The Prize Distribution Ceremony of the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet 2025 for the Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions was held on 14 January 2025, on the auspicious occasion of Makara Sankranti, at the Sai Kulwant Hall, Prasanthi Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh.
The Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions include 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 ceremony celebrated the outstanding achievements of students in sports, cultural, and fine arts events during the academic year 2024-25, honoring their dedication and excellence.
The programme commenced at 8:20 a.m. with a grand ceremonial procession of senior leaders of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) led by the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, the Institute’s brass band, students chanting Vedam, and a flag-bearing squad. Sri Ritwik Chandra Pandey, a Doctoral Research Scholar from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), welcomed the assembly as the Master of Ceremonies. His address beautifully intertwined spiritual insights with the significance of Makar Sankranti and the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet. The Sports Meet, he noted, is more than talent and skill—it fosters unity, courage, and selfless love under divine guidance. Ritwik celebrated the transformative journey of participants, portraying the event as a spiritual exercise and an offering to Bhagawan.
A series of brief talks by the students of both the School and the Institute followed his address. The speakers were Sri Chittoory Sai Krishna of Class XII, Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School, Ms. Harisri Narayanan, of III B.Sc. Chemistry, Anantapur Campus, Sri Rituraj Pradhan, of II M.Sc. Data Science, Nandigiri Campus, Sri Kolla Vinay Sai, II M.B.A. of Brindavan Campus, and Sri Skanda Krishna of II M.Sc. Bioscience, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus.
The students shared their remarkable experiences of accomplishing extraordinary feats with just a few weeks of preparation, emphasizing that they were merely instruments of Bhagawan’s grace and love. They described how these events became a transformative journey, providing a platform to discover and showcase talents, cultivate humility, and achieve both personal and collective growth. Notable examples included stitching 169 costumes in just two weeks and overcoming fear through surrender to perform daring fire stunts. The students credited their successes to Bhagawan’s love and compassion, which empowered them to transcend limitations and achieve the extraordinary. Their speeches resonated with a consistent theme: pure, selfless love for their Master, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and an unwavering commitment to bringing Him joy and pride.
This was followed by a talk by Dr. Sai Shyam, Assistant Professor from the Dept. of Mathematics and Computer Science, who highlighted the spirit of unity among campuses, which brought out the best in every student. The participation of international coaches from Singapore and Russia, he said, underscored that there exists just one universal caste of humanity. He described the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet as the biggest festival of love for Sai students embodying the one religion of love. He also shared the touching creation of a 100 x15 ft banner filled with heartfelt messages from students, a beautiful expression and reflection of the language of the heart.
As we celebrate the 100th year of Love, Dr. Shyam reminded us of Bhagawan’s omnipresence. He said Swami represents the ‘1’ as the Divine guide while the “zeros” were the students following Him. Concluding with a poem, he depicted the annual meet as a time of illumination and enthusiasm, a transformative journey of learning and inspiration, guided by teachers and anchored in Swami’s love leaving cherished memories etched in every student’s heart.
The Prize Distribution ceremony commenced with the presentation of the Founder Chancellor’s Cups of Love by Sri K. Chakravarthi, IAS (Retd.), Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, to the captains and vice-captains of each institution and campus. This honored the dedication and sportsmanship of the students. Sri R J Rathnakar, Managing Trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (SSSCT), awarded the House and Individual Championship trophies to the students of Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School and Smt. Eswaramma High School.
Prof. B. Raghavendra Prasad, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, presented the House and Individual Championships to students from all four campuses of the Institute. Outstanding students from each campus received the prestigious Sri Sathya Sai All-Rounder Gold Medals: Kum. Gunda Navyasai, II M.B.A. (Anantapur Campus), Sri Sumukha Sreenidhi Boddapati, II M.Sc. in Data Science and Computing (Nandigiri Campus), Sri Thota Hemavardhana Reddy, III B. Com (Hons.) (Brindavan Campus), and Sri Amarjith P.K., II M.A. in Economics (Prasanthi Nilayam Campus).
The sports categories for students at SSSIHL included 10 track events – 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10000m, 100m hurdles, 4 x 100m, and 4 x 400m relays, as well as 7 field events – shot put, discus throw, hammer throw, javelin throw, high jump, long jump, and triple jump. Additionally, there were over 12 team and individual games such as basketball, football, cricket, volleyball, ball badminton, handball, throw ball, kho-kho, lawn tennis, table tennis, tennikoit, and badminton. In the cultural category, there were over 57 segments, encompassing debate, drama, quiz, orchestra, instrumental, light vocal, modeling, mono acting, painting, photography, poster making, elocution, short story writing, sketching, stotram and Vedam chanting, yoga, classical and folk dance, bhajan antakshari, Carnatic and Hindustani classical vocal, mehndi, cartooning, clay modeling, and more.
A total of 1533 prize winners from SSSIHL were recognized at the event. This included the distribution of 137 Gold, 97 Silver, and 94 Bronze medals. The ceremony featured the presentation of 32 Championship trophies, with 14 allocated to Athletics, 14 to cultural events, and 4 to Fine arts.
For participants from the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School, Individual Championship winners and runners-up, in sub-juniors, juniors, and seniors were honored, alongside awards for the Athletics House championship, Games Cup, Talent Search Programme Cup, and Overall Championship presented to the respective Captains and Vice-captains of the victorious houses.
The Physical Directors, and the sports and cultural coordinators who dedicated themselves to guiding, motivating, and supporting the students throughout, offered their gratitude and sought Bhagawan’s blessings.
In His Divine benediction, Bhagawan emphasized the festival’s profound spiritual and cultural significance. He highlighted the changing seasons, the joy of harvest, and the arrival of Uttarayana as symbols of transformation and inner purity. Sankranti marks a shift towards light, urging humanity to develop an inward vision and align with eternal truths. Bhagawan stressed the need for youth to embrace sacrifice, discipline, and spiritual values to achieve life’s higher purpose. He expressed concern over the loss of sacredness in music and sports due to the commercialization of sports and music, urging students to practice sincerity, devotion, and noble ideals in all endeavors. He reminded everyone to express gratitude for divine blessings and foster love, peace, and spirituality as foundations for a harmonious and meaningful life.
The event concluded with performances by the Anantapur and Prasanthi Nilayam Brass Bands, Bhajans, Prasadam distribution, and Mangala Aarati to Bhagawan.
View the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/live/9sZlXd6SWBc?si=pZNtlgl3D8VK7gM-&t=1387
