In the pious memory of AN Karshanbhai Premjibhai Bhudiya (Village – Sukhpur, Kutch) Mombasa, a Katha Parayan was arranged by Shree Sureshbhai Bhudiya, Lalitbhai Bhudiya and Bhudiya family on the holy bank of great River Ganaga at Haridwar, Shree Swaminarayan Ghat, Saptarshi. During October 15 to 21, 2011 Sadguruvarya Shastri Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami narrated the Katha of Shreemad Bhagwat Puran.
The life of Shree Karshanbhai was like a torchbearer not only for Kutch but for entire Satsang – Sampraday. Decades ago when devotees were going to Mombasa by sailing, he was Karshanbhai who looked after them in every aspects.
He played a significant role in the development of Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple, Mombasa. For years together he served the temple as a President. Under his direction Swaminarayan Academy came in the existence and the Swaminarayan School, run by Swaminarayan academy became one of the famous schools in Mombasa. Consecutively, name of Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan was spread in the countries of Africa.
Shree Karshanbhai led a pious and virtuous life keeping entire Satang as one family. Due to his ambition of spread of Satsang he had great affection towards the educational and social services propagated by H H Shastriji Maharaj.
On the first day procession was organized to carry the Pothi of Shreemad Bhawat to the place of Katha. Many saints and devotees participated in this procession. HH Harivallabhdasji Swami (Mahant, Shree Swaminarayan Ashram, Haridwar), Pujya Yogeshwardasji Maharaj (Haridwar), Shree Sukdevjimaharaj (Haridwar), Shree Pranavanadji Maharaj (Juna Akhada), Shree Ravindranandji Maharaj (Haridwar), Shree Narayangiriji Maharaj (Haridwar) participated in procession and Katha to grace the occasion.
Shree Haribhai Kesarabhai Halai, R R Patel, Ramjibhai Shivjibhai Hirani, Lakshmanbhai Varsani, Kanjibhai Devjibhai Pindoriya, Laljibhai Valjibhai Hirani, Virjibhai Mavjibai Hirani from abroad also participated the pious occasion of Katha Parayan.
Many spiritual leaders of Haridwar graced the occasion with their valuable presence and blessings.
On the holy bank of River Ganaga, Sadguruvarya Shastri Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami narrated the Katha of Shreemad Bhagwat Puran eruditely and saints, hermits of Haridwar and devotees from abroad and India expressed the great satisfaction.
On one of the days of the occasion, Shree Sureshbhai Bhudiya (Mombasa) and Shree Jivrambhai Patel (Hyderabad) offered the Bhojan – Prasad to the hermits of Haridwar. Pujya Swamiji and Yajmans performed the Poojan of all hermits and they all had the Bhojan.
During the occasion, a ritual of Asthi Visrajan was performed. After the Poojan, Asthi of Pujyapad Shree Jogi Swamiji and that of Shree Karshanbhai was offered to the holy flow of River Ganaga with recitations of Janmangal Stotra and Vedic Mantra.
To perform or have Darshan of Aarti of Gangaji fetches the great importance. Pujya Swamiji and other devotees performed the Ganga Aarati at ‘Har Ki Paidi’ a famous place for Ganga Aarti and Poojan of Gangaji at Haridwar and also at Rashikesh, Parmarth Niketan.
In the end of Katha Parayan a Hariyag Yagna was performed and Pujya Swamiji offered the bidu (Last Aahuti) and blessed all Yajmans of Katha Parayan.
