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hugging saint

The woman who has hugged 33 million people is in Dublin today

Hindu Mata Amritanandamayi will be in the capital for the next two days, if you’re in need of a hug.
4.48pm, 31 Oct 2014
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The woman who has hugged 33 million people is in Dublin today
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  • Mata Amritanandmayi visits Ireland

    Source: PA Wire/Press Association Images

  • Mata Amritanandmayi visits Ireland

    Source: PA Wire/Press Association Images

  • Mata Amritanandmayi visits Ireland

    Source: PA Wire/Press Association Images

  • Mata Amritanandmayi visits Ireland

    Source: PA Wire/Press Association Images

  • Mata Amritanandmayi visits Ireland

    Source: PA Wire/Press Association Images

  • Mata Amritanandmayi visits Ireland

    Source: PA Wire/Press Association Images

  • Mata Amritanandmayi visits Ireland

  • Mata Amritanandmayi visits Ireland

    Source: PA Wire/Press Association Images

  • Mata Amritanandmayi visits Ireland

    Source: Brian Lawless

FEELING A LITTLE glum now that the dark evenings are creeping in? Or are you expecting to feel a little bit tender after Halloween festivities tonight? Maybe you just feel like you need a hug regardless.

Well, you’re in luck.

Hindu leader Mata Amritanandamayi, a 61-year-old who has hugged an estimated 33 million people, is in Dublin today and tomorrow.

Also known as Amma or the Hugging Saint, she has won of international honours for her humanitarian work, such as the Gandhi-King Award for Non Violence in 2002, previously won by Kofi Annan and Nelson Mandela; and in 2006 she was presented with the Interfaith Centre of New York’s James Parks Morton Interfaith award, previously presented to the Dalai Lama.

The events, which consist of talks, singing, and meditation, and also the all important embrace, are timetabled to continue into the early hours of the morning.

Entry is free, and more details are available online.

Read: Which tree is the most loveable one in Ireland? We’ll know by tomorrow >

More: Dallas nurse cured of Ebola receives hug from Obama >

Tech: Would you use Cuddlr? It’s like Tinder, but just for cuddles >

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Nicky Ryan
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