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After traveling over 12,000 miles by car and thousands more by plane all across the United States and Canada to spread the glory and supreme philosophy of Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, Acharya Swamishree’s 2012 North American Vicharan came to an end on Friday, August 10th, 2012, when Acharya Swamishree departed for the United Kingdom. However, the days prior to Acharya Swamishree’s departure were filled with many memorable events.

On Tuesday, August 7th, 2012, during His tour of the state of Connecticut, Acharya Swamishree met with the Governor of Connecticut, Dannel P. Malloy, at the Governor’s Office in the State Capitol Building in Hartford. During the meeting, Acharya Swamishree blessed Governor Malloy and the state of Connecticut and offered the Governor a prasad paag, a saal, sweets, and several of the Sansthan’s English scriptures. Governor Malloy is very committed to strengthening the state’s economy, growing Connecticut’s business, and bringing back jobs to the towns and cities. He has imitated many projects that have led to much improvement within Connecticut’s economy. Governor Malloy was extremely pleased to meet Acharya Swamishree and sants, and Acharya Swamishree and sants were extremely pleased to meet him as well. This was the first time Acharya Swamishree met with a Governor of the United States. In addition, the meeting took place in the Governor’s office itself.

Wednesday evening, after sandhya aarti and niyams, many disciples gathered inside Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Community Hall to have the divine darshan of Acharya Swamishree having His evening thaal. The hall was decorated with many plants and flowers, and Acharya Swamishree was seated at the center with sants seated around Him. As they enjoyed their evening meal, disciples were able to have their divine darshan. Disciples also sang thaals and kirtans as Acharya Swamishree dined. Afterwards, disciples were served mahaprasad.

The Subhechha Samarambh program was held on Thursday, August 9th, 2012, the day before Acharya Swamishree departed. Around 5 PM, everyone gathered inside the temple prayer hall, and sants performed kirtan-bhakti. Afterwards, Acharya Swamishree performed sandhya aarti, and everyone recited daily niyams. Once niyams concluded, disciples offered garlands to Acharya Swamishree and sants to bid them farewell until next time. Acharya Swamishree then showered His divine blessings upon the entire congregation for the last time during His 2012 North American vicharan.

During His divine blessings, Acharya Swamishree became so elated after recalling all of the amazing unique events that occurred during the vicharan that He spontaneously stood upon His gadi and began to dance to the kirtan “Prem Tamaaro, Prem Tamaaro.” Acharya Swamishree sang this kirtan several times during His first ashirwad after arriving to the United States in May and in ashirwads throughout His vicharan. He also danced to it during His final ashirwad of the Los Angeles Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav. After He got up, He beckoned sants and disciples to stand up and dance with Him, and they happily obliged. The entire congregation was on its feet dancing along with Acharya Swamishree, and they too were extremely pleased as they recalled all of the spectacular events that took place during the vicharan, such as the Los Angeles Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav, Shree Swaminarayan Tempe Chicago’s 1st Patotsav, and the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Platinum Tula Mahotsav as well as many other memorable occasions that took place across North America. They were also delighted to see Acharya Swamishree so filled with joy.

When everyone was seated, shortly afterwards, Acharya Swamishree concluded His divine blessings. Acharya Swamishree then inaugurated two beautiful new miniature murtis of Lord Shree Swaminarayan and Shree Nilkanth Varni. Then, the top twenty most active members of Swamibapa Pipe Band, according to the band’s point system, were then awarded with certificates and blessed by Acharya Swamishree. Disciples who recently graduated with higher education degrees, made significant academic achievements, and received advanced certifications were then awarded with certificates and blessed by Acharya Swamishree as well. This group of talented individuals included disciples who completed doctorates and MBA programs, achieved superior SAT scores, mastered foreign languages, and became certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs).

After the awards ceremonies, Acharya Swamishree inaugurated Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan’s official app – iSwaminarayan, for Apple products. This app features daily shangar darshan of Lord Shree Swaminarayan in Maninagar, worldwide Sansthan updates, all daily niyams, and much more.

Acharya Swamishree then blessed everyone and gave everyone His divine darshan. Everyone was then served maha-prasad.
The next day, Friday, August 10th, 2012, one mandal of sants departed the temple around 1 PM for India. This mandal had come especially for the Mahotsavs and had helped extraordinarily during the Mahotsav preparations and executions. Acharya Swamishree performed His last aarti of the vicharan at Shree Swaminarayan Temple New Jersey around 6 PM that day. He blessed disciples inside the temple one last time before exiting. He was then seated inside His car outside the main entrance of the temple, and a police escort led the car from the temple to Newark International Airport. Disciples had formed a line all along the temple driveway, and as Acharya Swamishree left the temple grounds, He gave His divine darshan to them all.

Upon arriving to the airport, disciples gathered around Acharya Swamishree one last time for His divine darshan in the airport lobby. Acharya Swamishree and the mandal of sants accompanying Him to the United Kingdom were then escorted to security. Acharya Swamishree and sants waved to disciples the entire time as they went through security and walked towards their gate. Disciples waved back at them. Acharya Swamishree’s flight to London departed around 9:30 PM, and His 2012 North American vicharan came to an end. Acharya Swamishree will continue to elucidate the Lord’s teachings in the United Kingdom.

The 2012 North American vicharan was perhaps one of the most memorable and exciting yet. Acharya Swamishree and sants traveled more during this vicharan than any previous vicharan. Furthermore, with Acharya Swamishree’s blessings, a mandal of seven sants will stay in North American until September 30th in order to continue spreading the Lord’s supreme philosophy and enlightening countless souls.

It is miraculous how much the Satsang has grown throughout the continent since Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa’s visit in October of 1970. This is all due to the blessings of Lord Shree Swaminarayan, Jeevanpran Shree Abji Bapashree, Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa and the countless efforts of Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa and His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree. The disciples of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan residing in North America are forever thankful to Acharya Swamishree and sants for being able to witness the spectacular events they did during this vicharan. They pray to Lord Shree Swaminarayan, Jeevanpran Shree Abji Bapashree, Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa, and Acharya Swamishree that the glory of the Lord continues to spread throughout this continent and that the disciples are able to please Them more and more with each passing day.