Pujya Bhaishri’s Birthday celebrated with great fan fare at Porbandar

On 31st August 2008 for the first time Pujya Bhaishri celebrated his birthday at Sandipani Vidyaniketan, Porbandar. This was his 52nd birthday. Early morning when Pujya Bhaishri set out to offer his worship to the deities in Shri Hari Mandir, the Rishikumars sprinkled flowers on his path along with the students of Gurukul and teaching staff of Rishikul and Gurukul right from his kutir to the main mandap of the temple. Countless devotees greeted Pujya Bhaishri and presented him with flowers and gifts.

Before Pujya Bhaishri entered the temple, dhvajapujan was performed by Pramod Taparia’s family and other devotees and the new dhvajas were flying high in excitement.

Pujya Bhaishri then entered the temple and performed Vardhapan pujan and offered his prayers to all the deities on the occasion.

Various service projects were undertaken in the town of Porbandar to mark Pujya Bhaishri’s birthday. Pujya Bhaishri himself inaugurated a hospital at the ashram of Pragji bapa. Programmes of cleanliness drive, decoration of fountains, non-stop chanting of Rama-nama, planting of trees, eye-camp, blood donation camps, distribution of fruits and biscuits in hospitals, offering of sweet items at charitable food distribution centres and in the Gurukul for the blind, distribution of 10 kilograms of grains to 250 poor families, providing free dialysis services to poor patients, free medical check-up of school children, free complete medical check-ups, etc. were organised with great love and reverence by the people of Porbandar to celebrate Pujya Bhaishri’s birthday. A detailed list of camps is given below.

Like every year, the Sant Milan Samaroh was held in the afternoon in which celebrated saints including Pujya Shernath Bapu, Devarshi Muktanand Bapu, Pujya Nirgunanadaji Maharaj, Vaishnavacharya Pujya Goswami Shri Vasantkumar Mahodaya and others addressed the assembled audience and gave their best wishes and blessings to Pujya Bhaishri.

Pujya Bhaishri thanked the revered saints for their presence and blessings and appreciated the love and reverence of the people of Porbandar who organised the numerous medical camps on the occasion of his birthday.

After the evening aarti, all the students of Rishikul and Gurukul played raas in the temple and danced joyously expressing their happiness on this great occasion.

Chiefs of various civic organisations greeted Pujya Bhaishri with flowers in the evening. A musical Hasya darbar was also presented by Sairam Dave and his troupe. Celebrations went on till 1 am in the morning.

This day will be remembered by all for a long time to come, such was the fan fare and such were the vibrations that all devotees experienced.

Details of seva camps organised on 31st August in Porbandar.

Below are glimpses of the entire day’s celebration.