14 January 2006 (V.S. 2062, Posh sud 15) Saturday, Mumbai; Makar Sankranti Festival
The Uttarayan Joli festival commenced at 5.30 pm at Bhakti Park. The stage backdrop had a large sprawling banyan tree. Kites were hanging from its branches and artificial birds decorated the tree. Viveksagar Swami explained the significance of Uttarayan in his speech. After a bhajan and garlanding ceremony, BAPS youths performed a traditional dance on the bhajan “Swaminarayan Charankamalma” Thereafter Shri Arun Gujarati, President of Rashtriya Congress Party, Maharashtra, addressed the assembly. Then the murti of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj was honoured by Chhotubhai Ajmera and family. An introductory film on Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi, was shown.
Finally, Swamishri addressed the assembly of 16,000 devotees, “The Uttarayan period is the time when the sun ascends towards the north. One has to travel from maya, northwards towards Akshardham. So our karma should be such that they take us closer to God. To go nearer to God one needs to perform good deeds. Good deeds mean doing bhakti, understanding the glory of God, listening to spiritual discourses, performing austerities, and offering donations”
In conclusion, Swamishri voiced the joli call, “Narayan Hare, Sachchidanand Prabho,” and then sat till the last devotee passed before him the darshan. The festival ended at 8.15 pm.
25 January 2006 (VS 2062, Posh vad 10) Wednesday, Mumbai
At 11.00 am Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of a new murti of Ghanshyam Maharaj at the BAPS mandir in Dadar. Also, Swamishri performed the pratishtha rituals of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj and Guru Parampara for the BAPS Sanskardham in Andheri. Prior to the pratishtha arti Swamishri blessed the gathering, “The murti of Ghanshyam Maharaj is wonderful. It is like the murti of Ghanshyam Maharaj in Gondal. There is light radiating from the murti. Whosoever has darshan of God will experience peace. The murti shall fulfil the wishes of all because God comes to redeem all. We pray that satsang and bhakti increases in Mumbai. The more the unity and bhakti the better the outcome will be.”
Bal Din,Mumbai
28 January 2006 (VS 2062, Posh vad 14) Saturday, Mumbai, Youth Day
At 6.55 pm Swamishri arrived in the evening assembly for the Youth Day programme themed on ‘atmabuddhi’. After Viveksagar Swami’s speech there followed drama depictions of Swamishri’s love for youths. The entire presentation enacted the verses of the kirtan written by Kothari Swami, “Swami mare chho tame, mane tamara thavu game.” In conclusion, Swamishri blessed the assembly, “Since time immemorial the jiva has become attached to the body and its relations. It is difficult to detach oneself from the body. But when one attains a Satpurush, then one strengthens his refuge in God and glory for God and thus detaches one from the attachment for the body. When one has atmabuddhi then one’s niyam, nischay and paksh become strong and firm.”