This Labor Day weekend was a very memorable occasion for many throughout the world, particularly devotees in Chicago. Devotees from all the branches of the Gunatit Samaj* convened in Chicago at the Manav Seva Mandir to celebrate “Samanvay Mahotsav,” which commemorated the 60th Birthdays of Dinkar Uncle (Dinkarbhai Patel) and Bapu (Mahendrabhai Shah). The occasion was graced by divine saints, Hariprasad Swamiji, Prem Swamiji, and saints (Yogi Divine Society, Sokhada), Jashbhai Saheb, Shantibhai, and dedicated aspirant brothers (Anoopam Mission, Vidyanagar), Nirmaljivan Swamiji and Gnyanswaroop Swamiji (Yogi Dham, Samadhyala), Nishkamjivan Swamiji and Naranarayan Swamiji (AksharPurushottam Satsang Kendra, Sankarda), Bharatbhai and Vashibhai (International Spiritual Research Center, Powai/Tardev); leading dedicated aspirant sisters Deviben (Gunatit Jyot) and Sarveshvarben (Bhakti Dham); and saints and devotees throughout India, UK, France, Holland, Canada, and America. Though not physically present, the blessings of Papaji (Gunatit Jyot, Vidyanagar), Mukundjivan Swamiji (Yogi Divine Society, Delhi), Aksharvihari Swamiji (AksharPurushottam Satsang Kendra, Sankarda), and Haribhai Saheb (Anoopam Mission, Manavadar) were read during the program. Adhyatmanand Swami (Divya Jivan Sangh) and Vibhooti Chaitanya (Chinmaya Mission) also graced the ocassion.

The festivities began on Friday, September 3. For over 15 years now, Dinkar Uncle, Bapu, and devotees have gathered every Friday to share and enjoy the spiritual knowledge of Swaminarayan Bhagwan as handed down by DaduKakaji.* Saturday, September 4 and Sunday, September 5 were filled with inspiring discourses, devotional dances, and the following dramas: The Glory of Lord Swaminarayan, True Aspiration (Muktanand Swami and Lord Swaminarayan’s Saints), Hanumanji’s Understanding & Faith in Lord Rama, and What Is Real? (The Story of King Janak and Sage Ashtavakra).

The celebration also marked the inauguration of 60 new publications including several CDs of bhajanas (devotional songs) and discourses, and 5 English books: Shikshapatri (with a modern English translation of the original verses), Divine Touch (a short biography of Kakaji along with devotees’ personal experiences), Bhaava Samaadhi (the English transliteration of over 400 bhajanas with their meaning), Transcendental Knowledge (over 230 essential topics based on Dinkar Uncle’s discourses), and a revised edition of SwamiNarayan and Hindu Spirituality (basic introduction to Lord Swaminarayan’s life and the Swaminarayan movement, presented in the context of the fundamental aspects of both the Hindu world view and universal spiritual progress).

*Kakaji, who graduated from the London School of Economics and was once a householder and multi-millionaire, dissolved his own existence for the Akshar-Purushottam mission of his spiritual masters, Shastriji Maharaj and Yogi Bapa. In 1952, by the grace of Yogi Bapa, Kakaji underwent a 3-day saakshaatkaara samaadhi at the Gondal temple, in which his soul traveled to Akshardham and he had the divine realization of Lord Swaminarayan. Looking to the future, Yogi Bapa instructed Kakaji and Papaji to establish a place for women to also live dedicated lives in the growing Swaminarayan Akshar-Purushottam satsanga. Today, the Gunatit Samaj consists of over one-thousand saints, over half of which are dedicated women in their own separate establishment. Kakaji’s life message was the “samanvay” or togetherness of all spiritual traditions, culminating in the vision of “seeing God in all, all in God, and all as God.” For more information, please visit http://www.kakaji.org.