Tanvi Pothireddy - Aradhana Experience

During this year’s Aradhana, I had many experiences with Baba thatha and Guruji thatha. I want to express my feelings about those incidents here.

Before the Aradhana celebrations and satsangs started, I got to know that some older akka’s in Dallas were doing a dance for the Kid’s Activities. I had done a skit and dance with my age-group friends for Guru Purnima and VijayaDasami and really felt like doing one for Aradhana as well. I requested my mom to ask Praveena Aunty (Aunty organizes the kid’s dances) if my friends and I could do a dance as well, so she agreed to ask. From that day on, I had been asking her every day if she had asked Praveena Aunty, but my mom didn’t have enough time due to her work. Because of this, I was a bit sad.

3-4 days before Aradhana day, Praveena Aunty called my mom and told her some great news! Gayatri Aunty had told her that the Kid’s Activities required around 5 more items. Praveena Aunty had thought that if my friends and I could learn a dance in 2 days, it would be quick enough to record the end video. Even if this was a tight schedule, I was more than exuberant!! My wish had come true, even without asking Baba thatha and Guruji thatha!

Another experience happened on the first day of dance practice (the one for Aradhana). The practice was on a Friday, which is the day I have Telugu class. The timing for the dance practice and my Telugu class clashed and I decided with my mom that I would have to skip class for that day. Before dance practice, though, my Telugu teacher texted in the Telugu Whatsapp group chat that her son had an appointment somewhere, so she was going to shift class time an hour later. I felt that it was very cool that because I was doing an activity for Baba thatha and Guruji thatha, they both took care of shifting my class time to make me have comfort during my day. I’m vastly thankful for this great experience!

A similar event occured not too long ago. One of our gurubhandu’s family was moving into a new house. They weren’t having housewarming, but my family and 2 other gurubhandu families (we are all very close) decided to come over to their new house to wish them congratulations and to offer any help needed. That day was a Friday as well, so I would have had to skip my Telugu class that week as well. Luckily, though, my Telugu teacher texted that our class was moved to the next week. I was delighted and thanked Baba thatha and Guruji thatha for helping me!

Namam

During the Aradhana, I got to say Baba namam one morning. I prepared

well, but I was still anxious before my turn came. I nervously said the namam for a couple of minutes, but then my mind wanted me to go with the flow, which I did. After what seemed like only a few more minutes, my turn was done! Baba thatha and Guruji thatha made my namam go smoothly and well-said, which I’m very grateful for.

That evening, one of our gurubhandus came over to our house since it was Aradhana and Diwali. Uncle isn't an active participant in satsang, but Akka and Aunty are. They came out of their house for the first time since COVID started, and with them they brought a printed out photo of Baba thatha and Guruji thatha! My mom asked Aunty if it was because I had said the namam that morning, but Aunty said that she didn't know I had said the namam and it was completely Uncle's idea to bring us a picture. When we asked Uncle, he said "This is what you like, so I felt like giving it to you." My mom, dad, grandma and grandpa were all so surprised and happy that Baba thatha and Guruji thatha came to our house after I said the namam! We strongly believe it is because Baba thatha and Guruji thatha heard our calling and came to our house right after that. Thank you so much Baba thatha and Guruji thatha!!