12 February 2003 (V.S. 2059, Maha sud 10) Wednesday, New Delhi, Dhuliya
On arriving at the Swaminarayan Chhatralay, 800 devotees from different villages of Khandesh region welcomed Swamishri. Shri Dhanrajbhai Patil, an aged devotee from the time of Shastriji Maharaj, welcomed Swamishri by presenting a kalash and coconut. Thereafter the devotees got the opportunity of Swamishri's darshan from nearby as they filed passed.
In the evening, from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m., Swamishri attended the satsang assembly on the hostel lawn. Pujya Viveksagar Swami addressed the assembly in Hindi. The members of the Dhuliya Bal Mandal performed a welcome dance. Thereafter garlands were offered to Swamishri. The assembly concluded with Swamishri's blessings in Hindi.
14 February 2003 (V.S. 2059, Maha sud 12) Friday, Dhuliya, Varkheda, Japi, Dhuliya
At 9.00 a.m., Swamishri traveled to Varkheda. After darshan of Thakorji in the mandir, Swamishri made a home visit at the house of Harkorbai, a devotee from the time of Shastriji Maharaj. Thereafter Swamishri blessed the satsang assembly.
Then Swamishri visited the home of Purushottam Swami (Khandesh), who was a disciple of Bhagatji Maharaj and had joined Shastriji Maharaj when he left Vartal.
At 10.40 a.m., Swamishri arrived at Japi and performed pujan and arti of the murtis at the newly built BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir. Here, Swamishri read a chart of names and descendants of veteran devotees on the mandir wall. On reading the family tree of Rajaram, a devotee of Shastriji Maharaj, Swamishri pointed out that he had a third son called Tarachand whose name had not been written. The devotees and sadhus were amazed at Swamishri's memory.
In the satsang assembly, Pujya Viveksagar Swami and Swamishri spoke in Hindi.
At 12.00 noon, Swamishri returned to Dhuliya. In the evening assembly the hostel students presented a debate "Does Truth or Untruth Triumph?" Finally Swamishri addressed the assembly.
15 February 2003 (V.S. 2059, Maha sud 13) Saturday, Dhuliya, Songir, Dhuliya
At 10.15 a.m. Swamishri arrived in Songir village. He performed pujan and arti of murtis in the hari mandir and then addressed the satsang assembly. This was Swamishri's third visit to Songir. He had formerly visited the village in 1954 and 1976.
16 February 2003 (V.S. 2059, Maha sud 15) Sunday, Dhuliya
This morning, a parent's meet was arranged. Pujya Atmaswarup Swami addressed the assembly. Then the hostel students performed a traditional dance on, "Aj mare gher thay lila leher... " After Pujya Viveksagar Swami's speech Pujya Yogicharan Swami sang "Sumiran kara le ..." Pujya Anandjivan Swami spoke about the hostel activities and the care and interest Swamishri takes in its administration. Thereafter students spoke about how the hostel has helped them excel in their studies and effect a moral transformation in their lives. Finally, Swamishri explained the importance of character and satsang in life.
At 7.00 p.m., in the evening satsang assembly, a balak delivered a speech. Then the Dhuliya Bal Mandal performed a dance on "Bal sakha sau avo re ..." After Pujya Viveksagar Swamis' speech, the hostel students performed a traditional dance and a drama called "Dada Khachar's Sacrifice". Thereafter, Swamishri was honored with a citation by MLA Shri Anil Anna Gote on behalf of the city of Dhuliya. Then the devotees of Khandesh took the opportunity of honoring Shri Harikrishna Maharaj. Finally, Swamishri blessed the assembly.
19 February 2003 (V.S. 2059, Maha vad 3) Wednesday, Dhuliya, Kusumbe, Chopda, Amalner
At 9.00 a.m., Swamishri departed from Dhuliya and arrived in Kusumbe at 10.25 a.m. The devotees welcomed Swamishri's entry with dhol, shehnai and sound of conch shells. After darshan of Thakorji in the mandir, Swamishri performed pujan and arti. Then Swamishri went for darshan of the old BAPS mandir in the village. Swamishri lauded the devotion of the late Narsinh Bhagat, a devotee of Shastriji Maharaj.
During the satsang assembly, the local balaks performed a drama on Abhayasinh's steadfastness in observing Shriji Maharaj's niyam. The assembly concluded with Swamishri's blessings.
At 5.40 p.m., Swamishri briefly halted at Chopda and visited the home of Shri Arunbhai Gujarati. Thereafter Swamishri departed for Amalner. After Thakorji's darshan at the Amalner mandir, Swamishri attended the satsang assembly.
