25 January 2004, Sunday, Clifton, NJ:
BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, Clifton, NJ celebrated the festival of Vasant Panchami in Clifton, New Jersey. The evening assembly was interspersed with several devotional bhajans and Kirtans and video presentations depicting Shashtriji Maharaj’s contribution to the society. P. B. Devendrabhai’s speech centered on why Vasant Panchami marks a glorious occasion in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. He also pointed out that the Vasant Panchami is the celebration four significant events; the advent of the Shikshapatri and the births of Nishkulanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami and Shashtriji Maharaj (Shastri Yagnapurushdas). He further elaborated how Shashtriji Maharaj constructed mandirs in Sarangpur, Gondal, Atladra and Gadhada in the face of relentless persecution by the old sampradaya, and with a scarcity of man, money and stone. The occasion concluded with arti and mahaprasad.