Baba left Meherazad at 6:30 A.M. on Monday, 18 March 1957 with Meherjee in his car. Accompanying Baba in his car and another car were Bhau, Aloba, Kaka, Gustadji, Kumar, Kishan Singh, Keshav and Francis Goldney. (Eruch, Chhagan, Adi Sr. and Bal Natu had left two days before to see to the arrangements.) Many lovers from Ahmednagar also went, including Gulmai. Baba reached Sakori at 9:00 A.M., and hundreds crowded around his car. He was taken by car in a special procession through the ashram gates, led by a caparisoned white horse and men carrying silver staffs. Continuous cries of "Avatar Meher Baba ki jai!" reverberated. Baba's wheelchair had been brought, and he was wheeled to the ashram temple where Vasant performed puja. Godavri Mai and the other kanyas sang his arti. The kanyas then garlanded Baba and took darshan. A pandal had been erected opposite a large banyan tree under which Upasni Maharaj had sat for many years. Baba was helped into an armchair on the dais inside. The tent was full to overflowing. Godavri was sitting near Baba on the dais. This message from Baba was read over the microphone:
I am happy to have come today to Sakori, the seat of my Master, Upasni Maharaj. Maharaj was Perfection personified. I am also very happy to be with my "mother" who is sitting by my side. I, being Krishna, call her Yashoda. In purity of heart, she has no equal in the world.
Godavri Mai and the kanyas performed Baba's arti again, and Baba began giving darshan and distributing prasad as music and singing continued in the background. For several hours, the multitude filed before the divine Christ-Avatar to have his touch.
Francis Goldney recalled: "Baba radiated joy and bliss so great that many wept unashamedly, and tears came to our own eyes continually. Loving disciples mopped sweat from his brow, and skilled hands massaged his legs."
Baba remarked to the gathering:
All that you see is nothing but illusion. Even your seeing Baba sitting here with you, giving you darshan and addressing you, is nothing but illusion, and there can be no compromise in it. One who loses his all for this cause can reach the depth of the unfathomable Ocean of Reality.
Later, Baba added:
In the recent car accident, I and some of my dear ones received serious injuries. The injury in my hip joint made me remain confined to bed. But, through the love of you all, the progress attained by me has been much more than could be expected within the time taken, and I feel that within fifteen days, I will be able to walk freely and independently.