17 August 2002 (V.S. 2058, Shravan vad 10) Saturday, Amdavad; Kishore Day
o As part of Kishore Day celebration, 376 kishores and 750 kishoris pilgrimaged on foot from various suburbs to the mandir for Swamishri's morning puja.
o The evening Kishore Day program included an impressive drama that showed how two modern teenagers who believed that the materialistic joys are the true objective of life and faith in God, mandirs and observing niyams are shackles that bind the individual were transformed through the presentation of two satsangi kishores. Prior to Swamishri's blessings, a torch-dance was performed by kishores.
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For the last three years members of the Amdavad Kishore Mandal have been performing a fast a day for Swamishri's good health.
o Finally, Swamishri blessed the assembly, saying, "I was very pleased to see the Kishore Mandal's program. The program was such that it would have pleased Yogiji Maharaj immensely. Yogiji Maharaj used to like such talks and insisted upon what you showed, namely, the consolidation of moral commands in one's life, the strength of Satsang and the spirit to please God and His holy Sadhu."
18 August 2002 (V.S. 2058, Shravan sud 11) Sunday, Amdavad; Children's Day
The stage decoration for the Children's Day program was set in a traditional Vedic atmosphere. Children chanted Vedic mantras and recited stories in the form of a discourse. The discourse was interlaced with drama presentations of stories of a Guru and his disciple students, Nachiketa and Yamraja and the child who conquered his mind and offered a melon to Shriji Maharaj.
Children chanted the Purush Sukta shlokas with appropriate mudras.
Finally, Swamishri discoursed on the need for parents to inspire their children into Satsang and studies.
19 August 2002 (V.S. 2058, Shravan sud 12) Monday, Amdavad
In the evening, Union Minister for Tourism, Shri Jagmohanji, came for Swamishri's darshan after his visit to Akshardham Monument. Shri Jagmohanji praised Akshardham and the activities of BAPS.
22 August 2002 (V.S. 2058, Shravan sud 15) Thursday, Amdavad; Rakshabandhan Festival
o The festival assembly commenced after Swamishri's morning puja with the speeches of Pujya Dr.Swami and Pujya Viveksagar Swami. A traditional dance by balaks added to the festive flair of the celebration. Finally, Swamishri blessed the assembly of 13,000 devotees, saying, "God protects us from the harassment of someone, from a disease and from political, social, legal, business or family problems. But the important thing is that He protects us from the cycle of life and death and the inner enemies. This is what we should ask of Him..."
Thereafter, the devotees had Swamishri's darshan and the senior sadhus gave them sanctified rakhadis. Lunch (prasad) was served to all devotees.
24 August 2002 (V.S. 2058, Shravan vad 2) Saturday, Amdavad; Volunteers' Day
In the evening assembly, volunteers presented a few skits showing the generation gap between a father and son, the complaints of a non-satsangi for a satsangi, the friction between devotees and volunteers and an argument between two volunteers - one saying that Satsang should be strengthened in oneself while the other argued that it should be spread amongst others. After each skit Swamishri was asked for his guidance.
28 August 2002 (V.S. 2058, Shravan vad 5) Wednesday, Amdavad, Gandhinagar, Amdavad
o At 10.00 a.m. while Swamishri was on his way to Gandhinagar he stopped by a canal that carried the waters of the river Narmada. In the presence of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj, Swamishri told sadhus to chant Vedic mantras while he worshipped the Narmada waters by showering sanctified flowers. When Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami split a coconut and sprinkled its water into the Narmada canal Swamishri responded, "Jai Maharaj. May the waters flow forever and may it reach Saurashtra and Kutch ..."
o At 7.00 p.m. by the river bank beneath Ellis Bridge, the Chief Minister of Gujarat had invited Swamishri to worship the Narmada waters that had started flowing in the river Sabarmati. The pujan rituals were carried out in a boat amidst Vedic chantings, worship of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and arti by Swamishri and the Chief Minister. (See special News report)
29 August 2002 (V.S. 2058, Shravan vad 6) Thursday, Amdavad
o After Swamishri's morning puja, the Pramukh Swami Health Services donated medical machinery and instruments like infant ventilators, haemodialysis machines, etc. to hospitals in Amdavad. (See special News report)
o In the evening assembly an impressive drama 'Where is Pramukh Swami?' was enacted by youth members.