forget to subscribe to SSSCL YouTube Channel:  

https://www.youtube.com/@loudounsaicenter

Sai Ram

Sri Sathya Sai Center of Loudoun

1. SSSCL – Aradhana Mahothsavam celebrations on Sunday April 28th @ Hovatter Elementary school from 8:30 AM EST onwards (see Flyer below)

   Tentative Agenda:

   8:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Altar Setup (If available please join)

   10:00 AM – 10:15 AM – 3 Oms, 108 times “Om Sri Sai Ram”, Swami Darshan video.

   10:15 AM – 12:00 PM – Intro of Guest Speaker, Guest Speaker Talk and Vote of Thanks

   12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Unison Bhajans, Aradhana Offering Song, Swami Bhajan and Closing Prayers

   12:30 PM – 2:00 PM – Lunch and Cleanup

   Note: Dress code for Aradhana Day

   Any shade of Green color sarees for Ladies & salwar kameez for Girls.

   Any shade of Green color kurtas for Boys and Men, If not wear White.

2. SSSCL – In-Person, Interactive Bhajan Workshop with Br. Krishna Prayaga on Sun, May 12th @ Hovatter School

   We request all center members & SSSE kids to join us in this in-person, interactive Bhajan workshop with Brother Krishna Prayaga (Region 2 Devotional Coordinator) on Sunday May 12th, 2024 from 8:30 AM onwards @ Hovatter Elementary School.

3. SSSCL – Bhagawan’s 99th Birthday 99 Bhajans on Sat, June 1st

   Please mark your calendars to join in offering 99 Bhajans as part of Bhagawan’s 99th Birthday celebrations on Saturday June 1st, 2024, Timings – TBD @ Brother Raghavendra Srinivasan’s residence. More details to follow.  Address: 43600 Winthrop Ct, Ashburn 20147.

4. Sadhana Hour – SSSGC USA – National Devotional Initiative for Bhagawan’s Centennial Birthday celebrations. Please participate by joining these sessions.  

   Sadhana hour is scheduled for next Friday, May 3rd.   Rushi Thanawala will lead the session on Bhajans.  He will cover various aspects of bhajans including some practical tips on audio systems, best practices for bhajan and practices.



   Zoom Session Details:

   Join Zoom Meeting

   https://bit.ly/SSSGCUSASadhanaHour

   Meeting ID: 614 531 1483

   Passcode: sairam

Any questions please reach out to our Devotional Coordinator Sister Sai Deepa  at devotion@loudounsai.org.

Sai Ram

Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavanthu!!!

Sri Sathya Sai Educare (SSSE) Updates   

1. SSSCL – Bhagawan’s Aradhana Day Celebrations: We will celebrate Bhagawan’s Aradhana Day on Sunday April 28th @ Hovatter Elementary from 8:30 AM onwards, all SSSE kids are required to attend the celebrations (Attendance for SSSE kids is mandatory). There will be a wonderful musical offering by guest speaker Dr. Dhurjati Mudigonda (See Devotional section for more details).

2. SSSCL – Easwaramma Day Celebrations: Please mark your calendars and join with your family (including grandparents), and friends to enjoy all wonderful offerings by our SSSE students to Swami on Easwaramma Day – Sunday May 5th, 2024 @ Hovatter Elementary School from 8:30 AM EST onwards. See EDay Video Teaser YouTube Link and Flyer Attached below.

   Teaser YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-oTitwWjiH8

3. Regional Retreat Memorial Day weekend, May 24th – May 27th: If anyone is interested in joining Regional Retreat, please register and reach out to Sister. Sai Neeraja @ sse@loudounsai.org

Upcoming Events and Dates:

Aradhana Day: April 28th Sunday @ Hovatter Elem School.

Easwaramma Day: May 5th Sunday @ Hovatter Elem School.

Regional Retreat Memorial Day Weekend : May 24th – May 27th, 2024.

Graduation Day : Sunday, June 2nd, 2024.

