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Yogi Jayanti Celebrations with Mahant Swami Maharaj, UK & Europe

16 May 2023

Amārā Jogi: Beyond the Smile

The theatrical production revolved around a series of cassette tapes that helped uncover Yogiji Maharaj’s divine identity

Anandswarupdas Swami addressed the assembly before the production commenced

A youth commenced the programme with a traditional welcome to the audience

<i>‘Gondal gāmmā ne Akshardhāmmā Yogi Bapa birājyā chhe’</i> <br>The audience is transported to Gondal through moving sets and a cultural dance sequence

‘Gondal gāmmā ne Akshardhāmmā Yogi Bapa birājyā chhe’
The audience is transported to Gondal through moving sets and a cultural dance sequence

Duty Manager Tirth Thakur and reporter Ron Patel begin their exploration of Yogiji Maharaj’s true identity

<b>Tape 2: “As We Saw Him”</b> portrayed senior swamis’ personal accounts of Yogiji Maharaj

Tape 2: “As We Saw Him” portrayed senior swamis’ personal accounts of Yogiji Maharaj

Devotees were gripped by the unfolding drama

A young Ghanshyamcharandas Swami is portrayed in <b>Tape 3: “His Actions”</b>, as he recounts his experiences of his guru, Yogiji Maharaj

A young Ghanshyamcharandas Swami is portrayed in Tape 3: “His Actions”, as he recounts his experiences of his guru, Yogiji Maharaj

The stage is transformed to a scene in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh

The story begins with devotees being searched by armed officers

The Chief Army Officer narrates his experience of Yogiji Maharaj upon their first meeting, describing him as a divine being

A cultural dance interluded each act

Tirth Thakur and Ron Patel explore the next tape in the series

Tyagvallabhdas Swami as a youth was shown in <b>Tape 4: “His Words”</b> with Yogiji Maharaj

Tyagvallabhdas Swami as a youth was shown in Tape 4: “His Words” with Yogiji Maharaj

Tyagvallabhdas Swami is interviewed by Reporter Ron about his experiences with Yogiji Maharaj

Yogiji Maharaj would occasionally use English words in his blessings, much to the delight of the devotees in the UK

Tyagvallabhdas Swami recalled fond memories of teaching Yogiji Maharaj English

Youths performed a cultural dance as an interlude between scenes

Tape 5 explored “His Mind”

Swamishri arrived in the Yogi Jayanti festival as the drama was unfolding

Gurukirtandas Swami performed a riveting musical rendition of <i>‘Mune vhālu Jogidā tāru mukhadu’</i>...

Gurukirtandas Swami performed a riveting musical rendition of ‘Mune vhālu Jogidā tāru mukhadu’...

...as he accompanied himself on the piano

Yogiji Maharaj’s images illuminated the top of the piano as the kirtan was sung

Swamishri fondly recalled some of Yogiji Maharaj's signature mannerisms

Swamishri showed the audience how Yogiji Maharaj would vigorously rub his head

Swamishri demonstrated how Yogiji Maharaj would thrash his upper garment

Swamishri illustrated how Yogiji Maharaj would sway from side to side when revelling in spiritual devotion

Swamishri playfully showed how Yogiji Maharaj gave a ‘dhabbo’ (hearty pat on the back)

Devotees rejoiced in Swamishri’s recreation of Yogiji Maharaj’s divine actions

Bhaktipriyadas Swami (Kothari Swami) recollected various aspects of Yogiji Maharaj’s saintliness

Tirthbhai explained to Swamishri that Yogiji Maharaj’s endurance of hardship will now be explored through the next tape

A shadow play commenced depicting episodes exemplifying Yogiji Maharaj’s tolerance

Devotees were overcome with emotion upon watching the touching episode

Swamishri watched the shadow play attentively as it depicted a prasang about Yogiji Maharaj taking care of someone who had previously insulted him

Swamishri vividly recounted a prasang about the scar on Yogiji Maharaj’s leg, as it had been narrated to him by Yogiji Maharaj

Swamishri described an emotional experience from Yogiji Maharaj’s life

<b>Tape 6: “His Heart”</b> was then introduced to Swamishri

Tape 6: “His Heart” was then introduced to Swamishri

Swamishri watched the tape in which Ishwarcharandas Swami explains the spiritual love he experienced from Yogiji Maharaj

The diksha ceremony of 51 youths was set in the historically auspicious town of Gadhada, during the mandir’s kalash mahotsav, in 1961

Swamishri re-lived the diksha ceremony from 1961, as depicted through a drama

Swamishri participated in the diksha ceremony with a janoi

Swamishri observed the newly ordained swamis dance in elation before him

Reporter Ron and Duty Manager Tirth progressed along their journey of learning about Yogiji Maharaj

Swamishri recounted his early experiences as a sadhu with Yogiji Maharaj

Swamishri embraced everyone in the audience after describing Yogiji Maharaj’s selfless spiritual love

Swamishri played raas with elderly devotees from Yogiji Maharaj’s time

Swamishri played with raas sticks

The seventh tape was inserted into the cassette player...

