Easwaramma Day Celebrations at Sai Prema Nilayam: Riverside, CA
On May 9, 2026, SSSIO members of USA-Southern California gathered at Sai Prema Nilayam, Riverside, CA to celebrate Easwaramma Day, honoring the beloved mother of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The day’s program beautifully reflected her boundless love for children through devotion, learning, service, and joyful community activities. The celebration began with the regular morning Vedam, followed by devotional bhajans led by the SSE children. Their heartfelt singing filled the prayer hall with joy and devotion, inspiring all who were present.
A short talk by the Regional SSE Coordinator, Sister Mitra Safai, highlighted the significance of Easwaramma Day, highlighting Mother Easwaramma’s exemplary qualities of selfless love, humility, and unwavering faith; her fondness of children; and honoring the importance of nurturing young hearts and minds.
Following the spiritual program, families gathered outdoors for a vibrant carnival-style fair where they enthusiastically participated in a variety of games and interactive human values activities designed to be both entertaining and educational. At the balloon-and-darts station, children were encouraged to identify and symbolically “burst” negative qualities they wished to overcome.
At the bowling station, participants knocked down pins labeled with traits such as anger, jealousy, and negative thoughts, reinforcing the importance of cultivating positive character and good conduct in daily life. The festive atmosphere fostered a spirit of joyful family unity as families spent quality time together and the activities strengthened bonds within the Sai community.
An arts-and-crafts station provided opportunities for children to use their creativity to express their love by making Mother’s Day cards, picture frames, and bookmarks, reflecting gratitude and love—the very qualities embodied by Mother Easwaramma. The Envirocare team hosted an educational booth focused on environmental stewardship. Through engaging displays and discussions, devotees learned about proper waste segregation and responsible disposal practices, gaining practical knowledge on caring for Mother Earth.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, a delicious lunch was lovingly prepared and served to all attendees, along with treats, including popcorn and ice cream, Goody bags were thoughtfully prepared and distributed to children and mothers, bringing added smiles and serving as tokens of love and appreciation. In the spirit of service, a medical screening camp was also offered - basic health screenings, including blood pressure, weight and blood glucose checks, along with nutritional guidance to support healthy living. Children and families benefited from wellness education that emphasized the importance of developing healthy habits from an early age.
Throughout the day, dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that every participant felt welcomed and included. The sight of children laughing, learning, and playing together served as a beautiful reminder of Bhagawan’s teachings on love, service, and the importance of caring for the next generation.
As a heartfelt conclusion, the SSE children lovingly presented roses to their mothers and gifted them the Mother's Day cards they had created, expressing their gratitude, love, and reverence. Devotees departed with hearts filled with gratitude and renewed inspiration to practice the ideals that Bhagavan exemplifies—selfless love, service, humility, and care for all.