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A three day function was held in the presence of His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree to celebrate the fourth Patotsav of the Almighty Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa at Shree Swaminarayan Temple in the New Jersey town of Secaucus.

On Friday 5th August, Acharya Swamishree presided over the holy recital of the divine scripture of our Karan Satsang, Shree Swaminarayan Gadi. During the evening assembly, the Shree Sadguru Din Commemorations were held, during which continuous meditation was performed by all the sants and disciples. During the evening, a devotional song and music performance was given by Swamibapa’s greatly talented sants and the humble disciples of America.

On the second day of the festival, Saturday 6th August, Acharya Swamishree presided over 75 simultaneous recitals of Shree Abji Bapashree ni Vato. Led by the pipe band, Acharya Swamishree then went to Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Hall, to perform the opening of a medical diagnosis and information seminar, which had been held for the disciples of the temple and also the local community of Secaucus. A blood donation clinic had also been set up.

After performing the opening of the medical camp, Acharya Swamishree presented tokens of appreciation to the voluntary teachers of the Gujarati classes that are held at the Temple, which provide language and moral teaching to the children of the community.

During the evening, a special religious drama production was performed by the disciples of New Jersey, called ‘Vartman’.

When Lord Swaminarayan manifested upon the earth, He brought with Him numerous wondrous practises that attracted thousands of disciples to Him. One such practice was that of performing Vartman, a ceremony by which the Lord purifies an individual from all his sins. At that time, other spiritual teachers could not bear to see the unprecedented attraction of Lord Swaminarayan and consequently, they developed immense resentment for Him. Many unworthy individuals thought that they too could perform the Vartman ceremony. However, as soon as they went through the process of performing Vartman and took the sins of another person onto themselves, they started to experience great distress. Only the Lord and His true Muktas can perform such ceremonies.

After the drama production, several devotional dances were performed by the children of New Jersey.

On Sunday 7th August 2005 , Acharya Swamishree performed the Patotsav ceremony before Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa. He then went to the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Community Hall, led by the pipe band. Local Dignitaries, the Honourable Mayor of Secaucus Mr Dennis Elwell and the Assemblyman of the 32nd District, Mr Vincent Pietro, had been specially invited to be present during these auspicious events.

During His divine blessings, Acharya Swamishree talked about the virtues that a loving disciple of the Lord would possess.

• Without these qualities, an immense love for God does not develop. One’s entire life should be devoted to the Lord; the only purpose for life should be to please the merciful Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa.

• Through control of the senses, mind and body, the Lord becomes pleased with an individual. However, this is not an easy task. Great Paramhansas have tried but failed to gain their control. Such restraint is attained through having detachment from worldly objects, performing austerities, adhering to the moral decree that is stated by the Lord, and through constant perseverance. Through the appreciation of the Lord’s immense greatness and then performing the nine-fold devotion to the Lord, one’s mind is kept under restraint.

• One needs to develop an unyielding love for the Lord. As a consequence of this, one’s decency and humility flourishes. One’s love for the Lord should be unconditional. Never ask anything from Him. He will bestow whatever is appropriate. This is true devotional love. That is the kind of affection one must have for the supreme Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, who presides today and forever, at Shree Swaminarayan Gadi.