“Be strong during trying times” — Mother Teresa had told young Judy White as she taught her shorthand and typing. Thirty-nine years later, White still comes to offer her prayers to the Blessed Teresa of Kolkata every year on her birthday.

Like White, there are many — from Tokyo to Tollygunge — who flocked to Mother House on Wednesday to offer their prayers. “Today is Mother’s birthday and I did not want to lose the opportunity of coming to the place where she started her work,” said 36-year-old Ken Tanaka, a tourist from Japan’s Magome town. “In Japan, she is equally loved and respected,” Tanaka added.

Sanchitnath Raha, a Hindu Brahmin and an ardent follower of Mother, has a special reason to be happy. She shares her birthday with Mother and had come all the way from Tollygunge to pray for her ailing neighbours and seek Mother’s blessings.

Mother’s disciples and admirers offered prayers in front of the white marble tomb, which was adorned with candles, carnations, marigolds and orchids.

“We came here to offer prayers to Mother. We have a prayer room back at our home for which we have come to bless our rosaries,” said John Varghese (52) and his wife Jessy Varghese, residents of Alwaye in Kerala. The couple will come back again next year to celebrate Mother’s centenary birth anniversary.

The Missionaries of Charity, established by Mother Teresa in 1950, has chosen her favourite quote “God created us for greater things — to love and to be loved” as the theme for the centenary birth celebrations.

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