16 November 2001 (V.S.2058, Kartak sud 1) Friday, Gondal. New Year's Day, Bhai Bij
Swamishri conveyed his New Year's Jai Swaminarayan to all sadhus and devotees. Prior to his morning puja, Swamishri did darshan and offered his respects at Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj's rooms and in Akshar Deri. Therafter he performed the murti pratishtha rituals of murtis to be installed in a new mandir in Madankundla village. ( The murtis were consecrated by senior sadhus in the newly built Swaminarayan Mandir in Madankundla on 20 November 2001.)
In the New Year's morning assembly at 11.45 am Swamishri blessed the congregation, " ... Gunatitanand Swami has said, 'What we need we have get so do not think you are miserable.' We have the association of God and his holy sadhu, hence there is no higher happiness than this ... When one believes oneself as atma then there will be no misery. Today, on New Year's Day, pray to God to bless oneself with happiness, that is, one's 'dehbhav' be erased and be able to eternally remember God. When one attains this, then one shall become happy ..."
The evening assembly was dedicated as Youth Day and the diksha of Swamishri by Shastriji Maharaj. Two dramas about Akshar Deri were performed. Shri Haka Khachar narrated the history of Akshar Mandir. This was followed by a folk dance by youths and Pujya Viveksagar Swami recalled incidents of Yogiji Maharaj. Finally Swamishri blessed the congregation.
17 November 2001 (V.S.2058, Kartak sud 2) Saturday, Gondal. Gurukul Ex-Students Convention
A 2-day program for ex-students of BAPS Gurukul commenced from today. The evening assembly program included, experiences by ex-students, a kawali, folk dance and a drama about the Gurukul as a school of character-building. Outstanding students were then honored for attaining excellent results. Finally, Swamishri blessed the assembly of students.
18 November 2001 (V.S.2058, Kartak sud 3) Sunday, Gondal
In the morning assembly the students honored Swamishri's Harikrishna Maharaj.
In the evening assembly, the youths enacted the steadfastness of Abahaysinh Darbar. Swamishri finally blessed the students assembly.
19 November 2001 (V.S.2058, Kartak sud 4) Monday, Gondal
At 7.05 pm, a Parents Day program commenced. The youths performed a drama on Lalabhai's (of Upleta) faith.
25 November 2001 (V.S.2058, Kartak sud 10) Sunday, Dholka, Bochasan
Swamishri performed the murti pratishtha of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj and deities at the newly built shikharbaddh mandir in Dholka sponsored entirely by Shri Balkrishnabhai Patel.
26 November 2001 (V.S.2058, Kartak sud 11) Monday, Bochasan
The day marks Dev Uthi ekadashi, Shriji Maharaj's diksha day (202nd) and appointment as head of the fellowship (201st), Pramukh Swami Maharaj's initiation into parshad (63rd years), beginning of Tulsi Vivah and end of Chaturmas.
When Swamishri arrived in the Rang Mandap for darshan of Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj the sadhus chanted the 'upavit' mantras before a mock diksha scene where a cut-out murti of Swamishri was placed near the gurus' murtis.
In the evening at 6.00 pm, an Annakut of fresh vegetables was aranged before Thakorji. Swamishri performed the arti and blessed the assembly of devotees. Swamishri spoke about the sanctity the vegetables had acquired by virtue of their having been offered to God. Swamishri took hold of a brinjal, then a white raddish and finally a 'galka' in hand and spoke about their virtues.
27 November 2001 (V.S.2058, Kartak sud 12) Tuesday, Bochasan
Swamishri performed the murti pratishtha rituals of murtis to be installed in the newly built Swaminarayan Mandirs in Bhatpura (taluka: Umreth) and in Khanpur (taluka: Anand). After the rituals Swamishri performed the pratishtha arti. Then Swamishri blessed the devotees of the two villages.
29 November 2001 (V.S.2058, Kartak sud 14) Thursday, Bochasan
Swamishri performed the murti pratishtha rituals of murtis to be installed in the newly built Swaminarayan Mandir in Bharkunda (taluka: Kathlal).