12, Tuesday; Shri Hari Jayanti
In the evening Swamishri presided over the 230th birthday celebration of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Shri Hari Jayanti. The festive assembly, held on the mandir grounds, commenced at 7.00 p.m. The stage backdrop was made of clouds with the utsav murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan seated on a golden throne. Swamishri’s Harikrishna Maharaj was placed in a golden cradle. The celebration was themed on Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s supreme glory. The programme was as follows:
• Bhajan: Premavati sut jãyo re anupam… sung by sadhus
• Speech: Shri Hari’s unique divine powers and glory by Pujya Apurvamuni Swami
• Drama: How Shri Hari gave moksha, performed by Yuvak Mandal, Botad
• Speech: Shri Hari’s unique sadhus by Pujya Brahmadarshan Swami
• Speech: Shri Hari’s unique devotees by Pujya Siddheshwar Swami
• Speech: Philosophy of Brahman - Parabrahman and the unique guru parampara by Pujya Viveksagar Swami
• Swamishri inaugurated a booklet for children, Good Habits and Bad habits
• Swamishri was honoured with garlands by senior sadhus
• Traditional dance by Yuvak Mandal, Bhavnagar
Finally, Swamishri blessed the assembly, “Shriji Maharaj and Gunatitanand Swami came to liberate countless jivas. Bhagatji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj faced many troubles, but they had a firm conviction that the principle of Akshar-Purushottam is genuine. They thus tolerated and subsequently today we find that this knowledge has flourished and been enshrined in so many mandirs, sadhus and devotees.”
Then a thal of sweet foods and other items was offered to Thakorji. Finally, Swamishri and the senior sadhus performed the festival arti and rocked the cradle of Thakorji. The assembly concluded at 10.25 p.m. Swamishri had remained seated despite his old age for over three hours.