In a last minute decision Guru Maharaj Ji indicated His wish to hold Hans Jayanti Festival on November 9th and 10th in Toronto instead of Patna, India, as originally planned. Mild panic ensued as we wondered if we could get it together in such a short space of time; however we are pleased to report that everything is flowing smoothly.
Guru Maharaj Ji, Durga Ji, Raja Ji and Claudia along with a number of Mahatmas will attend. Raja Ji and Claudia have been with us in Toronto for the past two weeks and will stay until the end of the festival.
Mahatma Guru Charanand Ji and Rennie Davis arrived in Toronto October 15th to help in preparation for Guru Maharaj Ji's program. Mahatma Ji has been giving inspiring satsang every night at the Community Centre. Rennie is on tour of the East Coast after having done a T.V. show and press conference here in the Maple City.
The site is the International Centre located at 6900 Airport Road near the Airport in Toronto. There are ample free parking facilities available.
Registration is limited to 5,000 premies, so we suggest you register NOW. All people wishing to attend should register their intention with their local DUO director as soon as possible. Registration fee of $25.00 includes two(2) meals and one(1) night's lodging in a hotel. You should plan on checking into your assigned quarters between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Saturday November 9th. You are advised not to arrive before the first day of the festival unless you can accommodate yourself.
Don't forget to register as you will need your identification card to get in and the hall definitely will not hold more than 7,000.
We are needing many premies to do service on the two days of the festival. For those wishing to do service, there will be an information booth at the front entrance of the International Centre.
The official program will start at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday November 9th. The following is a tentative schedule:
Saturday November 9th:
Afternoon Program:2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.Dinner:6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p:m.Evening Program:8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.Sunday November 10th:
Darshan:11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.Dinner:3:00 p.M. - 5:00 p.m.Evening Program:5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Those who have attended festivals in the past where Maharaj Ji has given Darshan know of the Love manifested at such a time. As someone from the Maritimes wrote "Without a doubt Hans Jayanti has for the past three years marked a radical change in human consciousness, and naturally, easily, we become freer and higher each time we are graced with such an event."
Dear brothers and sisters,
During the past few months I met with groups of premies across the country and expressed the hope that if we all came together in a united effort to please and serve Maharaj Ji, then perhaps He would allow us to celebrate the Guru Puja festival in Canada in 1975. As it turns out, we now have less than a week to go before Maharaj Ji and Durga Ji arrive in Toronto for the celebration of Hans Jayanti '74. Needless to say, it was not by our efforts, but simply by His unbounded grace that such an opportunity has become possible.
May I encourage each and every premie in Canada to support and participate in the staging of this festival so that we may all receive Guru Maharaj Ji in the glory He deserves.
Your brother;
Michael Dettmers
National Director.