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Kishore-Kishori India Trip 2024, USA

25 Jun 2024 to 31 Jul 2024

Delegates perform darshan of Mahant Swami Maharaj in Bochasan

Delegates perform darshan of Mahant Swami Maharaj while on his way to mandir darshan

Delegates perform darshan of Mahant Swami Maharaj while on his way back from mandir darshan

Delegates from North America and UK/Europe make hearts with their hands as Swamishri passes by

Swamishri blesses each kishore, appreciating the display of unity

Delegates make hearts with their hearts while performing darshan of Swamishri during his morning puja

Swamishri listens intently to a delegate's speech

Swamishri performs his daily puja

Delegates devoutly perform darshan of Swamishri

Delegates sing bhajans and play instruments during Swamishri’s puja

Swamishri performs his morning puja

Delegates devoutly perform darshan of Swamishri

Delegates recite a prarthana before Swamishri at the end of his puja

Swamishri listens intently to the prarthana

Delegates recite a prarthana before Swamishri at the end of his puja

Swamishri performs darshan of all devotees in the hall upon completing his puja

Swamishri specially blesses and looks at the singers and instrument players on the side

Swamishri addresses the assembly in his morning discourse, often looking towards the India Trip delegates and reiterating many points in English to ensure everyone understands

Delegates listen attentively to Swamishri’s discourse

Pujya Kaushalnidhi Swami and Pujya Anandchintan Swami present Swamishri with a book outlining each India Trip delegate’s positive qualities, written by the delegates themselves

Swamishri flips through the pages of his book and shows his immense happiness with the effort

Swamishri blesses friendship bracelets made by the kishori delegates

Swamishri inquires further about the book presented to him earlier. Pujya Uttamyogi Swami explains that the delegates had written all of these positive qualities despite only knowing each other for a few weeks

Swamishri specially blesses the delegates upon hearing the backstory of the book

Swamishri raises his hand to show his happiness and encourages all the delegates to continue the practice of always seeing the good in others

Delegates in the audience make hearts with their hands towards Swamishri as he exits the hall

On July 25, 2024, India Trip delegates pose for a photo with Swamishri

During a special assembly with the delegates, Swamishri wears a pagh similar to the one worn by Shastriji Maharaj

Delegates welcome Swamishri to the assembly and explain the significance of Bochasan

Delegates are overjoyed upon seeing Swamishri and fold their hands

Swamishri is offered a garland decorated with paper airplanes, on which the kishori delegates had written their prayers about the three central themes of Brahmavidya College: Nishtha, Sadhana and Prapti

Delegates perform an interactive skit with Swamishri to guide the assembly

Delegates eagerly perform darshan of Swamishri

Swamishri blesses a bowl containing small papers on which the delegate has asked for forgiveness for any faults previously committed. Swamishri forgives each delegate on the spot and guides them to perform 100 malas as repentance for all mistakes previously committed

Swamishri looks at a card containing heartfelt prarthanas written by the kishori delegates

Swamishri is presented with four different options for a niyam to give to each delegate from that day onwards

Swamishri selects the option of ‘reading jivan charitra books’ daily

Swamishri blesses chocolates to give to all delegates

Swamishri is presented with four options to best describe his relationship with Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Swamishri selects the paper marked ‘Sevak and Swami’

Swamishri raises his hand, showing how Shastriji Maharaj divinely held the massive stone dangling over Sarangpur Mandir as Soma Bhagat had bravely climbed to reattach each rope

Delegates sing a line from the kirtan ‘Joi murti manohar tari…” and raise their hands towards Swamishri in unison

Pujya Gurumay Swami ties a nada-chhadi to Swamishri

Swamishri raises his arm to show each delegate the nada-chhadi

Swamishri blesses murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, which will be gifted to each delegate as a memento to keep in their puja

Swamishri hails ‘Suvarna Jayanti Mahotsav ni Jay!’ after performing the arti, commemorating 50 years of BAPS in North America

Delegates perform darshan of Swamishri with folded hands

Delegates clap along to a bhajan while performing darshan of Swamishri

Swamishri smiles at the delegates with folded hands

Swamishri looks back and folds his hands one last time to the delegates as he departs from the assembly

The morning of July 28 was the official graduation ceremony for the Brahmavidya College. Nilkanth Varni Maharaj is adorned with a graduation cap to signify the occasion.

Delegates sit with their hands folded, as they perform darshan of Swamishri. Each delegate also wears a graduation cap

Delegates sit with their hands folded, as Swamishri makes his way towards them

Pujya Anandchintan Swami gives Swamishri his graduation cap

Swamishri observes the graduation cap as Pujya Kaushalnidhi Swami explains that all the delegates are now graduates of Brahmavidya College

Swamishri raises the cap above his head, officially marking the graduation of each delegate from Brahmavidya College

With the memories of a lifetime created in the last month, delegates etch this image of Swamishri forever in their hearts before returning back home