Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh), the spiritual heart of Sri Sathya Sai district, is gearing up for something extraordinary. This November, the town will transform as it hosts the centenary birth celebrations of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba—twelve days that promise to be unlike anything the area has seen before. This celebration is attracting the country’s top leaders. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Puttaparthi for the first time, joining the grand programme at Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium on November 19. He’ll release a Rs 100 commemorative coin and a postage stamp in honour of Sai Baba—both officially approved and produced by the India Government Mint and the Department of Posts. Just a few days later, on November 22, Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan will serve as Chief Guest at the 44th Convocation Ceremony of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. It’s his first official trip to Puttaparthi since taking office.
Devotees from about 140 countries are expected, turning Prasanthi Nilayam into a global gathering place for spiritual seekers. The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, which is organizing the event, says they’re bracing for three to four lakh visitors. That’s not just local followers—over 10,000 special invitees are coming, including foreign delegates, government officials, and dignitaries. Already, 1,500 international representatives from Sai Centres worldwide have signed up through the Sri Sathya Sai International Organisation.
It’s a huge logistical challenge. The Trust, working alongside the Andhra Pradesh Government, is making sure no one goes without. Free food, accommodation, and transport will be provided. Temporary shelters and large dining halls are going up all over town. Security and traffic teams are preparing for a crowd that could top four lakh.
For devotees, this isn’t just another festival. Managing Trustee R.J. Rathnakar puts it plainly—after Baba’s Maha Samadhi in 2011, nothing has come close in scale or significance. Planning has taken two years, with followers from nearly every continent preparing to make the journey. Rathnakar says, “Every devotee treats this centenary like it’s their own father’s birthday.” The Andhra Pradesh Government has even declared November 23, the day of Baba’s 100th birth anniversary, a State Function.
The Trust itself is thriving, with a corpus now above Rs 1,000 crore, all thanks to donations and investments. Rathnakar insists every activity stays true to Sai Baba’s vision: free, high-quality service across the board. The hospitals in Puttaparthi and Whitefield (Bengaluru) now offer robotic-assisted heart surgeries—free for patients and believed to be the first of their kind in the world. It’s part of a broader push to modernize healthcare while staying rooted in Baba’s ideal of service without discrimination.
Behind the scenes, thousands of youth volunteers—both from India and abroad—are hard at work. The Sai Youth Wing has already completed a “100th Birthday Ride and Run” across 60 cities, each event bringing in thousands. When the celebrations begin, more than 50,000 volunteers will be on the ground in Puttaparthi, handling everything from crowd control to hospitality.
The centenary isn’t just about rituals. The schedule is packed with cultural programs, spiritual talks, music, and international gatherings of Sai organizations. November 23 will be the peak, with record numbers expected as people honor a spiritual leader whose words—“Love all, Serve all. Help ever, Hurt never”—still resonate with millions.
Rathnakar sees this centenary as a launchpad for the future. The Trust plans to announce new projects to keep Sai Baba’s humanitarian mission moving forward. “We’re here to strengthen Baba’s legacy and push his vision to new frontiers. This isn’t just a tribute to his life—it’s our promise to carry his message of love and service even further,” he says.
The centenary celebrations for Sri Sathya Sai Baba are drawing people from around 140 countries, turning the event into a remarkable gathering of devotion, service, and national pride. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan are joining the festivities, which run from November 13 to 24. Devotees from all over the world are making their way here, and organizers aren’t holding back — they’ve set up free meals and temporary shelters to welcome the crowds. The scale of it all really shows just how far Sathya Sai Baba’s teachings have reached.