Honorable Shri Barnalaji and Gurudev Singh take part in divine Ganga Aarti; Pujya Swamiji presents Honorable Shri Barnalaji with a beautiful portrait of Gurunanak Devji

During the visit of Honorable Shri Barnalaji, we also had a large group of approximately 60 seekers from across the world who had come to perform japa at Parmarth Niketan, for 19 hours a day!! Pujya Swamiji and Shri Barnalaji went to take part for a few minutes in the japa

	Pujya Swamiji and Honorable Shri Barnalaji sit on stage on the left while the japa continues

March 31 -- Rishikesh
Smt. Renuka Choudhary, the Honorable Minister for Tourism, Government of India came to Parmarth Niketan for divine Ganga Aarti. She expressed her great appreciation for the divine, beautiful, serene atmosphere that Pujya Swamiji has created.

She was accompanied by Hon. Shri T.P.S. Rawatji, the Minister for Tourism, Government of Uttranchal and Shri N.N. Prasadji, Secretary Tourism for Uttranchal.

	The Honorable Tourism Minister takes part in purnahuti of Ganga Yagna

	The large crowd/audience for the Ganga Aarti

April 1-3 -- South India - Tsunami Relief Work
Since December 30 we have been working with great effort for tsunami relief in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Please see www.projecthope-tsunami.com for complete details of the work being done by Pujya Swamiji and Vivek Oberoi and the entire Project Hope team!

On April 1 we all travelled again back down to Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry to follow up with the work in each of the places.

1. Inauguration of Computer Center and Vocational Training Center in Patancheri Village, Karaikkal District, Pondicherry:

On the 2 April, a team of 20 Rotarians from USA and UK, led by Rotary Governor Elias Thomas III joined us in Karaikkal (as they had come to do hands on labor for the orphanage construction in Cuddalore). They were so touched by the plight of the people and also so impressed by the design of the new model village, that they have offered to sponsor at least 32 homes from their side! They will aim to build over 100.

We officially inaugurated a new computer center and women's vocational training center.

2. Groundlaying for new orphanage and ladies center
Project Hope has adopted a dilapidated and run-down service center in which 200 impoverished girls/ladies live. They have no proper dining facilities (they sleep, eat and study in the same hall) and all other facilities are sparse or worse. 

On the adjacent land we will build a new orphanage for children orphaned by the tsunami. We will also renovate and repair the women’s service center, build a full dining hall, a computer center and other facilities, and create a place where both the children and also the girls/women will benefit greatly.

The foundation laying ceremony for this project took place on the 16 February by the hands of the Honorable Governor of Tamil Nadu with the Honorable Governor of Uttranchal and the Honorable Lt. Governor of Pondicherry and other dignitaries

On April 3, the construction work officially began. Twenty Rotarians, led by  Rotary Governor Elias Thomas III, from USA and UK came for a week to personally assist in the hands-on labor! For 1 week they are working to help lay bricks, dig trenches and do whatever else is required in the physical construction of the orphanage.

	Cuddalore District Collector Shri Gagandeep Singh Bedi offers effusive words of appreciation for Project Hope's work in Devanampattinam and in Cuddalore

		Ombhai Vyas, Project Hope's architect, explains the drawings to Pujya Swamiji, the Hon. Lt. Governor of Pondicherry and the District Collector of Cuddalore on the site of the orphanage/women's social service center

	The first brick in the new orphanage is laid by the youngest orphan girl,  Pujya Swamiji, and Rotary Governor Elias Thomas of Maine, USA.

	Clockwise from right: The work moves at great speed! Pujya Swami surveys the construction with Ombhai Vyas, the architect, Honorable Governor of Pondicherry, Lt. Gen. M.M. Lakhera and District Collector of Cuddalore Gagandeep Singh Bedi lay bricks in the new orphanage

At the official function on April 3, balloons and chocolates were distributed to the orphan children and sarees were given out to the ladies. Bags of relief supplies were also distributed to the laborers.

	Balloons and chocolates are given to the orphan children

3. Distribution of nets and pushing of repaired boats back into the sea

We have – with the great assistance of Ashok Leyland, CII and the army – repaired more than 100 boats which are ready to return to sea (most of them already have!) The first boats were pushed out ceremonially on the 14 and 15 January (Pongal Day - New Year's) and on the 2 April, we had the official ceremony of pushing the repaired boats back into the sea.

Further we have purchased 15 brand new boats for the villagers with the assistance of the Rotary International.

We also purchased over 400 new fishing nets for the fishermen. These were distributed on the 2 April, 2005.

	Distribution of nets and puja for the new boats

	It was a beautiful scene to see all the fishermen come out to the ocean on the 2 April as Pujya Swamiji and Vivek had the puja for pushing boats back in the sea. We had already repaired many boats previously but this was the official day on which all the remaining 90 boats were repaired.
	Pujya Swamiji and Vivek Oberoi perform the puja for the new boats

April 13- May 14 -- Yatra to UK and USA
Pujya Swamiji departed from India on the 13 April, and spent one day in London on His way to USA.

