To officially begin Yogi Youth Camp 2019, participants attended an opening ceremony hosted by Kuldeep Patel (Lansdale, PA). The divo was lit by Sadguru Sant Pujya Ashvindada, Pujya Jayeshbhai, Rahul Patel (Florida City, FL), Hailee Patel (Buena Park, CA), Shri Jitendra Patel (Peoria, IL), Shri Mukeshbhai. Sadguru Sant Pujya Ashvindada then told campers that learning the history of the mandirs is important because what we learn at the mandir will influence how we carry ourselves for the rest of our lives. The campers then left for the hotels to get some sleep and prepare for the rest of the week.

Campers started the day by learning the proper method of performing morning puja, led by Nandan Patel (Fremont, CA). Seniors then had a scriptures session organized by Garima Patel (Allentown, PA) and discussed Vachanamrut Gadhada I-16. Meanwhile, juniors participated in a CLEAR Values session led by Saloni Sheth (Peoria, IL) that focused on collaboration and teamwork. All of the campers then attended a sabha in which Rutvik Rana (Boston, MA) discussed the importance of mandirs. He explained that mandirs are built for us devotees to become better people; they are not built so that God can leave a legacy. Rutvik also talked about the Ahmedabad mandir, built by Maharaj himself, and the Allentown mandir, built by Sant Bhagwant Sahebdada. He also encouraged youth to attend the Mogri Mandir MurtiPratishta in January 2020 if possible. In the afternoon, the juniors participated in arts and crafts, followed by a Real Talk by Maharshi Patel (Sciota, PA) about discipline. Meanwhile, the seniors started preparing decorations for the upcoming Annakut as an opportunity to do seva. They also attended a Bhajan Nirupan session of Sadguru Sant Pujya Ashvindada on the bhajan “Aaradhu Akhanda Preme.” Sadguru Sant Pujya Ashvindada explained that the bhajan is a prayer to always form a connection with God through love. He also encouraged seniors to learn their mother tongue of Gujarati, as we need to understand the bhajan in order to sing with feelings (bhaav). The seniors then participated in a CLEAR Values session on leadership led by Shivani Patel (Allentown, PA) while the juniors attended a scriptures session organized by Priyenka Patel (Saint Charles, LA). Heema Patel (Fremont, CA) and Jesal Patel (Allentown, PA) organized and hosted an evening program that involved trivia, bhajans, and satsang knowledge. For this program, campers were divided into teams to compete.

After morning puja, the juniors attended a CLEAR Values session on leadership, and the seniors discussed Vachanamrut Gadhada I-9. The sabha that followed was split into two parts. First, Vidhi Rana (Mountain View, CA) discussed Swaminarayan Bhagwan’s Bhuj mandir and Sant Bhagwant Sahebji’s Kharghar mandir. Next, Chetan Patel (Fremont, CA) discussed Swaminarayan Bhagwan’s Vadtal mandir and Sant Bhagwant Sahebdada’s London mandir. Both speakers discussed the similarities between Maharaj’s mandirs, built 200+ years ago, and Sahebdada’s mandirs, built in the past few decades. Chetanbhai explained that the mandir gives us values that we cannot learn in any type of school. The seniors then continued their decoration seva projects while the juniors attended a Bhajan Nirupan session in which Chetanbhai discussed the meaning of “Aaradhu Akhanda Preme.” Following a scriptures session for the juniors and a CLEAR Values session on collaboration for the seniors, all of the campers enjoyed an evening of bowling for the week’s outing.

Following morning puja, the juniors learned about excellence in their CLEAR Values session while the seniors discussed Gadhada II-28 from the Vachanamrut. Both groups gathered for a sabha with Hitesh Vadodariya (Seattle, WA) and Archana Vadodariya (Seattle, WA). Hiteshbhai discussed the Dholera mandir and Sant Bhagwant Sahebdada’s Vemar mandir. He explained the commendable actions of the Vemar youth; some were willing to quit their jobs to commit to the mandir’s seva full-time. Archanaben then talked about how we come to a mandir to cleanse our souls. She focused primarily on Maharaj’s Junagadh mandir and Sahebdada’s Ahmedabad mandir. Juniors then worked on their arts and crafts projects before attending a Real Talk on the importance of reducing screentime, led by Charvee Patel (Centreville, VA). The seniors learned about ethics in their CLEAR Values session and continued the previous day’s Bhajan Nirupan of “Aaradhu Akhanda Preme,” led again by Sadguru Sant Pujya Ashvindada. He explained the importance of becoming gurumukhi instead of manmukhi – thinking only of our guru’s desires instead of our own. The evening program consisted of the Swami Ni Vaato and Bhajan competitions. Campers ranging from freshmen to seniors participated in demonstrating their satsang knowledge.

After morning puja, juniors learned about accountability in their CLEAR Values session while seniors analyzed Gadhada I-8 from the Vachanamrut. The sabha that followed was led by Chetan Patel (Fremont, CA). His topics were Maharaj’s Gadhada mandir and Sant Bhagwant Sahebdada’s Mogri mandir, which is scheduled for completion this coming January. Chetanbhai emphasized the importance of the Dham, Dhami, and Mukto murtis in all of Sahebdada’s mandirs. Juniors then worked on their arts and crafts projects and attended Bhajan Nirupan by Mukti Pathak (Philadelphia, PA), followed by a discussion on Gadhada I-76 in their scriptures session. Meanwhile, seniors continued to progress in their seva projects and learned about accountability in their CLEAR Values sessions. The evening continued with a game of Minute Madness, in which participants had to complete various challenges for their teams in one minute. All of the campers then gathered to welcome Sant Bhagwant Sahebdada as he arrived at the mandir. Fireworks, sparklers, and glowsticks lit up the campus as he graced us with his divine presence.

Following morning puja, both juniors and seniors had their final CLEAR Values session on the topic of respect. Sadguru Sant Pujya Ashvindada then held a sabha in which he discussed the mahima of Sant Bhagwant Sahebdada as well as the importance of the Mogri mandir. He explained that the center of our lives should be our guru and God. He also spoke about the sthawar mandir, which is a physical mandir such as Allentown. However, he pointed out that there are also jangam mandirs, or the manifestation of a mandir in the form of Sahebdada. Sadguru Sant Pujya Ashvindada then requested Shri Satishbhai Chatwani to speak. Satishbhai explained that by keeping God at the center of our lives, we will only do things that will make Him happy, and this will only bring us benefit. He also emphasized that our souls will become elevated when we see the mahima in others. Campers were then given “kanthis” by Sadguru Sant Pujya Ashvindada. After lunch, the older seniors attended a Vision 2020 meeting to give suggestions on a proposal for next year’s camp experience. To end Yogi Youth Camp 2019, the closing ceremony was hosted by Maharshi Patel. Param Patel (FL) summarized the week’s scriptures and bhajan nirupan sessions, and the freshmen and some juniors performed dances for the audience. Sant Bhagwant Sahebdada then gave aashirvaad to all of the campers and encouraged everyone to do 10 minutes of dhun during puja each day.