I know why...
I have yet to write my entry about our evening with Amma.
I'm having a hard time writing about it so I'll just start from the beginning.
I was downtown Bangalore when I saw Amma's photo on the back of a rickshaw. The writing surrounding the photo was all in Kannada so I asked Gopi to follow the rick and tell me what it said. We did some crazy traffic dodging to keep up with the rick but finally found out she would be in Bangalore March 24th and 25th. I got so excited but started wondering if it would be too crazy for the children.
In my excitement I mentioned it to a few friends. Jenne mentioned a co-worker, Jianti, is a HUGE Amma follower and is probably going so maybe we could go together. That sounded like an excellent suggestion so I had a chat with Jianti. She was definitely going both days and would be traveling to another city the previous 2 days to see her there also! She said she'd help us hug Amma. Then our friend Michelle heard we were going and expressed excitement about going too! The more the merrier! The night of the 24th we also picked up Jeff who was about to make the journey in his own car not knowing that there was a group already going.
Both kids fell asleep on the nearly 2 hour drive to the event. I knew they'd be up late so I was grateful for this little surprise.
Very exciting to see Amma
We estimated 7,000 - 8,000 people were there to get a hug from Amma
Amma hugs until EVERYONE gets a hug... all night and into the day
I took this photo 'cause the women look like they're sleeping during Amma's darshan but they're really meditating
After the meditation two of them jumped on their cell phones which I found humerous.
Getting ready for our hug!
In the Que!
You can buy an offering to Amma. I found this very clever, they sell silk flower bouquets/necklaces, fruits and candy, all that is reused! The fruit and candy are given back to the followers and the silk flowers are resold all as a fundraiser for her efforts.
Annika chose to give Amma a bouquet and August gave her a bag of candy (that he found hard to give away)
Almost getting our hug...
The last few feet were filled with an assembly line of volunteers to get us ready for our hug...
I was told to place one child in front of me and one behind me.
First our faces were wiped with wet naps (she wears white and hugs 7,000+ people)
My glasses were taken away (I suppose Amma could get scratched or they could fall off)
We were asked what language we spoke
We were told to keep our arms/hands to our sides (Amma hugs you, you don't hug Amma)
Then, when you were with Amma, someone holds your head and "assists" you into your hug.
Both kids went through with their hugs. (very proud)
After our hugs, we were escorted onto the stage to sit with Amma and enjoy her company.
No cameras allowed but I was not told and there were no signs alerting me to this.
Watch the man in white w/ the camera signal to another volunteer that I had a camera...
What did I think of my hug??
It's hard to say. I loved being there, I loved the feeling of warmth and love given by Amma and those who follow her and I truly, TRULY LOVED my hug!!
I was shocked at how honest it was. I thought after hugging thousands of people in the last couple days, or 30 MILLION people over the last 30 years the hug would be "nice." But it was like an old friend or a loved one.
My head was placed in her busom for a hug, she embrased me with strength and held me like a mother (Amma means Mother) then she did a slight release, gave me a few beats of eye contact, then brought me back in for another embrace. For what seemed like a minute but was probably only a few seconds the world stopped. No noise, no music, no light... just my face buried into Amma's chest and her strong arms hugging my body.
I was a little bummed when I didn't react after the hug (except for a great sense of peace). When I got home, still nothing. The next day, nothing. So I thought maybe it didn't have the effect on me that it has on other people. But when people ASKED me about the experience and I had to VOCALIZE how I felt I'd get teary eyed and my voice would get all choked up.
I can see why people seek her out.
What an amazing woman.
Before we left the arena that night I bought three 2"x3" laminated pictures of Amma - one for each of us so Annika and August would have something to help them remember their experience.
We left at midnight (kids were EXCELLENT the whole night). As soon as we got in the car they fell asleep. We got home around 1:15am. I put them into bed and they went right to sleep. I got ready for bed too but went to check on them before getting into bed myself and they both had their photos of Amma clutched in their little hands.
Sweet dreams my little ones!
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