The light of Amma’s love shone brilliantly in Winterthur, Switzerland as she arrived for her long-awaited 2025 Europe Tour—her first visit to the continent since 2019. October 17 to 19, thousands of hearts overflowed with joy, devotion, and gratitude. People from across nations also sincerely joined Amma in prayers for world peace and the happiness of all beings.
When she arrived the evening before the official program, the longing of devotees was visible in their tears as they welcomed Amma with deep love. Amma then led the volunteers in meditation and bhajans, with joyful clapping and gentle swaying. Afterward, she served prasad—pasta, beans, salad, and rice.
The next day, Amma was officially welcomed to Winterthur. Devotees formed an aisle to the stage, holding white cloth flowers tied to long twigs. The hall resounded a big Swiss Alp Horn, cowbells, yodeling, and Talerschwingen, while Indian and Swiss flags waved in greeting.
Among those present were the Indian Ambassador to Switzerland, H.E. Mridul Kumar; Dr. Reto Agosti, a neurologist who founded the Hirslanden Headache Center and a member of the Canton of Zurich Parliament; and actress Zoë Pastelle, one of Switzerland’s best-known social media influencers.
“I have visited many hospitals in my profession—and I myself work at the largest private clinic in Switzerland. But what I saw in Faridabad [Amrita Hospital, New Delhi] made a deep impression on me. More than 2,600 beds. Over 500 smart intensive care units. 81 departments, and 8 centers of excellence,” said Dr. Agosti, who also released a German translation of Amritam Gamaya (Lead Us to Immortality), a new collection of Amma’s teachings.
“It’s really a medical marvel. And yet, the most impressive thing was not the technology. It was the spirit that can be felt there. No matter who I spoke to—every doctor, every nurse was full of enthusiasm and dedication.”
Dr. Agosti continued, “Despite its enormous size, there is a warmth, compassion, and joy in serving that is rarely found. Of course, the hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art technology – with robots such as the Da Vinci Xi, which enable highly complex operations. But the heart of this clinic is not made of steel or silicone. It beats with love.”
Zoë Pastelle spoke about how deeply Amma’s address at the 2004 Parliament of World Religions in Barcelona has inspired her as she expresses her own life experiences in today’s global social media realm.
“Amma, you said: ‘Love is our true essence. Love knows no boundaries such as religion, skin color, nationality, or caste. We are all pearls strung on the same thread of love. To recognize this unity and to carry the love that is our true nature into the world—that is the goal of human life,’” she shared.
“These words are more relevant than ever in our world, where the gap between rich and poor is widening every day, where there is so much violence and harmony in nature is disrupted. I hope that we all awaken to this all-encompassing love. So that our world is peaceful, that our beautiful planet is protected, and that our children can also experience this beauty.”
As Zoë Pastelle concluded, the hall responded with thunderous applause.
“What is love ? Love doesn’t bind, it liberates. Amma is a shining example of love and compassion. Her love knows no bounds, it doesn’t see genders, colors or races. Her love is for everybody,” said H.E. Mridul Kumar.
“We are all blessed today that Amma has chosen this beautiful land for her long-awaited travel to Europe. She is here and she is giving her blessings, her love and her compassion.”
For three days, Amma led meditation, bhajans, satsang, and darshan. On the final day, a special Atma Puja was conducted for world peace and harmony. The timing coincided with the evening before Diwali. To express their love to Amma, devotees joyfully waved circles with flashlights.
A smile upon her face, Amma waved an oil lamp to them and then said, “Actually, we should be lighting the lamps of love and faith within our hearts. This will help bring an end to wars, violence and conflicts in the world.”
The crowd overflowed the main hall, and the adjacent dining hall was also filled with people watching on the big screen. Infants and elders alike braved the cold, with temperatures between 4 to 10°C. The youngest child seen was just 15 days old. Many waited for hours to see Amma, shedding tears of reunion, love, hope, and conviction.
Some who met Amma as children 20 to 25 years ago are now part of the organizing team. Many families familiar with the Ashram came with their own children, continuing the bond. One young man brought a photo of Amma performing his first feeding ceremony (annaprasham) in Amritapuri 25 years ago. Amma smiled and took a new photo with him.
Each day, many received mantra initiation from Amma—nearly 900 in total. One touching moment was a family receiving mantras together; the oldest child was six years and the youngest was under two and not yet speaking. Still, Amma gave a mantra to the baby, honoring the parents’ commitment to spiritual values.
A Swiss man came alone in a wheelchair. Formerly a hockey player, a car accident left his legs paralyzed and his hands difficult to control. Amma showered him with love and attention. It was his third time meeting Amma.
Each night after darshan, Amma danced a few steps to the tune of the bhajan “Rarari rarari taka,” filling hearts with joy.
As the program concluded in the early morning of the 20th, Amma drove to the Swiss ashram by the River Rhein. Amma had visited and stayed there 12 years ago. She distributed prasad and performed a small puja before proceeding to Barcelona for the next Europe tour stop.
