H.D.H. Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s 83rd Birthday samaiyo was celebrated at the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir, Washington D.C. in the presence of Pujya Viveknidhi Swami, Pujya Bhaktiswaroop Swami, and a grand assembly. The morning began with a special Mahapuja performed by Pujya Viveknidhi Swami in which large number of people participated.
In the afternoon, the 3 hour long main program, entitled "Divyatanu", or “Divine Anatomy”, was primarily organized and performed by Baal/Kishore Mandals. It showed how P.P. Pramukh Swami Maharaj has used his entire body for satsang. He has used his feet to travel all over the world to visit devotees; he has used his hands to write letters that have comforted literally hundreds of thousands; and he has used his ears to listen to the common and not so common problems that so many have brought before him.
The program began with stuti led by the shishu mandal, followed with dhoon and prarthana sung by bal mandal. A drama performed by both kishore mandal and yuvak mandal depicted the true story of a centuries’ old fight between two villages. Both the British colonial government and the Indian government tried to put an end to the fighting but couldn’t. Only Pramukh Swami Maharaj was able to bring the two sides together in peace. Balak and kishore speeches demonstrated to the audience how we should use our hands and ears properly in the service of society. The highlight of the program was a masterful kishore dance set to the kirtan “Ayo re ayo re.”
After the program, a representative from the office of Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. presented a citation to the mandir for its work in youth and community service activities. Everyone greatly enjoyed this samaiyo together, and were able feel a great deal deeper into many facets of Swamishri’s life.