From 20 July to 24 August 2011, 32 balaks and 26 balikas from England came to India to have darshan of some of most sacred places of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Their pilgrimage began auspiciously when they arrived in Mumbai and were blessed with Swamishri’s darshan.

From there, they travelled throughout Gujarat for about twenty days, during which time they had darshan of our beautiful mandirs and learnt about the Sanstha’s history. They were also inspired by enlightening talks by senior and learned sadhus, including Kothari (Bhaktipriya) Swami, Tyagvallabh Swami, Ishwarcharan Swami and Viveksagar Swami.

Each morning they had the opportunity to have darshan of shangar arti at various mandirs and at night, they sang the whole chesta before going to bed.

From 10 to 17 August, they returned to Mumbai, where, on the auspicious day of Raksha Bandhan, they were blessed with Swamishri’s darshan. While in Mumbai, the balaks and balikas often sacrificed sleep in order to offer their personal devotion to Thakorji. Also, to please Swamishri and strengthen their satsang, the balaks pledged to read the Vachanamrut and Swamini Vato daily; the balikas folded intricate lotuses in which each balika wrote a niyam that she resolved to follow.

For the last week of their pilgrimage they flew to New Delhi where they had darshan of Swaminarayan Akshardham. They concluded their trip with a pilgrimage to Chhapaiya, the birth place of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

The balaks and balikas showed great maturity and friendship throughout the trip by helping each other whenever necessary. They met some of the many dedicated and pious devotees who live in India and were also inspired to improve their lives and strengthen their satsang.