More than 1,150 yuvaks and yuvatis of Vadodara attended the Yuva Shibir held at the BAPS Mandir in Gadhada in the presence of Pujya Viveksagar Swami. Themed ‘Jivishu Swāmine Māte...’ (We Will Live for Swami…), the shibir guided the youths on how to practice Satsang in their daily lives and to strengthen their bond with the Satpurush.
On the first day, the youths visited the holy places in Gadhada sanctified by Bhagwan Swaminarayan – Gopinath Dev Mandir, Dada Khachar's Darbar, Akshar Ordi, Lakshmi Vadi – and Jiva Khachar’s Darbar and the exhibition ‘Gadhpur Jota Shriji Sambhare’ at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir.
During the shibir, six main topics were discussed: 1. Shikshan (Education); 2. Satsang: Daily Puja, Yuva Sabha, Satsang Reading; 3. Saiyam (Restraint): Stri-Purush Maryada, Social Media Consciousness, Dietary Discretion; 4. Samjan (Understanding), 5. Seva: Physical and Spreading Satsang; and 6. Satpurushma Jodan (Attachment with the Satpurush): Prapti (Attainment), Smruti (Remembrance), Observing Spiritual Commands. A new theme song was composed for the shibir that incorporated these topics.
Guruhari Mahant Swami Maharaj himself wrote beautiful motivational sentences on these six topics. Each topic was elaborated upon through speeches, workshops, case studies, skits, discussions, seminars, videos and other activities.
The in-person speakers included Pujya Viveksagar Swami, Atmatrupt Swami, Adarshjivan Swami and Bhaktisagar Swami, while Pujya Dr. Swami, Pujya Bhaktipriya (Kothari) Swami and Pujya Tyagavallabh Swami inspired the youths via video conference.
On the night of 12 May, swamis from Sarangpur presented a melodious kirtan aradhana.
On 14 May, after completion of the shibir, all the youths had darshan at Sarangpur Mandir, Yagnapurush Smruti Mandir, Pramukh Swami Maharaj Smruti Mandir and other sacred places before returning to Vadodara.