They left Amritapuri just after dawn on Tuesday, May 26th, for Amma’s Bharat Yatra 2026, heading for the first stop in Mangaluru from May 28 to 29. It was a rhythmic convoy of buses and cars to carry Amma and hundreds of her children to the thousands more longing for her arrival at the Ashram in Mangaluru.
When the vehicles reached in the middle of the night on the 27th, devotees excitedly stood under what seemed like a rainfall of white flowers strung together under glowing lights. Some held garlands to express their love for Amma while others clasped their hands in prayer. Her disciples conducted the sacred pada puja, filling the atmosphere with peace and reverence.
In the evening, Amma gathered with the local volunteers to shower them with divine affection by stilling their minds with meditation, stirring their hearts with bhajans, and then giving them the traditional prasad of a delicious meal. They had worked many long months to prepare each and every detail for her auspicious two-day program.
The Ashram in Mangaluru is also home to one of Amma’s Brahmasthanam Temples, as are all the stops on this yatra. They are unique places of worship that are open to everyone who arrives—people of all faiths, genders, and castes. Instilled with Amma’s universal love and compassion, it was a blessed venue for the thousands who arrived over the days.
Addressing the gatherings, Amma spoke about humility as the foundation of all success. “Only when a seed goes beneath the soil does it grow into a fruit-bearing tree. In the same way, success comes where there is humility,” she said.
Life, she reminded, is like the flow of a river with its own currents and turns. One must move forward with an attitude of surrender, knowing every experience holds a purpose.
Amma also expressed that all pandemics, disasters, and climate change are Mother Nature’s reminder to rethink our relationship with Her. She called upon humankind to live with greater compassion and reverence to the Earth by following three C’s: cooperation with all people, companionship with Nature, and communion with God.
True coexistence is built on the awareness that humans should collectively share this Earth, its natural resources, and its abundance with each other and all creatures.
Amma
“The only effective method with Nature is to approach Her with humility, devoid of arrogance, with a bowed head, and a heart filled with friendliness and reverence,” she said, explaining that negotiations and compromises may work in conflicts between people, communities, and nations, but they would not work with Nature.
True coexistence, Amma added, is built on the awareness that human beings must collectively share the Earth, its natural resources, and abundance with each other and all creatures.
The events in Mangaluru already reflected Amma’s teachings as the events unfolded. During the official programs, she launched humanitarian initiatives to reach various communities in the region. This included support for children’s cardiac surgeries and aid for 1,200 AmritaSREE members, the Ashram’s self-help group initiative for women.
As well, Amma initiated an expansion of the seaweed cultivation project for women, and a mental health awareness drive by AYUDH Mangaluru, the Ashram’s youth movement.
Amma then began what she does everywhere—embracing each person who arrived. Ms Sadhvi Satish Sail, Femina Miss India World 2026, was among them. She shared how honoured she felt to be with Amma in Mangaluru.
“Her presence just makes everything go away. It feels so calming, so grounding. And truly, one embrace can really change so much in a human, truly make the day of so many, and change the lives of so many,” she said with deep gratitude.
As the thousands arrived for Amma’s darshan, such experiences emanated from one person to the next, while collective prayers for world peace continued, a free medical camp was held, and food was offered to one and all.
In celebration of their culture, school children from the nearby Amrita Vidyalayam performed captivating dance and music traditions. With light in their eyes, they expressed a myriad of divine forms, from Lord Narasimha as the ferocious manlion to the Divine Mother in Her nine majestic manifestations as Navadurga.
Many distinguished guests took part in the programs. India’s Minister for Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, said Amma’s work extends far beyond spirituality, and thus, reaches several aspects of society.
Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader spoke about the value of spiritual strength to help those in public life address our world’s problems.
Other dignitaries on the first day included Swami Jitakamananda, Captain Brijesh Chowta MP, former ministers Pramod Madhwaraj and J. Krishna Palemar, Karnataka Additional Chief Secretary Ritesh Kumar, Kishore Alva, Prakash Pai Peraje, and Suresh Amin.
Swami Gahanananda of Chinmaya Mission, Mangaluru; ISKCON head Prabhu Gunakara Dasa; Sullia MLA Bhagirathi Murulya; Moodabidri MLA Umanath Kotian; former minister Nagaraj Shetty; B. Ravindra Shetty; Indumathi Mallya; A.C. Kundar; Sadhu Saliyan; V.L. Rego; and Atmaram Revankar were among those present on the second day.
As the programs came to a close, volunteers performed a practical method to worship Mother Earth through the Amala Bharatam Campaign. They covered the surrounding area to ensure that all waste was collected and then divided into categories for recycling, reusing, and disposal.
Amma’s next stop is at the Brahmasthanam Temple in Kozhikode. Find her schedule here.