April 15-16 -- Tampa, Florida
Pujya Swamiji arrived from London late in the evening of the 15th. There were beautiful satsang, pravachan and question-answer programs at the homes of Bellaben and Yogeshbhai Patel and Jayendra and Shilpa Chokski on Saturday the 16th.  Further, in addition to Pujya Swamiji's darshan and wisdom, everyone enjoyed the special Ganga Aarti which we showed at Bellaben and Yogeshbhai's home. It transported everyone to the holy banks of Mother Ganga.

On April 17, on the way to the airport, He was requested to stop at both the Sanatan Mandir and also the Swaminarayan Mandir in order to offer His blessings on the holy day of Ram Naumi, the birthday of Bhagwan Shri Rama.

April 17-18 -- Columbus, Ohio
A beautiful Ram Naumi program was organized by Dr. Kamala and Chander Saxena. The program began with kirtan and chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, and was followed by Pujya Swamiji's enlightening discourse on the life and message of Bhagwan Rama. Pujya Swamiji emphasized how to bring God closer to us, how to give birth to Rama in our own hearts.

Comparing the pure Shabri and the demoness Shurpanakha, He explained, "God does not like frills. God is not interested in make-up or fancy clothes. God loves purity. Look - Shurpanakha was Miss Universe and she came to offer herself to Lord Rama, but He knew her heart was not pure and He would not even pay attention to her. But Shabri who was simple, homely and even said to be ugly by the villagers, was so pure, so devoted that Lord Rama Himself went to  her. Shurpanakha came to Rama and He rejected her. But Rama Himself went to Shabri! So, if you want to have God in your life, don't worry about frills, don't worry about makeup and beauty parlors. Worry only about the beauty and purity of your own heart."

April 19-20 -- Detroit, Michigan
There was a beautiful program at the Bharatiya Temple organized by Arvindbhai Desai, Dr. Ram and Mini Garg and Madhvi Doshi.

April 21 -- Columbia, South Carolina
Pujya Swamiji spent a day in Columbia, the USA headquarters of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism project to discuss the progress and status of this monumental task. The 18-volume momentous work is progressing very well and -- by the grace of God -- will be completed very shortly!

April 22 -- Chattanooga, Tennessee
Organized by Jayantbhai and Ilaben Naik there was a beautiful program at the Sanatan Mandir.

April 23-24 -- Louisville, KY
April 23 was Hanuman Jayanti and Pujya Swamiji graced a beautiful Hanuman Chalisa recitation  at the home of Jayshree and Dr. Rajan Amin. He spoke on the meaning of the Hanuman Chalisa, and he also related it to the characteristics of Hanumanji. He emphasized also Hanumanji's humility: "Look, everyone around the world is singing his chalisa, and yet he is so humble, so pious, so pure." He also shared the beautiful story of when Sita Mata gave Hanumanji a pearl necklace as a "thank you" gift for rescuing her and winning the war. However, Hanumanji, proceeded to carefully examine and then break each of the precious pearls. When Sita Mata asked him, "What are you doing?" he explained, "I am looking for Rama! You said they are precious and priceless, so Rama must be here somewhere. Otherwise, if He is not in here then the pearls are useless."

Then on the morning of April 24 He gave a beautiful satsang and pravachan program at the home of Rekha and Atul Mashruwala. The pravachan was followed by a long and thought-provoking question-answer in which Pujya Swamiji explained various aspects of Sadhana.

April 30 -- Harrisburg Pennsylvania
The bi-annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of India Heritage Research Foundation took place in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  See www.ihrf.com for details of the huge extent of IHRF's humanitarian and charitable endeavors. The meeting focused on tsunami relief, projects in Mansarovar/Mt. Kailash and of course the historic project of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism.

	Meeting of the IHRF USA Board of Trustees

FILM ON PUJYA SWAMIJI & HIS TEACHINGS:

On April 17, 2004 at the Arclight Theater in Hollywood, USA a film on the life and teachings of Pujya Swamiji premiered to a sold out audience. The film, titled, "A Day in the Light" is produced and directed by Christopher Miglino.  The film has already been shown to delighted and inspired audiences at the Sedona Film Festival, the Indian Film Festival in Los Angeles and several other film festivals in USA and Europe.  See www.adayinthelight.com  to order your own copy of the beautiful film. Or, you can go directly to www.amazon.com and order it from there For more information, email Christopher directly at chris@yogamates.com Click on the links below for previews: Windows Media files Reduce Your Desires Forgiveness Expectation Love Real Player Files. Reduce your Desires Forgiveness Expectation Love