Sai Life Exhibit: Detroit Metro Center, MI
The centennial year of Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a momentous occasion, inspiring devotees worldwide to offer the very best of their creativity, talents, and love to Swami. The Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) wing of the Sri Sathya Sai Center of Detroit Metro was no exception. With a strong yearning to show their deepest gratitude to their loving Swami, they poured their hearts into creating an amazing Sai Life Exhibit.
The idea for the exhibit blossomed from numerous brainstorming sessions. SSE teachers and parents identified various milestones in Swami’s life to be depicted in the exhibit booths: Birth and Divine Play, School days, Pushpagiri Carnival, Pandari bhajans, Kalpavriksham (Wish-fulfilling tree), His Mission statement, Avatar Declaration Day , Easwaramma’s three wishes, the Three wings of Sai Centers, and the construction of Sarva Dharma Sthupa and Prashanthi Mandir.
The call to participate was extended during the Easwaramma Day celebrations in May, inviting parents, students, and members to join the creation of this monumental project. Elements and raw materials for each display were quickly identified. With great enthusiasm, parents, teachers, and students alike immersed themselves in learning arts and crafts, watching videos, and procuring supplies. SSE class time on certain days became a joyous, creative period where children used everyday items like popsicle sticks, glue guns, Legos, and cardboard to "magically" make their spiritual ideas materialize.
Creating exhibit models took over Sai families’ evenings and weekends and turned them into intense arts and crafts times. Homes, garages and basements turned into workshops to create the story of the Creator with clay, wood, paints and so much perseverance. Kitchens went silent and Uber Eats were enjoyed by families now and then as crafting Swami’s life became top priority. Reminiscing on Swami’s life, during the process, deepened and strengthened everyone’s faith. Gratitude filled the hearts of one and all for this wonderful lifetime opportunity.
The period between Eswaramma Day and Guru Purnima Day was an unforgettable spiritual immersion for the Detroit Sai Devotees, who dedicated their thoughts, words, and deeds to the ocean of our most Beloved Bhagawan’s Divine Love. On Guru Purnima, July 10th, the team with heartfelt gratitude presented this simple, yet profound offering of His story retold by His loving devotees.