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On Saturday 5th January 2008, His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree received the prestigious Gujarat Gaurav (Pride of Gujarat) award during a ceremony organised by Mumbai’s elite Bruhad Gujarati Samaj  - an organisation comprising of eminent Gujaratis residing in Maharashtra, and its affiliated 133 social and cultural organisations.

During the awards ceremony, Acharya Swamishree bequeathed 22 prominent Gujaratis with Girnar Awards, in acknowledgement of their contributions to their respective professions and to society. Acharya Swamishree Himself then humbly accepted the Gujarat Gaurav award to jubilant applause from the 10,000-plus invitees present. The award was presented to Acharya Swamishree by Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister cum Home Minister R R Patil, Maharashtra State Minister Ramesh Sandke, former Assembly Speaker Arunbhai Gujrathi, Bruhad Mumbai President and Managing Trustee Hemrajbhai Shah and other dignitaries.

The entire event was held in recognition of Acharya Swamishree’s continuous and concerted efforts for the betterment of humanity and service to society. In order to acknowledge these sentiments of the Bruhad Gujarati Samaj, Acharya Swamishree interrupted His tour of East Africa to come to Mumbai to grant His darshan to the Samaj and audience, and receive the award.

Several devotional songs, published by Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, were performed by eminent artists, and Jeevanpran Swamibapa’s sants performed devotional dances during the event. Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band had travelled from London, especially to honour Acharya Swamishree and salute the gathered dignitaries on this occasion. In recognition of its musical excellence, and numerous charitable endeavours undertaken through the inspiration of Acharya Swamishree, Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band also received an award. Acharya Swamishree concluded the evening ceremony by showering His divine blessings to the gathered audience:

• Whatever ability and wealth we have, it should always be used for the betterment of mankind.
• The only thing that can bring true happiness and prosperity to our lives is to abide by dharma (good, moral and spiritual conduct.)
• Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa has inspired the establishment of numerous Temples around the world. These are not only establishments for worshipping God, but are also centres for disseminating humanitarian aid and welfare, and they are educational institutes at which disciplines such as dance, music and art are learned.

His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree briefly returned to Maninagar Ahmedabad, the headquarters of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Santhan, on Sunday 6th January, before departing for Nairobi on the 7th to recommence His tour of East Africa.

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On Saturday 5th January 2008, His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree received the prestigious Gujarat Gaurav (Pride of Gujarat) award during a ceremony organised by Mumbai’s elite Bruhad Gujarati Samaj - an organisation comprising of eminent Gujaratis residing in Maharashtra, and its affiliated 133 social and cultural organisations.

The award was presented to Acharya Swamishree by Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister cum Home Minister R R Patil, Maharashtra State Minister Ramesh Sandke, former Assembly Speaker Arunbhai Gujrathi, Bruhad Mumbai President and Managing Trustee Hemrajbhai Shah and other dignitaries.

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