THE BURSTING OF HEARTS

 
With festoons, potted palms, flowers and garlands, all structures such as the Jhopdi, the table-cabin, the dhuni, Upasni Serai, Sai Darbar and the water reservoir on Meherabad Hill were beautifully decorated for Baba's thirty-second birthday. Hundreds had already come the day before from different places. Beginning early in the morning of February 18th, thousands more, who traveled by bus, truck, car, tonga and bullock cart, arrived forming a sea of humanity at Meherabad. The arrangements concerning food and lodging for the guests, which Baba had insisted the mandali take care of several days before, were found to be quite satisfactory.

At eight o'clock that morning, the women mandali gave a ceremonial bath to the Master and the men did the same afterward. All were allowed to pour a small pot of warm water over Baba's chest and thus thousands of liters of water were showered upon him, and a great number of people touched his delicate flower-like body.

A village band played spirited rural music as the bath was given. By this time the gathering was so large that when the bath was being given the mandali found it difficult to control the crowd. The mandali surrounded Baba on all sides and tried to prevent a stampede. The ceremonial bath was stopped after one hour, which disappointed many who had not had their turn. Still surrounded by the mandali, Baba was taken to Sai Darbar where he sat inside the box-like cabin.

Angal Pleader read from the Puranas and gave a short speech on Baba's life and mission. Red powder was thrown in the air and Baba was covered with heaps of flowers; garlands piled one on top of the other encircled his body and seat. Afterward, Baba's arti was sung and thousands were served at the feast.

After the feast, thousands bowed to Baba as he gave darshan for hours. At six o'clock, a long procession was formed at Sai Darbar which extended to the reservoir on top of Meherabad Hill. Baba was taken up the hill in a palanquin. Near the Water Tank, the women, led by Gulmai, performed Baba's arti and worship ceremonies.

While returning, Baba got down from the palanquin and walked to Arangaon village. He visited Shahane's house, where his arti was sung again. He then returned to Sai Darbar and sat in the small cabin where darshan was resumed, lasting until midnight. Nearly fifty thousand people had Baba's darshan that day. Fireworks decorated the sky and their echoes seemed to reflect the bursting of each lover's heart.