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Detroit
Detroit, Cleveland
Cleveland
Cleveland,
Munster (Indiana)
Munster, Chicago
Chicago
London
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- 16 October
2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 3) Monday, Detroit
At 6.55 pm Swamishri arrived at the mandir site. Swamishri visited and sanctified
the home on the site where the weekly Satsang assembly is held. Swamishri performed
pujan and arti of murtis of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Radha Krishna Dev, Hanumanji,
Ganapatiji and Guru Parampara that will be installed once the mandir is ready. - 17
October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 4) Tuesday, Cleveland
Congressman Mr. Dennis Kucimich and Congressman Mr. Sherrod Brown welcomed Swamishri.
Mr. Dennis Kucimich presented a proclamation. - 18
October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 6) Wednesday, Cleveland
The mandir pratishtha of Cleveland was performed by Swamishri in 1996. However
with Swamishri's instructions the murtis' position was changed and they were to
be re-consecrated. Amidst Vedic chantings Swamishri performed the pratishtha of
the murtis and the canvas murtis for Pittsburgh center.
At 7.00 pm Swamishri
blessed a Medico-Spiritual Conference held in the mandir.
During the evening
assembly the devotees honored Lord Harikrishna Maharaj. - 19
October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 7) Thursday, Munster (Indiana)
In the evening assembly Swamishri blessed a Medico-Spiritual Conference. - 20
October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 8) Friday, Munster, Chicago: Haveli Mahotsav
Swamishri arrived in Chicago at 11.30
am. The Haveli Mahotsav was held at the new 30-acre mandir site. A wonderful mini-spiritual
township with archway (Hansa dwar), assembly marquee and Haveli complex were set
up. Children and teenagers welcomed Swamishri with folkdances and dignitaries
offered bouquets. Swamishri performed pujan of the ornately carved main entrance
and inaugurated the Haveli complex by opening the nada chhadi amidst Vedic chanting.
Dignitaries split coconuts on the threshold of the Haveli complex. Swamishri then
sanctified the entire Haveli complex with Lord Harikrishna Maharaj.
During
a brief assembly Swamishri was welcomed and presented with a proclamation by Mr.
Robert Schillerstrom - Chairman of Du Page County board.
At 6.45 pm Swamishri
was honored during the welcome assembly held in a marquee near the Haveli complex.
Seventeen heads of Indian Organizations honored and presented proclamations to
Swamishri, namely, National Federation of Indian Associations (NFIA), Federation
of Indian Associations (FIA), Gujarat Cultural Association (GCA), Jain Society,
etc. - 21 October
2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 9) Saturday, Chicago
-
At 10.10 am Swamishri blessed and flagged off
a Walk-a-thon. Annually the Walk-a-thon is held at all the Satsang centers in
America to promote family health and harmony. Today under the auspices of the
Haveli Mahotsav, more than 700 devotees were ready to chant the Swaminarayan dhun
and walk a distance of 4.5 miles. Swamishri too joined the walkathon for a short
round, circumambulating the Haveli, and then saw the Haveli construction in detail.
- In
the evening assembly the Kishore Din theme was 'Thank You'. The Kishores conducting
the program spoke on the glory of God's creation. The presentation was interspersed
with projections of natural scenes of earth, water, fire, air and space. This
was followed by a folk dance and drama presentation. Swamishri blessed the assembly
and finally the kishores and kishoris honored Lord Harikrishna Maharaj.
- 22 October 2000 (V.S.
2056, Aso Vad 10) Sunday, Chicago
In the evening assembly a colorful and devotional procession of Lord Harikrishna
Maharaj was carried out. The devotees then honored the Lord. - 23
October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 11) Monday, Chicago
At 5.30 pm the 'Swayam Sevak Din' (Volunteers' Day) assembly commenced. Incidents
on the tremendous sacrifice of volunteers were narrated. A drama presentation
on 'Samat Patel's' sacrifice to please Lord Swaminarayan was made by the volunteers.
Then volunteers representing the 34 departments behind the Haveli Mahotsav came
to receive Swamishri's blessings. As each departmental representative came, a
prayer was offered to Swamishri.
Swamishri finally crowned the 'Swayam Sevak
Din' with his blessings. - 26
October 2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 14) Thursday, Chicago
- At 6.30 pm
Swamishri arrived at the Haveli hall and performed Sharda pujan by showering flowers,
kumkum and rice grains on account books.
- Mr.
Jim Zay, member of DuPage County Board, presented a proclamation to Swamishri
and declared 20 October 2000 as Pramukh Swami Day.
- The
kishores of Chicago performed a beautiful 'Deep Nrutya' and pleased Swamishri.
- 27 October
2000 (V.S. 2056, Aso Vad 30) Friday, Chicago
-
Swamishri arrived at the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Glen Ellyn. An annakut had
been offered before Thakorji. Swamishri joined in the singing of thaal, then performed
arti and blessed the congregation.
- In
the evening, as part of Children's Day program, balaks presented a cultural program
of dance and the Prahlad ballet. Swamishri conducted the 'Oiya' game and pleased
the balaks.
- 28
October 2000 (V.S. 2057, Kartik Sud 1) Saturday, Chicago: New Year's Day
- After his morning puja, on New
Year's day, Swamishri expounded on Vachanamrut Sarangpur 7 and blessed the devotees.
- 980
devotees had participated in the yagna for peace. Swamishri worshipped the murtis
of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Radha Krishna Dev, Hanumanji, Ganapatiji and Guru
Parampara to be consecrated the next day in the Haveli.
- During
the yagna Swamishri initiated two youths from America - Saurabh Bhakta (Nachiketa
Bhagat) and Pranav Vyas (Kanaad Bhagat).
- In
the evening a symbolic 80th birthday celebration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj was
held. The balaks and kishores performed a thrilling folk dance. Then various dignitaries
addressed the assembly with Swamishri finally blessing the 10,000 devotees and
well-wishers.
- 29
October 2000 (V.S. 2057, Kartak Sud 2) Sunday, Chicago
- At 9.50 am
Swamishri performed the murti pratishtha of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Radha
Krishna Dev, Hanumanji, Ganapatiji and guru Parampara in the Haveli auditorium.
Swamishri also performed pujan of murtis for the mandir in St. Louis.
Then
annakut with 1042 food items was offered to Thakorji. Thaal was devotionally sung
by sadhus and Swamishri. Thereafter a pratishtha assembly was held in the marquee.
More than 9,000 people had congregated and during the day 12,000 came for Annakut
darshan in the Haveli. - At 9.20 pm Swamishri
departed from Chicago on Air India Boeing 747 to London.
- 30
October 2000 (V.S. 2057, Kartak Sud 3) Monday, London
Swamishri arrived in London at 10.25 am (4.23 am American Standard Time) at Heathrow
Airport and reached the mandir late due to heavy traffic at 1.10 pm. After performing
puja, Swamishri blessed the audience and then retired to bed.
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