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14 January 1999, Thursday, Amdavad, India: Joli Utsav.
Today
was Uttarayana, a day of kite flying and alms-giving
to sadhus and sanyasis. It was the highlight of Swamishri's
15-day stay. To celebrate Uttarayana in the presence
of Swamishri was a day of great honour and joy for
thousands of devotees. Hundreds of thousands of devotees
began flocking to the mandir as early as 5.30 a.m.
A dozen spirited youths had arranged an avenue of
kites hanging overhead and a decorative flower path
for Swamishri. The mandir sanctum sanctorum was filled
with a decoration of colourful kites. After Thakorji's
darshan, Swamishri came to perform his puja in the
assembly hall. Thereafter the festival assembly commenced
wherein Pujya Viveksagar Swami explained the significance
of Uttarayana. Finally Swamishri, in his blessings,
addressed a gathering of 17,000 devotees. Swamishri
elaborated on the glory of charity : "The shastras
mention several types of charity, namely; giving food
grains, land, clothes and knowledge. The fruit of
this type of charity is worldly or physical in nature.
However, Shriji Maharaj told His sadhus to give charity
that will make people eternally happy and free from
fear. This charity is called 'abhaydan'. Man has mental,
physical and political fears. To be redeemed of them
is called 'abhaydan'. And 'abhaydan' can be given
by a God-realised sadhu. He inspires and guides us
to take God's refuge, offer devotion to Him and elevate
us to God's abode." After Swamishri concluded his
blessings, he stood up to place two sanctified 'joli'
(begging cloth-bag) on his shoulders. This was the
climax of the occasion, where Swamishri himself was
going to say the traditional call for the begging
of alms. However, prior to this, Swamishri explained
the tradition of begging alms in the time of Shriji
Maharaj. And then narrated how he used to beg alms
in the time of Shastriji Maharaj. "When one sadhu
calls for the alms he says, 'Narayan Hare Sacchidanand
Prabho' and then the other repeats it, 'Narayan Hare
Sacchidanand Prabho.' Each time Swamishri uttered
the call, he folded his hands, closed his eyes and
gently bowed before the assembly. The moment was received
with a thunder of claps. Swamishri then sat on the
stage as 17,000 devotees filed passed him, placing
their donations in the joli. Several young children
had cut their kite flying expenses and donated the
money on that day. A ten-year old child had saved
for two years and offered a part of his savings on
the occasion. Swamishri patiently gave darshan to
all the devotees, sitting continuously from 10.30
a.m. to 12.30 p.m. In conclusion Swamishri appreciated
the festival arrangements and said, "The festival
was A-1, the planning was A-1 and the arrangements
were A-1".
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