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24
June 2007 (V.S. 2063, Nij Jeth sud 9)
Sunday, Houston; Welcome Assembly
Swamishri arrived in Houston the previous day at 12.05
pm from Chicago. The Sugarland Mayor Pro Tem Dennis
Parmar welcomed Swamishri at the Sugarland regional
airport and presented a proclamation. The evening welcome
assembly was arranged in honour of Swamishri. The assembly
was held in a giant marquee in the mandir precincts.
A three dimensional replica of Akshardham was the highlight
of the stage backdrop. After Swamishri’s arrival
BAPS teenagers and youths performed a traditional welcome
dance. Then, on behalf of everyone, Tyagvallabh Swami
and Viveksagar Swami garlanded Swamishri. The consul
general of India in Houston Shri Shankar Gavai addressed
the assembly, “I am really honoured to be here
and I welcome Pramukh Swamiji. I had just sat with him
for half an hour and he conveyed his simple message
on humanity and spiritualism. The volunteer work exercised
by the volunteers is exemplary for all.” More
than 28 heads of different social and religious organizations
welcomed Swamishri with bouquets. The BAPS children
and teenagers performed a welcome dance. Finally, BAPS
children and teenagers performed another welcome dance.
Thereafter Swamishri crowned the assembly with his blessings,
“We should never forget our wealth, culture and
values while doing our jobs or business. You have come
from India, bringing with you your dharma, culture and
values. Like the way you look after your money, which
you will later give to your children, look after our
spiritual wealth and give it as a legacy to your children.
Our culture is ancient. Bhagwan Ram and Krishna incarnated
on earth. One should read the wonderful Vedas, Upanishads,
Gita, Ramayan and other shastras. Daily reading of shastras
will purify one’s thoughts and life. Just as you
take care of your needs and use objects, similarly you
must read our spiritual books, do puja and keep a mandir
in the house.” More than 4,000 devotees were present.
In the following days Kishore Day, Children’s
Day and Youth Day were celebrated.
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30
June 2007 (V.S. 2063, Nij Jeth sud 15)
Saturday, Houston; Tricennial Celebration
Swamishri first visited
Houston in 1977 and launched satsang. Today the tricennial
celebration of Houston Satsang was arranged. The Mayor
of Irving City (near Dallas) Mayor Herbert Gears honoured
Swamishri and presented a proclamation and Key to the
City. Thereafter Swamishri performed the murti-pratishtha
rituals of pujan and arti of three hari mandirs: Little
Rock (Arkansas), Austin (Texas) and San Antonio.
In the afternoon a Women’s Convention was held.
The chief guest was Texas State Representative Linda
Harper Brown who presented a Resolution to commemorate
the BAPS Centenary Year Celebration.
The evening tricennial celebration programme portrayed
three decades of Swamishri’s effort in establishing
and fostering Satsang. The first decade portrayed Swamishri’s
colossal effort through home visits and personal contact.
The second decade showed Swamishri’s profound
love in fostering Satsang and the final decade reflected
the transformations he has inspired. The entire programme
was interspersed with speeches and cultural programmes.
Krishnaprem Swami and Anandswarup Swami spoke on how
Swamishri transforms the lives of people.
In conclusion Swamishri blessed the assembly, “By
the grace and glory of Bhagwan Swaminarayan we have
been blessed with spiritual knowledge. And in his tradition
of Gunatit disciples Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj
have explained to us the principle of Akshar and Purushottam.
Also, they have inspired us with the virtues of dharma,
gnan, vairagya and bhakti, and guided us on how to eradicate
base nature, addictions and bad habits.”
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1
July 2007 (V.S. 2063, Nij Jeth vad 7) Sunday, Houston;
BAPS Centenary Year Celebration
Swamishri celebrated the Mandir patotsav (anniversary)
on 1 July and devotees celebrated Guru Bhakti Din (3
July).
In the evening celebration assembly of BAPS Centenary
Year Swamishri was festively welcomed by the Dallas
band and flag-waving devotees. Prior to Swamishri’s
arrival speeches by Viveksagar Swami and Ishwarcharan
Swami and cultural programmes were over. To honour Swamishri
the youths performed the traditional dance performed
during the opening of Akshardham in New Delhi. Then
Anandswarup Swami spoke on Swamishri’s works.
Swamishri was then honoured with garlands by senior
sadhus. The chief guests, Ralph O’Connor and Dr
Kulin Pandya, were honoured and blessed on stage. Thereafter
Anirdesh Swami and Atmatrupt Swami inspired all devotees
to take one step forward in Satsang by making moral
and spiritual pledges.
Finally, Swamishri blessed the function, “Today,
in the festive celebration the sadhus have guided you
on the purpose of one’s human birth on earth.
God has endowed us with a human body and graced us with
all senses and intellect. So whatever we do for God
would not be enough. We remain indebted to someone who
has helped us. Indian culture teaches us that we are
indebted to parents and society. Likewise we are indebted
to God for giving us this human birth. May we do good
works: have darshan of God with our eyes, listen to
his glory with our ears, walk to the mandir with our
legs. So we must put our body to good use. God has given
us everything but if he hadn’t given us intellect
then we would not have progressed. Because of intellect
we studied and graduated and acquired many things in
life. The reason for whatever we have attained is God,
dharma and our shastras.”
Finally youths performed a dance on the lyrics “Akshar
Purushottam nã dankã…” Swamishri
also waved the flag and crowned the centenary celebration
assembly.
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