29 September 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarva vad 1) Wednesday, Kampala, Uganda
Swamishri arrived by plane from Kisumu at Entebbe Airport in Kampala at 11.00 am. In the evening a welcome assembly was held in the BAPS mandir compound.
30 September 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarva vad 2) Thursday, Kampala
Patotsav and Kirtan Aradhana
In the morning, a traditional mahapuja ceremony was held in the mandir to celebrate the patostsav of Kampala mandir. Swamishi’s ill health prevented him from attending, but Viveksagar Swami presided over the mahapuja ceremony on his behalf.
In the evening, Swamishri arrived in the mandir for the patotsav assembly.
Due to ill health, Swamishri was unable to visit Jinja. However, he instructed Doctor Swami and 30 sadhus and parshads to go on his behalf for the Jinja Mandir murti-pratishtha.
29 September 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarva vad 1) Wednesday, Jinja
Over 80 devotees participated in the grand procession through the streets of Jinja. Hundreds of local residents lined the route and also enjoyed the colourful spectacle.
In the evening, the sadhus presented a superb kirtan aradhana, after which a 30-minute fireworks display was held.
30 September 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarva vad 2) Thursday, Kampala
From early morning, the traditional Vedic murti-pratishtha rituals were performed in the presence of Doctor Swami.
Afterwards, in the assembly, the balaks performed a traditional welcome dance. After speeches by senior devotees and local dignitaries, Doctor Swami addressed the assembly.
Thus, with Swamishri’s blessings the 2-day Jinja Mandir Murti-Pratishtha Mahotsav was celebrated in grand style.
1 October 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarvo vad 3) Friday, Kampala
In the evening, the Ugandan Finance Minister, Sam Kotessa and President Musseveni’s legal assistant Fox Oboi-Oywelowo came to meet Swamishri.
2 October 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarvo vad 4) Saturday, Kampala; Shastrji Maharaj's Shraddh
Shastriji Maharaj's Shraddh and Bal Din & Samarpan Din
After breakfast, Swamishri gave blessings by phone to the sadhus and devotees gathered in Sarangpur to commemorate Shastriji Maharaj’s shraddh.
Then at lunchtime, Swami served dudhpak to the sadhus and devotees.
In the evening, balaks and shishus presented a performance of ‘Yagnapurush Sukhkari’.
In his blessings Swamishri said, “God should be worshipped from a young age. Our traditional values should be taught from a young age.”
3 October 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarvo vad 5) Sunday, Kampala
In the morning, Swamishri went for darshan to the Sanatan Dharma Mandir, which is the oldest in Uganda.
At 12.30 pm, the Vice-President of Uganda, Prof. Gilbert Bukenya, came to meet Swamishri.
The vice-president requested, “I believe that you are the centre of unity for the world. The world gains inspiration from you. Please give blessings that Uganda progresses and that unity and prosperity increases.”
Swamishri conveyed his blessings. The meeting lasted 30-minutes, during which various topics were discussed.
4 October 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarvo vad 6) Monday,
Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania)
Welcome Assembly & Annakut
Swamishri arrived in Dar-es-Salaam by plane from Kampala at 11.40 am. In the evening, a welcome assembly was held at Lakshminarayan Mandir, in which senior devotees and local leaders garlanded Swamishri.
5 October 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarvo vad 7) Tuesday,
Dar-es-Salaam
An annakut of 1051 vegetarian delicacies was offered to the deities at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir. At 12.10 pm, Swamishri performed the annakut arti and then blessed the devotees for their devotional efforts.
6 October 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarvo vad 8) Wednesday,
Dar-es-Salaam
During Swamishri’s lunch, the Mwanza Kishore Mandal presented a report of their satsang activities.
In the evening assembly kishores presented a cultural programme.
7 October 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarvo vad 9) Thursday,
Dar-es-Salaam
Bal/Balika Din
After the presentation by balaks in the evening satsang assembly, Swamishri blessed the audience, “Our true wealth is that our children imbibe good virtues and spirituality. For this the parents have to be extremely alert. There should be a mandir in the home. But nowadays there is a TV instead of a mandir. And they watch that which should not be watched. They sit together and watch. Then how will respect (for elders) remain? With this loss of respect, the family is destroyed. One sees all this, yet one does not think to stop. Only when one understands this and practices it will one experience happiness.”
9 October 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarvo vad 10) Saturday,
Dar-es-Salaam
In the morning devotees of Dar-es-Salaam, Mwanza and other centres in Tanzania held a special assembly in honour of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj in the presence of Swamishri.
After Swamishri’s evening walk, the Tanzanian Foreign Minister, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, came to meet him. Swamishri blessed him, “May you do good service for the country and earn the respect of the people.”
10 October 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarvo vad 11) Sunday, Mombasa (Kenya)
Swamishri's vicharan in Mombasa
At 11.45 am Swamishri arrived in Mombasa by plane from Dar-es-Salaam.
The evening welcome assembly was held in the Hindu Shivalay Mandir.
11 October 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarvo vad 12) Monday, Mombasa
In the morning, Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha ceremony for the new marble murtis of the guru parampara in the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Mombasa.
13 October 2004 (V.S. 2060, Bhadarvo vad 14) Wednesday, Mombasa
In the evening satsang assembly, the kishores performed a drama entitled ‘Khoj’. Following this, in his blessings Swamishri said, “Bad worldly habits are present in all. So if bad things are seen outside, this stimulates bad thoughts within. One acts as one has seen. So, engage in satsang and read good scriptures. But nowadays people do not spare time for reading good scriptures. The Bhagvat, Gita, Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s Vachanamrut are all excellent. They contain the answers to all our questions.”