Soaked in His Love: A Divine Reunion at SEAM 2025
With the divine blessings of our beloved Swami, alumni from His educational institutions gathered for a weekend retreat from May 2nd to 5th, 2025. The serene setting was the village of Grange-over-Sands in the picturesque Lake District of the United Kingdom. This gathering, fondly known as SEAM (Sai Students Europe Alumni Meet), brought together approximately 165 participants—including 81 Sai students and their families—from across Europe and the UK. This annual event, now in its fourth year, builds on the success of past retreats in Zurich, Amsterdam, and Munich. Attendees represented the full spectrum of Swami’s institutions, including the Primary School, Higher Secondary School, and the Anantapur, Brindavan, Prashanti Nilayam, and Nandagiri campuses of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. The group was a beautiful blend of generations, from alumni of the very first Brindavan batch to recent graduates from the class of 2024. Regardless of geography or generation, everyone gathered as children of Mother Sai, immersing themselves in Swami’s love. Participants gratefully soaked in Swami’s stories, witnessing and experiencing the living legacy of His love.
The planning, which began a year in advance, was consecrated by an invitation offered at Swami’s Mandir, seeking His divine blessings for the retreat. The theme for this year was “Reconnect, Recharge, Rejoice.” The retreat aimed to recreate the cherished rhythm of student days: starting the day with love, filling the day with love, and ending the day with love. It commenced on Friday evening with the lighting of the lamp by Sri Navin Patel, a distinguished alumnus from the inaugural Brindavan batch. Swami was ceremonially welcomed with Vedam chanting and a welcome song, followed by morning and evening sessions structured like those in Prashanti Nilayam. The Vedam chanting particularly emphasized the three Shuddhis (purities), and bhajans were led by nearly a dozen gifted Prashanti Mandir singers and musicians.
Each day began with the familiar spiritual cadence of Omkaram, Suprabhatam, and Nagarsankirtan. Sessions were filled with the sharing of divine experiences and, more importantly, the profound lessons drawn from them. The evenings included bhajans and cultural programmes offered with love to Bhagawan. After dinner, a campfire provided a relaxed setting for sharing more of Swami’s stories, followed by a joyful session of Bhajan Antakshari. The collective chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa and night prayers at 10 p.m. brought each day to a peaceful and love-filled close. There was even a well-received archery masterclass for all ages. And while the formal day ended, the nights came alive with hostel memories, fueled by late-night Avakai Annam and Podi Annam, whose authentic spiciness did not deter even the youngest from embracing this classic part of the hostel experience.
A musical programme offered to Swami featured a bouquet of carefully chosen songs once sung in the Divine presence. On the second day, a moving drama on the advent of the Sai Avatar was warmly received by all. Its highlight was a mesmerizing Shiva Tandava dance, depicting Sage Bharadwaja’s patient wait for Lord Shiva. The piece was performed to perfection by a trained Bharatanatyam dancer among the alumni. His performance was so powerful that some younger children, seeing him in the corridor afterwards, spontaneously offered him Namaskar!
A special highlight of the retreat was the presence of Dr. Sainath Manikonda, a respected alumnus and former faculty member of the Institute. He shared profound lessons learned over his many years at the Lotus Feet, connecting Swami’s timeless message to our contemporary lives and the retreat’s theme. The experience was truly heightened by the loving, selfless contributions of several Sai devotees. One devotee single-handedly designed and decorated the altar, creating a space that was both aesthetically beautiful and spiritually uplifting. Another dedicated group of devotees, most over the age of 65, lovingly came forward to prepare the most delicious Prasadam. The retreat participants extend their deepest gratitude to Swami and to these loving devotees, who served their beloved Lord by serving His children. Throughout the preparations and the event itself, the participants aimed for perfection, viewing every contribution as a direct offering to Swami. As the weekend unfolded, every element seamlessly fell into place, creating a perfect experience whose impact is still felt today. When the time came to depart on Monday, no one was truly ready to leave.
The spiritual momentum has continued. Within a month of the retreat’s conclusion, children and adults alike began gathering online every weekend. They start their mornings with Omkaram and Suprabhatam and end their evenings with the Hanuman Chalisa and night prayers. Many continue this sadhana on their own during the weekdays, keeping the spirit of the retreat alive.
It is fair to say, therefore, that Swami not only blessed the event—He led it from start to finish. The event left everyone suffused with Divine love and, indeed, hungry for more. Making every single person feel so completely immersed in His love and joy is only possible when the Divine Himself takes over. Ultimately, the theme—“Reconnect, Recharge, Rejoice”—was not just a slogan; it was a deeply lived experience for all who attended.
