Amritanandamayi’s 73rd birthday celebrations begin today; Amit Shah to arrive, vice-president to reach tomorrow

AMRITAPURI: Celebrations marking the 73rd birthday of Mata Amritanandamayi Devi will begin today at the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham campus in Amritapuri.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will arrive at Amritapuri around 4 p.m. today. After meeting Mata Amritanandamayi, he will inaugurate the celebrations at 5 p.m. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan will inaugurate the birthday celebrations at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Union Minister of State Suresh Gopi, State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Health Minister K. Muraleedharan, among others, will attend today’s function. The Amritakeerthi Award will be presented to P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, while ₹2 crore will be handed over to Assam Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu for the Assam flood relief fund.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and state ministers will attend tomorrow’s function. ₹2 crore for relief activities in Nepal will be handed over to Nepal’s Ambassador to India, Dr Surendra Thapa.