During every available hour, the Westerners were busy helping bundle individual packages of millet in five-yard pieces of cloth to be distributed to the 10,000 poor being rounded up. Ruano and Nadine's wrists got very sore while tying bundle after bundle of cloth and grain. Nonny was the only Westerner exempt from this work because she had arthritis. In addition, there were plans for cooking a feast the same day for all who attended.
Baba had stopped giving darshan to outsiders for a long time and was not meeting anyone other than those staying in the ashrams at Nasik, Rahuri and Meherabad. All others were informed that he was in seclusion. But he had agreed to give his darshan to the public during the two-day celebration of his birthday, and he directed Chanji to write the following letter to Mahatma Gandhi:
February 4, 1937 My dear Gandhiji,
The 43rd birthday of Shri Meher Baba is to be celebrated on the 17th and 18th of this month on the grounds of the retreat here in Nasik.
Among the principal functions on this occasion is the distribution of grain and cloth, as a special prasad personally given by Shri Meher Baba to over 10,000 poor and destitute and others to be invited and collected from the villages in the surrounding districts, irrespective of caste, color or creed.
Shri Baba, who is in seclusion for a long time, will allow darshan to all on these two days.
The occasion will incidentally provide an opportunity for a meeting of his Eastern and Western disciples and devotees, since it is for the first time that his Western devotees, who have recently arrived to stay here in this retreat, participate in a public function with their Indian brethren.
It is Shri Baba Saheb's wish that those who can, and especially those who have been in his contact for some time or other in the past, be near him on this particular occasion for the special spiritual significance and importance it has in the personal benefit every individual near him at the time will derive — materially as well as spiritually.
It gives me great pleasure to have this opportunity to convey Shri Baba's invitation, at his express wish, to yourself, your family and others who wish to accompany you here. We shall be glad to arrange board and lodging for your group arriving.
With Shri Baba's love and blessings as always.