B-town celebs mourn Sathya Sai Baba's death
Bollywood stars, filmmakers and designers joined thousands of devotees in India and abroad in expressing grief at the death of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba Sunday.
Sathya Sai Baba died after a prolonged illness in Andhra Pradesh's Puttaparthi town at the age of 85.
Bollywood too has offered condolences to followers of Satya Saibaba who passed on Sunday morning. Actor Amitabh Bachchan tweeted, ''Very sad to hear of the passing of Satya Sai baba ..sent me 'vibhuti' at the time of Coolie accident.On getting well visited him.
Anupam too tweeted, ''Sathya Sai Baba had millions of followers all over the world. Their faith in him held them together. May God give them strength.''
Riteish Deshmukh who had met Satya Saibaba said, '' He was a man who spread love and helped the needy. Had the privilege of meeting him and spending some time with him a few times. His invaluable guidance will be cherished for a life time.''
Playback singer Asha Bhosale said, '' I will not term it as death but Samadhi. Satya Saibaba did a lot of good work helped poor people build hospitals. He was a good man who did a lot for society my condolences to his followers.''
"Sai Baba RIP. My condolences to all his followers," actor R. Madhavan posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.
Actor Rana Daggubati tweeted: "RIP...Sathya Sai Baba. My condolences to all his followers."
"Just heard that Baba left his body...my heart bleeds for his followers..my sincere condolences," director Ram Gopal Varma said.
Director and producer Madhur Bhandarkar's post read: "Sad to hear about the demise of Sathya Sai Baba. He was an inspiration for many. Such an enlightened soul."
Delhi-based designer Arpan Vohra said he felt blessed that he had earlier got a chance to go to Puttaparthi and seek Sai Baba's blessings.
"Jai Satya Sai Baba. God Bless his soul. I had the honour of going to Puttaparthi with my family to seek his blessings and met him. It was great to receive vibhuthi (sacred ashes) from him. He will be remembered for his noble deeds," he told.
Designer Varija Bajaj said: "May his message live and guide us forever."
Hyderabad-based designer Abhi Jain said: "I am speechless and don't know how to react as this news came as a thunderstorm for me."
Accessory designer Sonal Chavan says she will keep a fast for the whole day as a mark of respect.
"I was a big follower of the person and it's an unfortunate truth to accept. I will be keeping a fast for the whole day and plan not to take even a sip of water," she said.
"What a coincidence. Today is the birth anniversary of one of best cricketers of the world and on the other hand, we lost our spiritual guru. This news has came as a shock for me and I am blank," Kolkata-based designer Joy Mitra said, referring to the 38th birthday of Sachin Tendulkar Sunday.
Mumbai-based model Aryan Baruah said: "May his soul rest in peace and God bless him forever."
Sai Baba, revered by millions in India and abroad, was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction. He breathed his last at 7.40 a.m. Sunday at the Sathya Sai super-speciality hospital in Puttaparthi, where he was admitted March 28 with cardiac problems.
His body will be kept at Prashanti Nilayam - his ashram in Puttaparthi - for two days to enable devotees to have a "last darshan".
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