Homage to Sai Baba

The children are part of a delegation of 2500 devotees who are going to the subcontinent to see their spiritual guru, Sathya Sai Baba.

The Sathya Sai Movement South Africa will stage a play called Ubuntu for Sai Baba and thousands of his followers from across the globe.

Devotees from 85 countries will take part in the pilgrimage to Prashanti Nilayam, the main ashram of Sai Baba in Puttarparthi, Andhra Pradesh.

The pilgrimage begins on September 23 and ends on October 4.

Ubuntu enjoyed a long run in South Africa's main cities.

It chronicles the history of South Africa and documents the biggest turning points, including the arrival of Mahatma Gandhi, the imprisonment and release of former president Nelson Mandela and the country's liberation from white rule.

Co-ordinator Nithya Naidoo said the group had decided to perform the 50-minute play as South Africa's "offering" to the spiritual leader.

"Other countries have all had their chances, and now it is the time for our children to shine," said Naidoo.

He added that it was important to show Sai Baba the impact he had made on his thousands of followers in South Africa.

"Outside India, Africa was the first place Sai Baba touched with his divine presence many years ago."

The children who will take part in the play hail from the four major Sathya Sai schools in the country - based in Chatsworth, Newcastle, Lenasia and Rylands - while 111 children come from an informal settlement in Verulam.

"These children come from underprivileged backgrounds, and to be able to give them this opportunity is wonderful," said Naidoo.