16 October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 3) Monday, Detroit
At 6.55 pm Swamishri arrived at the mandir site. Swamishri visited and sanctified the home on the site where the weekly Satsang assembly is held. Swamishri performed pujan and arti of murtis of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Radha Krishna Dev, Hanumanji, Ganapatiji and Guru Parampara that will be installed once the mandir is ready.
17 October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 4) Tuesday, Cleveland
Congressman Mr. Dennis Kucimich and Congressman Mr. Sherrod Brown welcomed Swamishri. Mr. Dennis Kucimich presented a proclamation.
18 October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 6) Wednesday, Cleveland
The mandir pratishtha of Cleveland was performed by Swamishri in 1996. However with Swamishri's instructions the murtis' position was changed and they were to be re-consecrated. Amidst Vedic chantings Swamishri performed the pratishtha of the murtis and the canvas murtis for Pittsburgh center.
At 7.00 pm Swamishri blessed a Medico-Spiritual Conference held in the mandir.
During the evening assembly the devotees honored Lord Harikrishna Maharaj.
19 October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 7) Thursday, Munster (Indiana)
In the evening assembly Swamishri blessed a Medico-Spiritual Conference.
20 October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 8) Friday, Munster, Chicago: Haveli Mahotsav
Swamishri arrived in Chicago at 11.30 am. The Haveli Mahotsav was held at the new 30-acre mandir site. A wonderful mini-spiritual township with archway (Hansa dwar), assembly marquee and Haveli complex were set up. Children and teenagers welcomed Swamishri with folkdances and dignitaries offered bouquets. Swamishri performed pujan of the ornately carved main entrance and inaugurated the Haveli complex by opening the nada chhadi amidst Vedic chanting. Dignitaries split coconuts on the threshold of the Haveli complex. Swamishri then sanctified the entire Haveli complex with Lord Harikrishna Maharaj.
During a brief assembly Swamishri was welcomed and presented with a proclamation by Mr. Robert Schillerstrom - Chairman of Du Page County board.
At 6.45 pm Swamishri was honored during the welcome assembly held in a marquee near the Haveli complex. Seventeen heads of Indian Organizations honored and presented proclamations to Swamishri, namely, National Federation of Indian Associations (NFIA), Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), Gujarat Cultural Association (GCA), Jain Society, etc.
21 October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 9) Saturday, Chicago
At 10.10 am Swamishri blessed and flagged off a Walk-a-thon. Annually the Walk-a-thon is held at all the Satsang centers in America to promote family health and harmony. Today under the auspices of the Haveli Mahotsav, more than 700 devotees were ready to chant the Swaminarayan dhun and walk a distance of 4.5 miles. Swamishri too joined the walkathon for a short round, circumambulating the Haveli, and then saw the Haveli construction in detail.
In the evening assembly the Kishore Din theme was 'Thank You'. The Kishores conducting the program spoke on the glory of God's creation. The presentation was interspersed with projections of natural scenes of earth, water, fire, air and space. This was followed by a folk dance and drama presentation. Swamishri blessed the assembly and finally the kishores and kishoris honored Lord Harikrishna Maharaj.
22 October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 10) Sunday, Chicago
In the evening assembly a colorful and devotional procession of Lord Harikrishna Maharaj was carried out. The devotees then honored the Lord.
23 October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 11) Monday, Chicago
At 5.30 pm the 'Swayam Sevak Din' (Volunteers' Day) assembly commenced. Incidents on the tremendous sacrifice of volunteers were narrated. A drama presentation on 'Samat Patel's' sacrifice to please Lord Swaminarayan was made by the volunteers. Then volunteers representing the 34 departments behind the Haveli Mahotsav came to receive Swamishri's blessings. As each departmental representative came, a prayer was offered to Swamishri.
Swamishri finally crowned the 'Swayam Sevak Din' with his blessings.
26 October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 14) Thursday, Chicago
At 6.30 pm Swamishri arrived at the Haveli hall and performed Sharda pujan by showering flowers, kumkum and rice grains on account books.
Mr. Jim Zay, member of DuPage County Board, presented a proclamation to Swamishri and declared 20 October 2000 as Pramukh Swami Day.
The kishores of Chicago performed a beautiful 'Deep Nrutya' and pleased Swamishri.
27 October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 30) Friday, Chicago
Swamishri arrived at the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Glen Ellyn. An annakut had been offered before Thakorji. Swamishri joined in the singing of thaal, then performed arti and blessed the congregation.
In the evening, as part of Children's Day program, balaks presented a cultural program of dance and the Prahlad ballet. Swamishri conducted the 'Oiya' game and pleased the balaks.
28 October 2000 (V.S. 2057, Kartik Sud 1) Saturday, Chicago: New Year's Day
After his morning puja, on New Year's day, Swamishri expounded on Vachanamrut Sarangpur 7 and blessed the devotees.
980 devotees had participated in the yagna for peace. Swamishri worshipped the murtis of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Radha Krishna Dev, Hanumanji, Ganapatiji and Guru Parampara to be consecrated the next day in the Haveli.
During the yagna Swamishri initiated two youths from America - Saurabh Bhakta (Nachiketa Bhagat) and Pranav Vyas (Kanaad Bhagat).
In the evening a symbolic 80th birthday celebration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj was held. The balaks and kishores performed a thrilling folk dance. Then various dignitaries addressed the assembly with Swamishri finally blessing the 10,000 devotees and well-wishers.
29 October 2000 (V.S. 2057, Kartak Sud 2) Sunday, Chicago
At 9.50 am Swamishri performed the murti pratishtha of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Radha Krishna Dev, Hanumanji, Ganapatiji and guru Parampara in the Haveli auditorium. Swamishri also performed pujan of murtis for the mandir in St. Louis.
Then annakut with 1042 food items was offered to Thakorji. Thaal was devotionally sung by sadhus and Swamishri. Thereafter a pratishtha assembly was held in the marquee. More than 9,000 people had congregated and during the day 12,000 came for Annakut darshan in the Haveli.
At 9.20 pm Swamishri departed from Chicago on Air India Boeing 747 to London.
30 October 2000 (V.S. 2057, Kartak Sud 3) Monday, London
Swamishri arrived in London at 10.25 am (4.23 am American Standard Time) at Heathrow Airport and reached the mandir late due to heavy traffic at 1.10 pm. After performing puja, Swamishri blessed the audience and then retired to bed.