On Friday, September 11th, 2009, the disciples of Shree Swaminarayan Temple New Jersey celebrated Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa’s 102nd manifestation day in the presence of the mandal of six eminent sants that had been residing in the United States since mid-June. This was the first time Swamibapa Jayanti had been celebrated in the presence of sants at Shree Swaminarayan Temple New Jersey.
To start off the celebration, the sants and disciples carried Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa on a palanquin from the lobby of Swamibapa Hall into the temple hall. The procession was led by Swamibapa Pipe Band. Sants and disciples then performed panchamrut snan on the murti of Harikrushna Maharaj, and sants cut celebration cakes to offer to the Lord on this special occasion. Everyone then performed aarti. After aarti, the congregation listened to Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa’s divine ashirward. Sants and disciples then gave speeches about the glory of the Lord and about the sants’ vicharan in the United States, as this sabha was also the last sabha before the sants departed for India the following morning. In addition, Sadguru Shastri Shree Jitendra Priyadasji Swami shared His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree’s divine blessings, which He had sent from India. Disciples then offered dhotis to Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa, and the celebration concluded shortly after. Everyone was then served maha-prasad.
The mandal of sants departed Shree Swaminarayan Temple New Jersey the afternoon of Saturday, September 12th, 2009. After a very meaningful two-month vicharan in the United States, their flight left Newark International Airport for India in the evening.