1 March 2009 (VS 2065, Fagan Sud Pancham) Sunday, Bhavnagar & Sarangpur
At 6.10 p.m. Swamishri left New Delhi and arrived in Bhavnagar at 7.20 p.m. Swamishri was welcomed with garlands.
4 March 2009 (V.S. 2065, Sud Atham Holashtak Prarambh) Wednesday, Bhavnagar & Sarangpur
During Swamishri’s morning puja kishores demonstrated the troubles Swamishri has taken in spreading Satsang. They also performed a traditional dance.
5 March 2009, (V.S. 2065, Sud Nom Shri Hari Navmi) Thusday, Bhavnagar & Sarangpur
Annakut was offered to Thakorji in the central shrine, a variety of fruits were offered to Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj and different vegetables (shakotsav) were arranged before Shri Harikrishna Maharaj in the mandir shrine.
6 March 2009, (V.S. 2065, Sud Dasham) Friday, Bhavnagar & Sarangpur
Today, Children’s Day and symbolic rangotsav were celebrated in Swamishri’s puja. Firstly, BAPS children sang bhajans during puja. The stage was decorated with vats of coloured water, bowls of gulal and coloured powder and pichkaris. In the end Swamishri blessed the assembly, “Hold ghar sabha daily. Just as one accomplishes one’s worldly works together, similarly ghar sabha should be held for the liberation of one’s soul. Through it one attains knowledge, understanding, bhakti and the blessings of the satpurush.”
Around 6.00 p.m. Swamishri departed from Bhavnagar and mid-way towards Sarangpur he observed the mandir construction at Vallabhipur. At 7.00 p.m. Swamishri arrived in Sarangpur amidst a warm welcome. After having darshan at the Yagnapurush Smruti Mandir, he proceeded towards the mandir for Thakorji’s darshan. On the way Swamishri blessed all sadhus and devotees.
9 March 2009, (V.S. 2065, Sud Teras) Monday, Bhavnagar & Sarangpur
Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of murtis to be installed at the BAPS hari mandirs in Bareja and Kaaligam (re-pratishtha of renovated hari mandir, Ahmedabad).
11 March 2009, (V.S. 2065, Akshar Purnima) Wednesday, Bhavnagar & Sarangpur
The festivals of Bhagatji Maharaj’s birthday and Fuldol were celebrated in the evening from 5.15 p.m to 8.30 p.m. Swamishri blessed and sprayed more than 60,000 devotees with sanctified coloured water. (Details in April 2009 issue).
13 March 2009, (V.S. 2065, Vad Trij) Friday, Bhavnagar & Sarangpur
At 6.15 a.m. the preliminary rituals of parshad and bhagwati diksha of 13 youths from abroad began before Swamishri’s puja. During Swamishri’s puja the rituals continued and thereafter bhajans were sung. At 8.35 a.m, the final part of the diksha rituals commenced. Senior sadhus gave each of the youths a kanthi, upper cloth, pagh, smeared chandan on their forehead, and gave a flower and prasad box to their parents. Swamishri finally administered the diksha mantra. In conclusion, Swamishri blessed all, “To take diksha as a sadhu is a great thing. All praises for their parents for sacrificing their son. This is possible only when one has deep faith in God and the understanding that God looks after everyone and everything. The youths who have become sadhus and parshads must have had great worldly ambitions. They have been brought up abroad in a materialistic culture yet they have left all the attractions. To give this up is a difficult thing. Let us pray that they all become very good sadhus, offer bhakti and inspire others to do so and become happy. May Maharaj bless their parents with happiness and good tidings.”