Thousands have begun flocking to this southern Indian town for a hug from a holy woman during a four-day birthday bash to be kicked by Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani.
Others expected to attend the gathering, which is due to start later in the day on Wednesday, include India's president and business and religious leaders from across the globe, organisers said.
Hindu inspiration Mata Amritanandamayi, known to her devotees as Amma (mother) or the "Hugging Saint" for the more than 25 million hugs she has given to her followers, turns 50 on Saturday.
Though India has produced numerous holymen such as Satya Sai Baba, Sri Sri Ravishankar and the former Baghwan Rajneesh, Amma is the only holy woman to hit the global limelight.
About 8,000 foreign followers from the United States, Europe and Japan have gathered along with tens of thousands of Indian devotees in Cochin, the financial hub of Kerala, to celebrate the event.
Saffron banners and billboards reading "Embracing the world for peace and harmony" welcomed followers into the city as devotees gave finishing touches to an elevated platform in a stadium where Amma will "hug" her devotees.
Police threw a tight security cordon around the stadium as former prime ministers and presidents are among the invitees.
Rob Sidon, 43, an American, said he had already been embraced by Amma in the past but wanted the same experience again.
"When she embraces there is a sense of selflessness," said Sidon, who is an advertising sales executive in San Francisco, as tens of thousands of Amma's followers streamed into the local stadium to participate in the function.
"She shares what people really want: Unconditional love," he said.
Amma, who is traditionally clad in a white linen sari, wearing red vermilion on her forehead and earrings made of gold, was born in 1953 to a poor fishing family. At 10 her parents took her out of school to do family chores.
She refused marriage and became a mystic, starting from a young age to embrace her devotees, a behaviour that the traditional Kerala society initially condemned. Some threw stones at her.
Amma founded an ashram (spiritual home) in the 1980s where people could come and get her blessings -- in the form of a hug or a personal visit.
Her fame spread and in 1993 she served as president of the Centenary Parliament of World Religions in Chicago. Two years later she was a speaker at the United Nations anniversary commemoration.
In 2002 she received the Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence, previously awarded to Kofi Annan and Nelson Mandela.
She regularly travels to the United States, Europe and Australia to preach the Hindu faith.
Amma through donations from her followers has also set up schools, hospices and hospitals for the poor.
Three former prime ministers, a former president, chief ministers of various Indian states and federal ministers are slated to attend the party. World religious leaders and businessmen including Hotmail founder Sameer Bhatia were also to attend.
Claudine Tourdes, 53 with an adopted Indian name of "Deeparnita" who has been a follower of Amma since 1988, said the mystic's compassion had deeply moved her.
"I am not married and gave my life to Indian spirituality," said Tourdes, clad in a yellow sari.
"In the beginning, people were skeptical, but slowly things turned around as she started founding charitable organisations."
Abhayamrita Chitanya, a senior member of Amma's following, said she was expected to hug about 5,000 devotees a day before the celebrations end.
"About four million devotees are expected to attend the festivities," said Chitanya.