Baba got down from the bullock cart and was led to the dais by Mauni Bua and some prominent villagers. The entire assembly burst forth, repeating his Jai for several moments, and joining both his hands Baba offered his namaskar. The villagers then garlanded him and sang his arti.
As the darshan was about to begin, Baba stated, "Do not waste your time in garlanding me and singing my arti. These things are not important. The important thing is to receive the prasad from my hands."
The villagers were also instructed not to touch Baba's feet but, despite the warning, some could not resist their hearts and custom, and tried to touch them. Because of this Baba left the dais and walked to the hall of the village panchayat (council), where he sat down. Baba and the mandali were served tea and refreshments. Sipping a little, Baba handed the rest of his cup to Mauni Bua.
Hundreds of men, women and children from surrounding villages had also arrived, totaling almost 5,000. Some approached Baba, requesting him to continue giving darshan.
He replied, "I am ready if no one touches my feet."
On their agreeing, Baba returned to the pandal. This time no one tried to touch his feet. The different rows of men and women went to him one by one, and accepted the prasad with full faith and devotion.
Baba was in a splendid mood, and remarked, "Looking at these surroundings, I am reminded of a similar occasion when Sai Baba was taken in procession to the villages adjoining Kopargaon."
Baba had originally agreed to give darshan for only two hours, but he went on distributing prasad with both hands until 3:30 P.M. The multitude, however, continued to increase; so, touching the remainder of the prasad, Baba left the dais. He was taken to a temple on the banks of the river, where the tomb of the saint Shri Dharnath had been erected. An old sadhu was looking after the shrine. The sadhu stretched himself on the ground and offered his obeisance to Baba, and then garlanded him. Baba embraced him and the man entreated Baba to grace the shrine by stepping inside. Baba did and liked the temple very much.
In the course of the darshan, several people had placed money on the dais, along with coconuts, flowers and fruit.
Baba instructed Mauni Bua, "Keep this amount to meet the expenses of the program."
Mauni Bua hesitated since the villagers had willingly contributed toward the costs. But Baba reminded him about obedience to the Master in every respect; thereupon, after collecting the money, Mauni Bua handed it over to the reception committee.