Any questions on SSSE related activities please reach out to our SSSE coordinator Sister Sai Vajra Neeraja @ sse@loudounsai.org

Sai Ram

SEVA UPDATES

Aradhana Mahosthavam – Month of April 2024 Seva Activities

1. *Donating needy items at Single Women Homeless Shelter**
   As part of this service activity we will purchase and donate items like Paper Bowls, Paper Plates, Spoons & Forks, Paper Towels, Laundry Detergent, and other items at Single Women Homeless Shelter.
   Signup link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DAFA929A0F8CF8-48315233-donating#/

2. *New Shoes/Gentle Used Shoes collecting and donating at various homeless shelters service activity**
   As part of this service activity we will be collecting new shoes/gentle used shoes & sandals(Men, Women & Kids) and distribute at
   various homeless shelters during our monthly Narayana Seva(Reston & Leesburg shelters).
   **NOTE: Please do not bring very old shoes and uncleaned shoes for donating(We do not accept).*

3. *Narayana Seva: Breakfast at Leesburg Shelter (April 27)**

   Desc: Prepare and serve breakfast at Leesburg Shelter located at:19520 Meadowview Ct, Leesburg, VA 20175 on Saturday, April 27th 2024.

   Signup link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DAFA929A0F8CF8-48859397-april#/

4. *SSSCL – Bhagawan’s Aradhana Mahotsavam Celebrations (April 28th)**

   SSSCL will be celebrating Bhagawan’s Aradhana Mahosthavam on April 28th @ Hovatter Elementary school from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.

   Food signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DAFA929A0F8CF8-48929089-aradhana#/

1. *SSSCL – Mother Easwaramma Day Celebrations, SSSE  (May 5th)**

   SSSCL will be celebrating Mother Easwaramma Day on Sunday May 5th @ Hovatter Elementary School and Food signup link is attached.

   Food signup Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DAFA929A0F8CF8-49242689-easwaramma#/

For any Seva related questions, please reach out to Seva Coordinator, Brother Vijay @ seva@loudounsai.org        

Sai Ram

Young Adults Updates

YA Re-registration Form: Please look for information from YA reps to re-confirm as active YA of the center by registering using the link below.
YA Re-Registration Form

1. Sri Sathya Sai Global Young Adults Conference will be held at the Divine Abode – Prasanthi Nilayam from 12th to 14th July 2024 with the theme is “Reconnect, Recharge, Rejoice in SAI Love”. 

   Website Link:  https://www.sssgyac.com/ 

   The link contains information about the program, the registration link and other relevant details. Additional information is contained in the attached flyer and video. 

If you have any questions and (or) looking for more YA updates, please reach out to our Female YA Rep Varsha Rao @ yafrep@loudounsai.org and Male YA Rep Arjun Sundaram @ yamrep@loudounsai.org

Sai Ram

SSSGC's  Regional, National and Zonal Updates

Updates from DMV Centers:

Aradhana Mahotsavam and Easwaramma Day Celebrations.

SSSGC (USA) – Region 2 Updates:

1. We are pleased to announce that our Registration for Annual Memorial Day Retreat is open.

   Please use this link to register – There will be an additional charge of $10/person for the late registration – After April 30, 2024.

   https://region2.sssgc-usa.org/retreat/retreat-2024/

   Please note that in the accommodation section, there is one discounted Hotel available for those who would like to stay off site. 

   The theme of the retreat is : “Be always Happy”

   Time and Dates: 5 PM 24th May (Friday) to 12 PM 27th May 2024 (Monday).

   Location: Camp Green Lane (249 Camp Green Lane Rd, Green Lane, PA 18054).

   See Below last year Retreat Memories video

2. Sadhana Initiatives for all devotees/centers in our region 2 as a collective/individual offering to our beloved Bhagawan on his 99th Birthday and Centenary celebrations. Our Region 2 Devotional Coordinator Krishna Prayaga in collaboration with Our SSSGC Region 2 Center Devotional Coordinators formulated the following.

   Individual/Family Sadhana:

   – Chant “Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavanthu” at least 9 times a day.
   – Chant any or all of these Mantras at least 9 times a day
     “Om Sri Sai Ram”, “Gayatri Mantra”, “Sai Gayatri” or “Mrutyunjaya Mantra”.
   – Read Tapovanam once a month (Read the whole book in a day/week or a chapter a week, according to convenience/preference).
   – Likhita Japa – Write “Om Sri Sairam '' at least for 9 minutes a day. ( The books will be collected and sent to Parthi to be used for Vibhuti Packaging.)
   – Learn 9 New Bhajans before November 2024
   – At Least for 9 minutes a day Read Swami’s Literature, Listen to Swami’s Speeches or devotees experiences about Swami