Condensing multiple days into a single page, since the content available in the diary is limited.
1994-01-18 - Tuesday - Though planned on 4 o'clock bath, told a 1st year boy to wake me at 5, finally woke at 6. Still, had bath from A floor, gave clothes to dhobi, 6:40 am Mandir. Luckily, He didn't come early. Interview time - Bakery (breakfast).
Around 8:15, after interviews, Swami came to us - "How many?" - called us in. Swami kicked my leg while going in - grace without looking down. After general talk as in Trayee, Vijaya Sai Sir, Ajnish, Ravi came in. Then, singing - mostly Ravi. Swami too - "Pull cheyi - feeling undaali" (elongate the alaaps, there should be feeling.) Then He went inside to "drink water", discussion on what to ask Him. Finally, "Poornachandra, Swami - we'll do some work." "No work - all work for conference is over 10 days back!" Bhajans - right in front. But heart hasn't completely left old habits.
Saw Raman Mehta, Swami smiling to him, telling him to bring vibhuti bag (evening darshan). One good boy gets others chances, too. Evening practice postponed to 8:15 pm for stage arrangements (mics). So, Gopi Sir's plans for storing food in the Old Hostel were not used. Finally, practice underway at 9:30, with mics, Tascam mixer and Peavey speakers in two towers on either side of stage. Continued till midnight.
1994-01-19 - Wednesday - Again interview, a virtual repeat of the previous one, this time in the evening. 5:15 to 5:45. I went (in to the interview room) from the back of Bhajan Hall up the VIP portico. Only Brindavan - Swami made the others, Parthi boys, go out, except a XI boy, who didn't catch His words first - later said, "Paapam, let him stay." Ribbing of Ajnish and Pai, "called Santanu - or Saantanu?" Then songs all the way, padanamaskar. Bhajans from the back.
Night practice with sets, lights, mics, music - started at 10:15, over by 11:30 this time.
1994-01-20 - Thursday - In the evening, after bhajan, drama boys were called to Poornachandra. Swami sat among us, on interview-room-type chair. "Have more feelings. Castor oil faces. Drunkards are doing well. (In the drama, Rajesh Singh was one of the drunkards who is converted by Chaitanya's grace.) He was sitting with legs crossed, index and forefingers of either hand pressed together. When I went backstage, saw Swami's staircase spiralling up.
A still from this video, Behind The Stage with the Christmas group 1996 - by then, the spiral staircase had perhaps been modified to a straight one.
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