Meherjee, Nariman and Eruch rode with them. Adi and Gulmai also went, as well as numerous Poona lovers. The mandali arrived in Rahata at 8:30 A.M., and Baba's car arrived five minutes later. Since Baba was not scheduled to arrive until 9:00 A.M., Adi went ahead to inform Yeshwant Rao that they had come earlier. In the meantime, Baba got out of the car and started walking on the main road, Aloba holding an umbrella over his head. Adi returned, and Baba left Rahata and arrived at the gates of Sakori village at 8:45 A.M.
Upon his arrival in Sakori, Baba was welcomed by the residents of the Sakori ashram and villagers singing bhajans. A few rifles were fired in ceremonial salute. Baba's car stopped, he was garlanded with flowers, tikka (a vermilion mark) was applied to his forehead, and people started bowing down to him. Gulal (red-colored powder) was sprinkled over the hood of Sarosh's car, and garlands were placed on it in decoration. Baba's car was then taken in a procession to the ashram. A beautifully caparisoned horse and a band were in the vanguard, and, on each side of Baba's car, men wearing red belts and carrying silver staffs formed an honor guard.
The procession halted in front of Upasni Maharaj's old temple. Chhagan's brother Vasant Deshmukh, the chief priest of Sakori, garlanded Baba and offered a coconut to him. Another coconut, which Baba touched, was broken and its water strewn on the road, sanctifying the area. Kirtans were lovingly and vigorously being chanted. Baba took a pair of finger-cymbals from one of the kirtan singers and played it for a short time, while sitting in the car.
Stepping out of the car, Baba walked to the lavishly decorated pandal outside Yeshwant Rao's newly constructed house, where he took his seat at 9:05 A.M. As soon as Baba approached the tent, Godavri Mai, the head of the kanyas (nuns), garlanded him and bowed her head at his feet. The other kanyas of Sakori, including Jiji, an elderly, grey-haired woman, who was a longtime resident of the ashram, did likewise after singing Baba's arti.
Baba made Godavri sit on his left side and Jiji on his right. Jiji was so overcome that tears rolled down her cheeks. Baba patted her on the head. B. T. Wagh, the manager of the ashram, stood before Baba, urging those taking Baba's darshan to be quick.
