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29 September 2002
Akshardham, Gandhinagar
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The
condolence prayer meeting organized in the presence of Pujya Pramukh
Swami Maharaj was held at Akshardham, Gandhinagar on the evening
of 29th September from 5.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. The other spiritual
leaders present were Pujya Mangalanandji of Gita Mandir, Shri Ramdasji
of Karamsad, Shri Keshavbhavani Maharaj of Nadiad, Shri Rameshwardasji
of Jagannath Mandir, Swami Atmanandji of Koba, representatives of
Swami Purushottampriyadasji of Maninagar Swaminarayan Sampraday,
Shri Vaishnavacharya Vrajeshkumarji, etc.
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Also present were
the Governor Shri Sunder Singh Bhandari, Chief Minister Shri Narendra
Modi, ex-Chief Minister Shri Keshubhai Patel, Leader of Opposition
Shri Amarsinh Chaudhary, Speaker of State Legislative Assembly Shri
Dhirubhai Shah and the Ahmedabad Mayor Shri Himmatsinh Patel.
The prayer assembly commenced with
devotional prayers sung by sadhus for the peace of the departed
souls, grieving relatives and all sympathisers.
Then the entire gathering observed
a 2-minute silent prayer for the deceased and injured, and for harmony.
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In his blessings Swamishri said, "What
has happened has caused much pain. Everyone feels this anguish. We
have offered peace prayers for the departed souls and that their families
be blessed with inner strength to bear this loss. We have also prayed
for the speedy recovery of those injured... There has always been
a conflict between good and evil forces, and ultimately it is the
good that triumphs. God dispenses justice to all according to their
actions. Let us pray that all are blessed with virtuous thoughts...
Prayer is a spiritual weapon. Gandhiji gained much strength from prayer.
My Guru Yogiji Maharaj encouraged people to pray in order to overcome
their personal, family and social difficulties… Our happiness
does not lie in the misery of others but it lies in the joy of others
and in the progress of others…"
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Thereafter, Pujya
Ishwarcharan Swami, on behalf of BAPS, offered his condolences to
those who died and delivered a vote of thanks to all those who had
assisted in the rescue operation. He thanked Pramukh Swami Maharaj
for his guidance and support, all religious and spiritual leaders,
politicians and bureaucrats, the NSG commandoes, the SRP commandoes,
BSF, CRPF, CISF, doctors and staff at the Civil Hospital, NGOs,
blood donors, the RSS, the VHP, the fire brigade, and everyone who
had offered their support. Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami specially remembered
Pujya Parmeshwar Swami and the four BAPS volunteers who died during
the incident, and also thanked the many brave volunteers who saved
many lives at their own risk. He also declared that though nobody
can compensate the family of the dead for their great loss, but
as a token of our condolences and appreciation, BAPS Swaminarayan
Sanstha will be donating:
- Rs. 300,000 for
the family of the deceased NSG Commando Subedar Suresh Kumar Yadav
- Rs. 200,000 each
for the families of deceased State Commandos Shri Arjun Singh
Gameti and Shri Allah Rakha Unadjam
- Rs. 200,000 for
the injured NSG Commando Shrujan Singh
- Rs. 100,000 for
the 29 families of the pilgrims who died
- Rs. 25,000 for each
of the injured jawans
- Compensation for
the injured pilgrims
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At the conclusion
of the assembly, all 30,000 present offered mantra pushpanjali and
performed a mass Arti to God in respect of all those who died in
the Akshardham carnage.
Thereafter, Swamishri met and blessed
the relatives of the deceased.
Note: Akshardham Complex will be open to the public from
7 October 2002.
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