The Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions hosted their Annual Sports & Cultural Meet on Saturday, 11 January 2025, at the Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium, Prasanthi Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh. This year’s celebration held special significance, marking the Birth Centenary Year of the revered Founder Chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
As an annual tradition, the event brings together over 3500 students from all institutions under the banner of Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions, which includes Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School (Boys wing, Primary section & Girls wing), Smt. Eswaramma High School, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, and all four campuses of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed to be University).
The grand event was a culmination of various sports, cultural, and fine arts competitions held at all the above campuses/Institutions throughout the academic year.
The Morning Session
The morning session commenced at 8 a.m. with the majestic ceremonial procession welcoming Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba into the Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium. The procession featured motorcycle escorts and the women’s brass band from the Anantapur Campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) and the band from Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School. This was followed by a flag salute by House and Institute Captains of SSSIHL, schools, and allied institutions, escorted by lion dancers and the slow march squad led by the men’s brass band of the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus, SSSIHL. As the Vedam group ascended the Shanti Vedika dais their sacred chants resonating in the air, the Chancellor, and Vice-Chancellor of SSSIHL, along with senior members and student representatives of the Sai educational institutions, reverently offered their salutations to the revered Founder Chancellor.
To commemorate the Birth Centenary Year of the revered Founder Chancellor, students unveiled a 100’ x 15’ banner bearing the words ‘100 Years of Sri Sathya Sai’ alongside heartfelt messages of love and gratitude.
The March Past featured 46 contingents comprising over 2,300 students marching in unison toward the Shanti Vedika dais to offer their salutations. The institute flag, a symbol of unity and commitment, was hoisted, followed by students taking the sports meet oath to uphold the honor and glory of Sri Sathya Sai’s mission. A vibrant macaw mascot soared to the hilltop to light the principal torch, officially inaugurating the 2025 Annual Sports & Cultural Meet. The combined bands of all campuses performed divine renditions, setting the stage for the day’s presentations.
The presentations from the men’s campuses celebrated diversity, creativity, and devotion through captivating themes and stunning visuals. This included – Avatarana, a theatrical tribute to divine incarnations; Celestial Rhythms, a display of harmonious movement; Zorb Gymnastics, combining stunts with Zorb balls; Vishwa Vaibhavam, a dance medley uniting diverse cultures and Emberfang, a high-energy motorbike performance symbolizing strength and resilience.
The women’s campuses delivered an artistic and spiritually uplifting series of performances that exemplified grace, strength, and devotion. This included the Soaring Souls blending yoga and aerobics on poles to symbolize transcendence from “I to We”; Flying High to Greet Sai, a majestic Bamboo Dragon Dance; Mine and Thine, a game-inspired journey of self-discovery; the Symphony of Souls, a dance portraying spiritual unity; and the Ascending Angels, an aerial spiral performance of grace and grit. These heartfelt offerings, rich in artistry and spiritual significance, deeply inspired the audience while reflecting the transformative vision of Bhagawan.
The morning session concluded with Mangala Aarati to Bhagawan.
The Evening Session
The evening session commenced at 4.15 p.m. with a ceremonial procession welcoming Bhagawan Baba into the Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium.
Students from Smt. Eswaramma High School opened with Candyland, a delightful performance by young children dressed as sweets, followed by Mystic Marionette, an enchanting puppet act, and A Spiritual Odyssey, a ballet on man’s quest for God. The Girls’ Wing of Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School amazed with performances like Salutations to Saieshwara, celestial dances, and daring gymnastic acts like Daring Dynamos and Mind-boggling Mono-cyclists, culminating in breathtaking formations like Pyramid on Poles. Later, the Boys’ Wing of Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School and Smt. Eswaramma High School added action-packed energy with Super Strikers, Team Extreme, and martial arts in Nunchuc, along with innovative formations in Sparkling Souls.
The grand finale by the men’s campuses of SSSIHL was a spectacular culmination of the evening’s celebrations, blending artistic brilliance, technical precision, and profound devotion to honor the Birth Centenary Year of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
The first act, Silent Harmony, set the tone with stunning visual formations using white and orange umbrellas, symbolizing harmony, unity, and devotion. This was followed by the breathtaking Fire Event, an awe-inspiring act featuring fire stunts performed with a variety of props. Divided into five modules, the performance expressed gratitude for Bhagawan’s unparalleled gifts to humanity—Educare, Medicare, and Sociocare—and celebrated the universal brotherhood He championed.
The evening reached its crescendo with Dragon Warriors, a dynamic rendition of the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance. Students maneuvered LED-lit dragon costumes with remarkable agility and coordination, embodying the qualities of strength, prosperity, and good fortune that the dragon represents. The dazzling display illuminated the Hill View Stadium, leaving the audience spellbound and bringing the celebration to a truly spectacular conclusion.
The grand finale featured a golden chariot bearing Bhagawan’s image, carried ceremoniously through the formations, signifying the glory of the Sai Avatar.
The skies lit up as the theme song of the Birth Centenary Year resonated through the stadium. The event concluded with Mangala Aarati, bringing the 2025 Annual Sports & Cultural Meet to a magnificent close, leaving the audience inspired and in awe.
View the recording here:
Morning Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOJBmqw_GJg&t=5454s
Evening Session: https://www.youtube.com/live/Cet-IubVd4w