...revealing that it explored Yogiji Maharaj’s atma

Swamishri listened and watched intently as Viveksagardas Swami described Yogiji Maharaj’s atma in <b>Tape 7: “His Soul”</b>

Swamishri listened and watched intently as Viveksagardas Swami described Yogiji Maharaj’s atma in Tape 7: “His Soul”

The scene changed to Sarangpur in 1941...

...as performers within the hall enacted the prasang when Yogiji Maharaj woke up in the middle of the night to feed a bus-full of devotees

Swamishri wore a pagh in the same style as Shastriji Maharaj, as a part of the prasang from 1941

Devotees were captivated by the fast-moving and emotional programme

Youths performed various cultural dance sequences between the scenes

The short dance sequences provided musical interludes and reiterated the divine personality of Yogiji Maharaj

Tirth Thakur and Ron Patel inserted the next tape into the cassette player

<b>Tape 7: “His Soul”</b> was introduced to the audience

Tape 7: “His Soul” was introduced to the audience

A video showing a youthful Swayamprakashdas Swami (Doctor Swami) played as he described his guru’s devotion towards God

Devotees were transported to a scene of London in 1970, when Yogiji Maharaj travelled to the UK for the first time

Swamishri performed the arti of the murtis from Islington Mandir

Devotees participated in the arti with musical accompaniments

Devotees participated in the arti

Swamishri performing the evening arti

A video from the historical inauguration of Islington Mandir in 1970, in which Mahant Swami Maharaj performed the arti with his guru, Yogiji Maharaj, was shown alongside the present arti ceremony

Swamishri appreciated a cultural dance by youths whilst reminiscing about Yogiji Maharaj

The youths performed a devotional dance

Swamishri lovingly bathed Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj with water from the River Thames...

...just as Yogiji Maharaj had bathed Harikrishna Maharaj at the River Thames in 1970, a video of which played alongside the present

Swamishri lovingly bathed Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj

Reporter Ron Patel ruminates upon his findings

The eighth tape, titled <b>“My Legacy”</b> was introduced to the audience

The eighth tape, titled “My Legacy” was introduced to the audience

Swamishri remained rivetted when watching old scenes of Yogiji Maharaj

A silhouette of Mahant Swami Maharaj was shown on the stage, showing the Pragat Guru as being Yogiji Maharaj’s legacy

Swamishri fondly recalled his experiences with Yogiji Maharaj

Swamishri engaged in a dialogue with Reporter Ron and Duty Manager Tirth

Swamishri revealed how one can truly understand Yogiji Maharaj

Swamishri inserted the final tape, <b>Tape 10: “Pragat”</b>, into the cassette player...

Swamishri inserted the final tape, Tape 10: “Pragat”, into the cassette player...

...which played a video of Pramukh Swami Maharaj singing <i>‘‘Yogī āvo te rang mune shid lagādyo’</i> from 1988 in London

...which played a video of Pramukh Swami Maharaj singing ‘‘Yogī āvo te rang mune shid lagādyo’ from 1988 in London

Swamishri placed flowers at Yogiji Maharaj’s murti as a devotional offering

Swamishri lit a candle on a plate of puran poli, on the occasion of Yogi Jayanti

Swamishri lovingly offered puran poli to Yogiji Maharaj

Tyagvallabhdas Swami fed Swamishri a small morsel of puran poli in celebration of Yogi Jayanti

Swamishri lovingly offered puran poli to all the devotees in the audience

Swamis honoured Swamishri with a decorative garland

Swamishri showered rose petals on all the devotees in the assembly

Simultaneously, confetti showered upon the devotees in the assembly

Devotees joined in the celebrations

Devotees were elated by Swamishri’s darshan

In turn, Anandswarupdas Swami honoured Swamishri with rose petals

Swamishri was showered with rose petals

Swamishri joyously played the kartals to the sound of Pramukh Swami Maharaj singing <i>‘Yogī āvo te rang mune shid lagādyo’</i>...

Swamishri joyously played the kartals to the sound of Pramukh Swami Maharaj singing ‘Yogī āvo te rang mune shid lagādyo’...

...just as Pramukh Swami Maharaj had played the kartals in London in 1988

Earlier in the day, Swamishri had written a personal letter to his guru, Yogiji Maharaj

Swamishri read out the letter he wrote to Yogiji Maharaj

Swamishri’s letter to Yogiji Maharaj written that day, on Yogi Jayanti