20 February 2003 (V.S. 2059, Maha vad 4) Thursday, Amalner, Galvada, Amalner
At 10.30 a.m., Swamishri arrived at Galvada and after Thakorji's darshan performed pujan and arti of the murtis in the newly built Swaminarayan Mandir. Then Swamishri attended the satsang assembly, blessed the devotees and visited the farm sanctified by Shastriji Maharaj. Here Swamishri sprinkled the holy water from a well on his head and on all the sadhus and devotees. Then Swamishri went by the large banyan tree where Shastriji Maharaj had sat and delivered spiritual discourses. Swamishri held the hanging branches of the tree and gently rocked himself.
In the evening assembly in Amalner, an announcement was made about the naming of the street and chowk by the mandir as 'Pramukh Swami Road' and 'Swaminarayan Chowk'. The devotees honored Shri Harikrishna Maharaj.
21 February 2003 (V.S. 2059, Maha vad 5) Friday, Amalner, Mohadi, Dhuliya, Ukai
Before departing from Amalner, Swamishri attended the opening of 'Pramukh Swami Road' and 'Swaminarayan Chowk' by the city officials.
At 9.45 a.m., Swamishri arrived in Mohadi. Swamishri performed the pujan and arti of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj and Guru Parampara in the mandir. During the assembly Shri Dhanrajbhai, a devotee of Shastriji Maharaj, welcomed Swamishri. After blessing the assembly, Swamishri visited the home of Vithal Mahajan and recalled an incident of Nirgun Swami.
At 7.35 p.m. Swamishri arrived at the 'Shri Swaminarayan Akshar Purushottam Kumar Chhatralay' in Ukai.
22 February 2003 (V.S. 2059, Maha vad 6) Saturday, Ukai, Songadh, Sankari
Swamishri performed arti of Thakorji in Ukai on the occasion of its 19th inauguration anniversary celebration (patotsav).
Swamishri also blessed the morning satsang assembly.
At 6.00 p.m. Swamishri departed from Ukai and arrived at Songadh. Thereafter Swamishri traveled to Sankari, arriving at 7.35 p.m.
25 February 2003 (V.S. 2059, Maha vad 9) Tuesday, Sankari, Kosindra, Bodeli
At 7.15 p.m., Swamishri arrived in Kosindra and performed pujan and arti of Thakorji. The mandir hall was filled with devotees. Swamishri blessed the assembly.
At 8.00 p.m., Swamishri arrived at Bodeli and had Thakorji's darshan at the hari mandir. Today, Swamishri traveled 173 km in 3½ hr. by car. Despite the long traveling and fatigue, Swamishri blessed the devotees in Bodeli.
26 February 2003 (V.S. 2059, Maha vad 10) Wednesday, Bodeli
Intro
From 1977 Swamishri has inspired satsang in the tribal villages on the eastern strip of Vadodara district. Through Swamishri's and sadhus' travelings 35,000 tribal people have adopted satsang in their lives. More than 200 Satsang centers, youth centers, children's centers and women's centers are active in the region. The tribal devotees have built 5 hari mandirs and 25 sanskar centers. A BAPS medical van tours 102 villages providing free treatment to the tribal people. A modern hospital, "Pramukh Swami Hospital", in Dabhoi, caters to the tribal people. Tribal children are provided scholarships to encourage education. In times of drought or calamity the BAPS has distributed food grains, clothes and organized cattle camps. To solve the issue of drinkable water the Sanstha has undertaken watershed projects in the villages and towns of Sankheda, Pavi Jetpur and Kawant.
On the occasion of 25 years of satsang activities in the tribal areas, Swamishri was invited to perform the bhumi-pujan ceremony of a large mandir with an educational complex, health center and anti-addiction center.
At 10.00 p.m. Swamishri performed the bhumi-pujan rituals and arti. Thereafter a satsang assembly was held. After Swamishri's blessings Shri Harikrishna Maharaj was honored by the tribal devotees.
From 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m., a Teacher's Convention was held. Pujya Viveksagar Swami addressed the convention. The tribal youths performed an impressive tribal dance. In conclusion Swamishri blessed the convention.
28 February 2003 (V.S. 2059, Maha vad 13) Friday, Bodeli
This morning, tribal devotees from the interior villages flocked to Bodeli for the tribal convention. After Pujya Viveksagar Swami's speech, the satsangi tribal youths of Nankhal village performed a traditional dance. Several tribal devotees narrated their stories of transformation due to satsang.
Finally, Swamishri blessed the convention, "You should live such a life that others feel proud of you. Life is worthless if you do not offer devotion to God. It is not important how long you live but how nobly you live ... You are blessed to have the association of satsang, therefore take care and imbibe the values of satsang ..."