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Amma Wants to Hug You

Hugging Saint visits NoVa

By Jim Iovino

| Saturday, Jul 11, 2009 | Updated 11:00 AM EDT

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Mata Amritanandamayi, "the hugging saint," doing what she does best.

McLEAN, Va. -- Need a hug this weekend? Head on out to northern Virginia.

Thousands of people, including many from the Washington area's sizable Indian community, are expected to trek to McLean this weekend to receive blessings from the woman known as "the hugging saint."

Mata Amritanandamayi -- better known as Amma -- will be doling out hugs and blessings to those who come to see her this weekend and Monday at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner Hotel, located at 7920 Jones Branch Drive in McLean. (Click here for more information.) So grab your Darshan token an hour before each program and get in line.

The stop is part of a 10-city U.S. tour.

Amma's followers believe that her hugs have healing properties. She estimates she has given more than 25 million hugs over the course of her life.

While Amma was born into the Hindu religion, she welcomes people from all faiths.