Overview
On behalf of Artists for World Peace, Meghein Uhrich and Sara Morgues set out as caretakers of the International Peace Belt. The destination is Cochin, India… there we join in “Embracing the World” – a Golden Jubilee of World Peace and Harmony (Amritavarsham 50), honoring the 50th birthday of Amritanadamayi (aka Ammachi), a well-known saint and satguru from Southern India. This celebration calls forth all her children from around the world, including an array of internationally recognized religious leaders, politicians, activists, as well as cultural artists and performers, focusing upon global awakening and unification.
Highlighting this spiritual gathering is the ceremony, Jala Maha Sangamam (Convergence of Waters). This ceremony begins by joining together flags of the 191 United Nations in a procession of peace. Three volunteers clad in traditional dress represent each country: one bearing the flag, another holding water from their homeland, and the third carrying an oil lamp, “… symbolizing the lamp of love each one of us carries in our hearts.” (http://www.amritavarsham.org/program/jala/jala.htm). After the procession files front and center into the stadium, the waters from the holy rivers of each nation converge into one vessel, “… to show and honor the inherent unity among all nations and all peoples,” (reference same page as above). Afterward, each nation receives a sample of the collective waters to return to their homelands. It came to be that the International Peace Belt would lead this procession, connecting its message of unity within diversity, to this auspicious occasion.
Our story
On the same day Sara became aware of the details of Jala Maha Sangamam to be held at Amritavarsham 50, she learned of the International Peace belt and its mission. The similarity of intention between these two projects was impossible to ignore, and thus inspired a pilgrimage that would take Sara, accompanied by Meghein, a fellow emissary of peace, to India. This pilgrimage would launch the International Peace Belt on its mission into the world with a blessing from Ammachi, while sharing in the great events and festivities of Amritavarsham 50, “Embracing the World.”
The Departure
We board Singapore Airlines, flight #SQ001 on the 22nd of September, departing at 1:45am from San Francisco to Trivandrum, India via Hong Kong and Singapore. Due to the shift in time zones, our flight consists mostly of dark hours as we swiftly fly into the evening of the 22nd, landing in Hong Kong early the following morning, some 17 hours later. The seemingly endless night onsets the drastic shift of reality catapulting us into India.
The Arrival
Stepping off the plane at 10:45pm on the 23rd, the essence of the third world engulfs our senses with the fullness of its sounds, sights, smells and textures. We had further to travel in order to arrive in Cochin, yet we opt to stay in Trivandrum. There we catch a few hours of sleep and a shower before embarking on a 5:45am bus to Cochin in order to arrive in time for the beginning of the Golden Jubilee.
Six hours later, we enter the arches of Jawarlal Nehru Sports Stadium, location of Amritavarsham 50. We are longing to unload our bags and settle in for the next four days of the gathering; however we soon learned that our previously reserved floor space is 20 minutes away by bus and would be shared with at least 15 others. Standing amongst the innumerable masses that are consistently growing in number (eventually reaching an estimated 250,000), we decide to seek out a hotel to secure our own personal space.
Prelude to the Blessing
After the first day of getting our bearings at the stadium and settling into the event, we begin inquiring about an opportunity to present the belt to Amma for her blessing. Our first stop is the International Information Center, from where we are directed to speak with the devotee organizing the peace procession.
A few hours later we find her in Block H-2, Peace Procession Headquarters. Here we explain our mission to receive Amma’s blessing and express our wish for the belt to participate in the ceremony. She is very helpful, recognizing the resonance between the peace belt and the theme of the ceremony. She whole-heartedly agrees to help us with our request and suggests we return later that day for further instruction. First she needed to consult with Swamiji, Amma’s right-hand man.
Due to the immensity of the gathering, the devotees involved in facilitating the event are extremely busy. Hence, we are still awaiting a meeting with Swamiji… We need to take matters into our own hands if we want the blessing from Amma. The procession organizer suggested we join the darshan (blessing) line. However, since it was a priority for Amma to extend her blessings to the Indian devotees most in need first, she had not yet invited westerners to receive darshan.
Later that evening, as the cultural presentations begin, we make our way backstage – awaiting a possible window of opportunity to present the belt. We soon surrender onto the grass next to the side of the stage, where it was easy to relax into the power of the present moment. Masterful musicians fill the long awaited, cooling night air with sweet ragas. The flute, sitar and tablas, each expressing its own message, merge into one sweet sound of surrender.
Opportunity Knocks
In the glorious river of harmonious sound, a timeless space emerges and unveils the very window of opportunity we were awaiting. An angel, appearing as an old friend, suddenly presents himself to us. We rise to greet him and share with him our mission. He guides and supports us in transcribing a short message to Amma, relaying our project and request. Our angel then disappears, message in hand, soon returning with a Swami who was available to help. The Swami skillfully paves a path through the crowds, delivering us directly to Amma’s lap.
The Blessing
The Swami relays our words to Amma as we present to her this instrument of peace. Simultaneously, the New Mexican Tewas are presenting their sacred Eagle Dance on the stage before us. Thousands of people crowd the stadium behind us. The air is sticky, pungent – yet sweet with the scent of roses. A bevy of young Indian schoolgirls are seated at Amma’s feet, looking up at her adorningly. The atmosphere is filled with a joyful and festive spirit. Amma takes the belt and raises it to her forehead in prayer, infusing it with a blessing of love. There, at Amma’s side, we rest in the eye of the storm.
Jala Maha Sangamam
The peace belt now had Amma’s permission to be a part of Jala Maha Sangamam. The “powers that be” deliver the International Peace Belt to the waist of Uma Divyalayam, leading the peace procession, yielding the Amritapuri flag and representing the home of Amritanandamayi’s ashram. The remainder of the world’s 191 flags follow its lead. Our prayer has been answered…
May peace prevail in the heart of humanity.
Stay Tuned…
Now, after a few weeks of integrating the first few blessed days of our journey, a new opportunity with the International Peace Belt has presented itself. Soon we will visit the only intentional dance community in India, located in the outskirts of Bangalore, where the study of traditional dance is the main focus. There we will record the dancers with the belt – expressing their sentiments about world peace through creative movement. Go to http://www.nrityagram.org for more information about the community and its mission.
Co-written by Sara Morgues and Meghein Uhrich
