A group of 27 bal, kishore and kishori karyakars from various North American centers participated in the 2010 India Trip from 3 July to 10 August 2010. The trip helped strengthen the participants' personal satsang and provided them the opportunity to explore India's culture and sacred landscapes. Highlights of the trip included time spent in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, a satsang shibir in Sarangpur titled, "Brahmvidya ni College", and a pilgrimage to sacred places around India, including many of the Himalayan sites that Nilkanth Varni visited during his travels.
In the first week of their 40-day trip, the delegates traveled in the Himalayan region, visiting pilgrimage sites such as Haridwar, Rishikesh, Badrinath, Kedarnath, etc. The kishores and kishoris commenced and concluded their pilgrimage in the presence of P.P. Swamishri in New Delhi. For four days in New Delhi, the delegates enjoyed the darshan of Swamishri as well as special sabhas and discussions with Sadguru Santo. On 12 July, the delegates represented the North American Kishore and Kishori mandal as Swamishri consecrated the foundation stones for the Mandir Shilanyas Ceremony to be held in New Jersey the next month.
The delegates continued their pilgrimage in Gujarat, visiting various sacred places of the Swaminarayan sampraday, including Bhadra, Gadhada, Junagadh, Bochasan, etc. In various areas of Gujarat, the delegates visited the homes of local karyakars and satsangis and got a first-hand look at Swamishri's selfless efforts.
After celebrating Guru Purnima in Bochasan in Pramukh Swami Maharaj's presence, the kishores and kishoris went to Sarangpur for a twelve-day shibir. The learned sadhus in Sarangpur led the delegates through a series of lectures and workshops on the fundamentals of Akshar Purushottam philosophy in theory and practice. As part of the shibir, the attendees also engaged in a variety of daily service activities. By participating in the shibir, the delegates strengthened their spiritual foundation and their relationship with God and guru.
After the shibir, the attendees concluded their trip with Swamishri's darshan in Bochasan. The kishores and kishoris returned home spiritually reinvigorated, taking with them messages of the shibir as well as friends and memories to last a lifetime.
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