Celebrating Elders at Seniors and Grandparents Day: Central San Jose, CA
On Sunday, April 13, 2025, the Young Adults (YA) of the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center of Central San Jose organized a heartfelt Seniors and Grandparents Day event. This cherished annual tradition, held during Ramnavmi (the Hindu festival that commemorates the birth of Lord Rama), honors the elders of the center by celebrating their wisdom, experiences, and lifelong devotion to Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The event beautifully reflects the ideals exemplified by Lord Rama - respecting elders, upholding family values and fulfilling one’s promises.
The event began with energizing bhajans by the Young Adults, setting an uplifting and joyous atmosphere. A series of fun games followed, during which participants had to complete the quotes of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and use pictures to guess bhajans. The elders participated enthusiastically, laughing and reminiscing as they joined in the fun.
After the games, seniors were divided into small groups to share their personal stories and experiences with Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The YA members joined in, listening intently and gaining priceless wisdom. One young parent asked the elders for advice on how to instill love and devotion for Sri Sathya Sai Baba in their children. A senior shared a valuable piece of wisdom. Her children didn’t always connect with rituals but resonated deeply with service activities. As the children matured, these service experiences, along with the foundational values from their Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) classes, helped deepen their understanding of Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s teachings during their college years.
A delicious lunch, thoughtfully prepared by the YAs and tailored to the seniors’ dietary needs, was served with love. The elders were touched by the care and attention given to them. A media team also set up a special video booth to capture the elders’ cherished memories and experiences with Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
To conclude the event, each senior was gifted a fridge magnet featuring Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s picture and a special message reflecting the YA group’s gratitude and reverence towards the elders.
One volunteer reflected on the deeper meaning behind this special gathering: "It has always been a favorite service project for many who’ve participated. When you're in the Sai Center, there is beauty in simply connecting. With several activities happening, it’s easy to fall into the rhythm of event after event—coordinating, organizing, moving on—without taking time to reflect on the impact of the service or our own personal transformation. That time for reflection is so important. The true goal of a Sai Center is to support each devotee’s self-transformation journey, something we often overlook in the busyness of such a vibrant and active community. What makes this event unique is that we serve members of our own center. Elders share their experiences, while younger devotees bring their energy and enthusiasm. It becomes a special moment to connect, rejoice, and truly learn from one another, because ultimately, we are all walking this spiritual path together."
Another YA member shared that this was her first time attending Grandparents Day, and she felt Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s presence in every moment. “It was truly heartwarming to hear the stories and experiences of the elders. I feel blessed to have been part of something so special.”
This event served as a beautiful reminder of the power of love, connection, and mutual learning across generations—a true celebration of unity and spirituality.