Grand Celebration of Pujya Bhaishri’s 50th Birthday according to the Hindu calendar on 19th September, 2007

On 19th September, the auspicious day of Pujya Bhaishri’s Svarna Jayanti, according to the Hindu calendar, hundreds of devotees in India and across the world lit diyas in temples and in their houses and prayed for Pujya Bhaishri’s long and healthy life. Numerous devotees also did gau daan, gau chara seva and distributed fruits to the underprivileged.

Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Africa was privileged to have Bhaishri around on the auspicious day of his birthday, which was celebrated in style. Pujya Bhaishri blessed the children from a local deaf and blind school. He was highly impressed with the local African children singing bhajans; he distributed stationery and several other gifts to the children. During the Dar es Salam katha, fifty young girls performed aarti with all the katha participants singing along, wishing Bhaishri the best of health on this occasion.

Members of Vaishvik Sanskruti Parivar, Pune arranged for Sneh Bhojan at ‘Nivara’, which is one of the old age, homes in Pune. They personally went there at the time of lunch and served food to the elderly and spent some time with them. They also distributed biscuits in ‘Kusumbai Motichan’ Orphanage.

Pune parivar provided scholarship to an underprivileged student currently studying Vedas as a gift from Pujya Bhaishri. He was among the highest marks achievers from the results of the entrance exam declared on the 18th September. In addition, members of the Pune parivar contributed medicines that had not crossed their expiry dates, from their houses to the dispensary, for the use of the needy. Since Pujya Bhaishri is completing 50 years 51 Tulsis were planted along the jogging track made for senior citizens. Also, with the help of one of the corporators, 7 trees (neem, mango, champa etc) were planted in the area, which is reserved by the government for the Forest Department. The Vaishvik Sanskruti Parivar members along with the older children from the Bal Sanskar Kendra have taken the responsibility of watering and looking after these plants.

At the time, the entire city of Pune was engaged in Ganapati Utsav. Ganeshji’s murti is brought into each house and pujais performed with great pomp and pious during this 10 days festival. Members of the Poona parivar prayed for Pujya Bhaishri’s long and divine life and lit 51 diyas (oil lamps) in front of Ganeshji. Sat Sahitya Prakashan’s book titled ‘Jeevan Patheya’ was distributed as prasad.

Vaishvik Sanskruti Parivar, Pune has been doing the above types of seva (orphanage, old age home, scholarship) every year, since 1998, on the 31st August, i.e. Pujya Bhaishri’s birthday. By the grace of God (Pujya Bhaishri’s Kripa) this is their 10th year in succession. Vaishvik Sankruti Parivar, Pune very humbly offers this 10-year-old seva pushpa at the lotus feet of Pujya Bhaishri.

Porbandar organized the following activities on 19th Sept:

• A Blood donation camp was set up for a day for the benefit of Thallasaemia patients at Asha children Hospital Porbandar. Mrs. Shantaben Odedra began the function with chandan tilaka to the photograph of Pujya Bhaishri. Next, Bharatbhai Odedra and other dignitaries inaugurated the function by deepa pragatya. In total 51 units of blood was donated. Mr. Madusudanbhai Mehta, Dr. Suresh Gandhi, Dr. Bharat Gadhvi, Dr. N.U. Jadeja, Shri Laxmanbhai Agath, Shri Mukeshbhai Datta, Shri Praveenbhai Khorava, District home guard commandant Mr. K. V. Vader, Mr. Ashvinbhai Morjaria and Mr Manoj Modha were present on this occasion.
• 10 books of Pujya Bhaishri received from Sat Sahitya Prakashan Trust was donated to the jailer of Special jail for the use of the prisoners by Shri Bharatbhai Odedra, Shri Ashvinbhai Morjri, Dr. Bharat Gadhavi and Mr. Manoj modha.
• Fruits and biscuits were given to all the inpatients in Bhavshiji (civil) Hospital and Asha Children Hospital by Mrs. Santaben Odedra, Mrs. Jaishriben Gadhavi Mr. Bhanuben Joshi, Mrs. Sarlaben Lakhani and Mrs. Radhika Hathi.
• Lunch was provided to 65 people in Bhagat Paragji Purshotam Ashram (known as Pragabapa’s Ashram) and 45 mentally retarded children gaining education at Porbandar’s Shishukunj.

At Leicester, U.K. 108 Hanuman Chalisa was recited at Rakshaben Chauhan’s residence. For the first 51 Hanuman chalisas each person got the opportunity to offer a laddu at the end of the Hanuman chalisa. Following on, each devotee performed abhishek of Hanumanji with great devotion whilst the Hanuman chalisas were being recited. The devotees sang bhajans, dhuns and aarti at the end, including happy birthday to Pujya Bhaishri. This was followed by a meal and a slice of the cake.

Furthermore, a special programme was hosted on Sanskar Radio to celebrate Pujya Bhaishri’s Birthday and Radha Ashtami. Bhaishri states that we all need to become a Gopi in order to attain Krishna’s love and grace. Therefore devotees at Leicester prayed to Radha Rani to shower her blessings to become her sakhi and a Gopi that Krishna would love to be with.

On this occasion in Vaishvik Sanskurit Parivar, Mumbai did the following activities:

• Fruits were distributed to all the children in the paediatric departments of KEM hospital, Wadia hospital and Tata hospital.
• Indian sweets, fruits and savouries were distributed in 5 orphanages: Anandkendra (Worli), Vatsalya Foundation (Lower Parel), Project Crayons (Goregaon), Dreamz Home (Khar), Balikasharam (Dadar) and to an elderly home: Anandniketan at Lower Parel.
• Lunch was given to mentally challenged children at a school in Borivali.
• Gau chara was given to more than 200 cows at Pinjrapol.
• Various pujas were performed at temples, especially at the Siddhivinayak temple.
• In Malad, Shri Ishwarbhai Padia distributed sweets among the mentally retarded children of Vallabhdas Dagra Indian Society for Mentally retarded established by Dr.A.V.Mehta.
• The Mahant of Swaminarayan Mandir – Swami Nityaswaroopdasji – performed a special puja of Lord Swaminarayan for the long and healthy life of Pujya Bhaishri.

Vaishvik Sanskruti Parivar, Vadodara distributed fruits to 105 children and 25 ladies. They also planted 55 mango trees and 15 chiku trees. For the academic year 2007-2008, all students from standard 1 to FYB.com were given pens and notepads for their studies.

Vaishvik Sanskruti Parivar in various other cities undertook similar seva karyas.

This way Pujya Bhaishri’s birthday, according to the Hindu calendar, on 19th September 2007 was celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm.