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“You have to remember the origin of this Sahavas. During the last Sahavas, in November, 1955, when you men were here, it was the men who requested Sahavas for the women. I agreed. Later, I fixed places for such Sahavas but they were cancelled. So, I have agreed to the women coming for this Sahavas. All of men, remember that you owe this Sahavas to the women. Therefore, I want the women to meet Me and embrace Me first.”
An opening Arti song was sung in Gujarati. Baba asked all who had brought garlands to place them on His hands and not on His neck, to lessen the physical strain on Him. Embracing of Baba by each Sahavasi―the women first―commenced at about 10:30 A.M. Devotional songs were being sung and photographers were busy taking different poses of Baba and the audience. Some had movie-cameras. Outside the Meeting-pandal, books, photographs, lockets, badges containing Baba's photos were being offered for sale and the sales were very good. At about 11:10, Baba went for a few minutes to His cabin and returned to the Meeting-pandal and the embracing continued. Some were quite cheerful and some burst into tears of love and gratitude at the Beloved having been so full of grace and condescending to embrace them. Some took a longer time than the rest and Baba never hustled anyone and took no objection. Some kissed Baba profusely while embracing Him. The embracing was on both sides of the shoulder and face of Baba. After the embrace, each was allowed to touch Baba's feet and place his or her head on them. Some gave also love-offerings of various kinds—clothes, fruits, sweets, flowers, garlands, but Baba did not allow money offerings and did not touch money at all.
Baba announced: "One by one, those of you who have taken My embrace and had Darshan, go and have your lunch and come back. I will be here the rest of the day until the last person has had his embrace and darshan."
During the program, one noticed that Baba had suddenly stopped for a while and His face looked rather serious and changed; while His deft fingers were working in some planes other than the normal physical plane. It must he mentioned that this happened on all the days during all the programs. Baba was also much touched by the devotional songs and often touched His own feet with his fingers and lifted His fingers to His forehead. This was a special feature all the five days of the Sahavas.
He said: "Tomorrow, I will have swollen cheeks after the kisses and embraces! But, I am very happy. This is real giving and taking of Love."
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