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SPECIAL FEATURE FEBRUARY 03, 2023 | The Indian Eye 40

Service & Sacrifice of Volunteers

Sanjaybhai Patel of Jharola came to serve at the would consume Rs. 3000 worth of alcohol daily By the blessings of His Holiness Mahant Swami
Pramukh Swami Maharaj Shatabdi Mahotsav in causing regular issues and fights at home. Fed up Maharaj and the Shatabdi seva, he could give up
Ahmedabad for a day with his neighbor. Looking with the daily problems, his wife and daughter his addiction and saved his marital life. With the
at the enthusiasm and sacrifice of the volunteers left him. After coming to Pramukh Swami guidance of Swamis, he also started doing puja
on the festival grounds, he joined for 15 days of Maharaj Nagar for seva, he gave up his alcohol and resolved to stay away from all addictions
seva and then, after 15 days, decided to stay in addiction. When his wife and daughter came to for the rest of his life. Pramukh Swami Maharaj
seva till the end of the festival. know about this, they were very happy would go Centennial Celebration was indeed a festival of
Sanjaybhai had a habit of drinking alcohol. He to joyously pick him up when his seva ends. inspiration and transformation.

Rajniben Jhala from Surat was financially not well Kushal Maltiya used to live with his maternal uncle and study in Poona.
and the Pandemic made things worse for them. Over He came to the Mahotsav on his uncle’s insistence to serve for 7 days. He
and above that, she had to undergo an operation was allocated seva in the Yagna Department. One day he suddenly told a
which increased her financial burden. She used swami that he wanted to commit suicide due to his failures in his studies.
to do tailoring odd jobs to make ends meet. She He also told the swami that he drinks alcohol and smokes regularly. His
wanted to serve in the Shatabdi Mahotsav so she lonely life, short-tempered nature, addictions and failures had made him
took a loan of Rs. 20,000 and came to the festival depressed to the extent that he wanted to end his life. On getting guidance
grounds for her seva. and blessings from senior swamis, he gave up his thought of ending his life.

Pujaben Bharucha of Bharuch has two daughters aged 3 and 10. Her Jiten Patel had joined seva in the landscape department.
mother-in-law has had knee operations 4 times and has great difficulty He owns a RO plant company and employs 20 people.
moving even at home. Pujaben wanted to come to serve but how could He left it to his employees to handle and came for seva.
she in such circumstances? Her mother-in-law told her to serve at Earlier, he used to drink alcohol of Rs. 1000 daily. After
the Mahotsav. She assured her that she should not worry about her coming for seva, he realized that if he can stay without
daughters or all the other household jobs. It was very painful for her alcohol for 15 days, then he will be able to live with even
but she motivated her daughter-in-law for this once in a lifetime seva longer and can give up this addiction. He gave up his
opportunity. Salutations to such an understanding mother-in-law. addiction. His family was very happy to know this.

Rajvir Parmar, age 14 had seva in the Bujo show. Ramanbhai Patel of Surendranagar has lost his one hand but his
He was part of the Adivasi dance (ethnic dance). The enthusiasm for seva has not been lost. He was allocated seva in the
dance involved carrying a spear. Once he hurt his transport department. Despite his physical challenge, may it be scorching
leg with the spear during the dance. He was taken sun or heavy rains he continued his seva at his allocated parking spot
to the doctor who bandaged the wound and advised nonstop. He would ensure that all vehicles are parked properly. When
him to rest for two days. Yet Rajvir continued his asked if he finds it difficult to do his seva with just one hand, he said with
performance with the bandage. His zeal to serve great enthusiasm that, ‘our physical troubles are no match to the troubles
was such that it was inspirational to all. faced by Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

Aaradhnaben Patel of Vadodara runs a small restaurant and lives in a Shuryarajsinh Solanki, age 13, volunteered at the Bal
rented apartment. She served for 20 days in the Mahotsav. She learned Nagari in the housekeeping department. Once his first
during her service period that the husbands of her colleagues had a day of seva, he hurt his hand while playing and had a
hard time cooking and managing their meals back home. Once she hairline fracture. The doctor advised him to rest at
returned, she singlehandedly cooked meals for the family members of home. This disappointed him immensely. He requested
the volunteers serving in the Mahotsav. She also delivered food at the his parents and the doctor to allow him to serve. Upon
homes of people who could not come to eat at her place. Salutations to getting their permission, he served with a plastered
Aaradhnaben for going beyond her assigned seva and serving others. hand and completed his seva commitment.

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