Home > Vicharan > HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj's Vicharan > 9 to 13 August 2000

HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj's Vicharan, Atlanta, Perry, Jackson, Charlotte

9 Aug 2000 to 13 Aug 2000

Thakorji and Swamishri are welcomed with a traditional dance during the shibir

Swamishri saying the rosary on the beautiful, divine stage

Lord Harikrishna Maharaj wearing an ID card and blessing the shibir

Swamishri was offered an ID card for the shibir

Swamishri keenly attentive to the shibir proceedings

Swamishri viewing the exhibition set up by kishoris

Writing the Swaminarayan Maha mantra in the exhibition

Swamishri judges the Chapatis rolled by the kishores during the 'Generation Game'

Swamishri with kishore participants after a game of doing blindfold tilak-chandlo

Swamishri attentively listening to the shibir program

Lord Swaminarayan (Utsav murti)

Blessing the kishore-kishori session with words of spiritual wisdom

Swamishri points out his preferences during the Ruchi quiz with balaks

The balaks rejoice during Ruchi quiz

Swamishri blesses the balaks

Swamishri gestures during the singing of 'Maha balvant maya ...'

Kishores singing the prayer 'Maha balvant maya ...'

Kishores dance to the tune of 'Vartal gaam fulvadiye ...'

Swamishri bows before Lord Harikrishna Maharaj

Performing arti of Thakorji

Swamishri first sprays the colored water on Thakorji

Swamishri enthusiastically sprays the holy colored water on the balaks and kishores

Balaks and kishores dance and rejoice in the shower of divine water. They cry for more and Swamishri blesses them with his abundant grace and joy

Swamishri satisfies the balaks and kishores with the experience of Fuldol festival and consolidates their faith in Hindu festivals

Beautifully decorated Utsav murti of Lord Swaminarayan on a traditional Indian cart

Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj

Swamishri during his morning walk

Swamishri points out his preferences during the Ruchi quiz

Kishores happily respond with color code cards during the Ruchi quiz

Swamishri narrates the story of the lion (Lindiyo) who had turned meek in the company of sheep to the balaks

Swamishri in a humorous mood during a session with the balaks

Divine Feast: Swamishri personally stirs the 'sambhar'

Divine Feast: Adding spices and tomatoes in the Khichadi

Divine Feast: Adding ghee in the Khichadi

Lush, fresh vegetables before the Utsav murti seated on a traditional cart

Kishores present a discussion promoting a vegetarian diet

Swamishri blesses the assembly with Sura Khachar's darbar as a backdrop and a large steel pot on a log fire in the foreground

Fresh luscious vegetables before the Utsav murti

Warm, friendly dialogue with the kishores

Swamishri performing his daily puja. Kishores had prepared an exquisite backdrop with Lord Swaminarayan seated on an elephant

Swamishri in a light, relaxed mood blessing the participants with his holy presence

Swamishri during the shibir

swamishri during the Bal shibir assembly

Swamishri during the Bal shibir assembly

Swamishri in an illustrious, happy mood during the Bal shibir

Swamishri blesses a balak who took a 'niyam' in the 'Hot Potato' game

Swamishri with a ball during the 'Hot Potato' game

Swamishri watches the 'Hot Potato' game played by the balaks

Swamishri with a 'Hot Potato' ball and blesses a balak

Placing his hand on the balak's shoulder, Swamishri listens to his enquiry with interest

Swamishri joins the dancing kishores during the kirtan bhakti program by sadhus in the shibir

Swamishri sanctifiying the new mandir site in Perry with flowers

Swamishri ties a rakhadi to Thakorji and celebrates the festival of Raksha Bandhan

The kishores tie the sanctified nada chhadi (thread) on each other's wrist

Divine Touch: The kishores link their individual pieces of thin rope with a knot and then its ends were tied to a nada chhadi that was given to Swamishri

In his blessings Swamishri explains the significance of Raksha Bandhan festival to the kishores

Lord Harikrishna Maharaj graces the shibir

Swamishri performs arti before the firework display

Kishores also perform the arti

Brilliant firework display

Setting divas afloat on the lake

Firework fountains also illuminate the hearts of all the balaks and kishores

Swamishri humbly offers his pranams to all the balaks and kishores

As a celebration to the Joli Utsav, the Utsav murti is adorned in a Sadhu's 148-14 clothes with the begging cloth-bag (Joli)