|
A group of 52 kishore and kishori karyakars from various North American centers participated in the 2011 India Trip from June 26 to August 2, 2011. 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 and a satsang shibir in Gandhinagar titled, "Brahmvidya ni College".
In the first week of their 38-day trip, the delegates traveled in the Rajasthan region, visiting Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ranakpur, Udaipur, Pindwara, Mount Abu etc. Thereafter, the kishores and kishoris went to Bharuch to receive blessings from Swamishri before going to Gandhinagar for a seven-day shibir.
The revered swamis from Amdavad, Sarangpur, and Gandhinagar 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. The delegates then continued their pilgrimage in Gujarat, visiting various sacred places of the Swaminarayan Sampraday, including Bochasan, Chansad, Gadhada, Junagadh, Mehlav, etc. Furthermore, in the tribal areas of Tithal, they also visited the homes of local karyakars and satsangis and got a first-hand look at Swamishri's selfless efforts.
The attendees then concluded their trip with Swamishri's darshan in Mumbai. 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. |
