BHAGAVAN SHRI SATHYA SAI BABA
BHAGAVAN’S FIRST VISIT TO HIMACHAL PRADESH AND PUNJAB
17th – 20th March,1973
Bhagavan first came to Shimla in March 1973 during His 22-day tour of northern India. Bhagavan left Bangalore by plane on 14th March 1973 and reached Delhi at midnight. Bhagavan left Delhi by car early in the morning on 15th March and reached Moga in the forenoon where He inaugurated the Murlidhar Hospital built by Sri Jindal, and showered the bliss of His Divine Darshan on hundreds of thousands people. Next day afternoon, Bhagavan addressed a public meeting at Moga where more than two lakh people gathered to listen to His nectarine Discourse.
On the morning of 17th March 1973, Bhagavan left Moga for Shimla by car and reached Shimla in the afternoon. Soon after His arrival, Bhagavan gave Darshan to a huge gathering of devotees on the Ridge. On the morning of 18th March, there was the programme of Darshan, Bhajan and Bhagavan’s Discourse at the Ridge where every inch of space was occupied by eager devotees, and still there were thousands who sat on the surrounding hills to hear Bhagavan and have His Divine Darshan. There was another public meeting on the morning of 18th March 1973 where Bhagavan showered His blessings on lakhs of devotees. Thousands had Darshan in the lawns of Woodville Palace, the residence of Bhagavan during His stay at Shimla. Bhagavan also visited the nearby hill stations of Kufri and Phagu both on the morning of 17th and 18th March 1973 along with a selected group of devotees. After sowing the seeds of love, devotion and spirituality in the hearts of millions of people of the sacred land of Himachal Pradesh, Bhagavan left Shimla for Delhi on the morning of 20th March 1973 by car.
2nd to 4th April,1975
On 30th March 1975, Bhagavan left Bangalore on a 10-day visit to Delhi, Amritsar, Shimla and Jaipur. From Delhi, Bhagavan flew by a chartered plane with a small party of devotees to Amritsar on 2nd April 1975. Lakhs of people gathered in the Putlighar ground experienced the bliss of His Divine Darshan at Amritsar.
From Amritsar, Bhagavan came to Chandigarh by plane and showered the bliss of His Divine Darshan on a huge multitude of devotees. From Chandigarh, Bhagavan motored to Shimla with His entourage comprising more than 20 cars. On reaching Shimla, Bhagavan gave Darshan to thousands of devotees on the Ridge. Both on 3rd and 4th April, there were programmes of Darshan and Bhajan on the Ridge Maidan, where Bhagavan sang a few Bhajans also filling thousands of hearts with joy and devotion.
On the morning of 4th April 1975, Bhagavan gave a nectarine Discourse which was etched in the hearts of simple hill people of this Himalayan region. On the afternoon of 5th April 1975, Bhagavan left for Delhi by car, stopping at Solan on the way for one hour where He gave a Discourse, sang a few Bhajans and blessed the huge gathering assembled there.
