Baidul's burly son-in-law Pesi Irani, Adi Dubash and others went ahead to try and clear a path for the car. The sweet melody of Telugu devotional songs echoed to the accompaniment of a band. Behind Godavri Mai's car, a few Parsi women carried a ceremonial tray and other items for Baba's puja.
The procession of devotees circumambulated Baba's cabin and proceeded at a slow pace around the east and north of the hall to the main road and then onto the dirt road leading toward the meeting pandal. There it halted at 8:45 A.M. Baba asked everyone to go inside and take their seats.
As Baba and Godavri Mai arrived on the dais, there were loud calls of "Avatar Meher Baba ki jai!" and "Godavri Mata ki jai!" A group of Parsi women were the first to offer Baba congratulations by singing Happy Birthday To You, followed by the traditional Gujarati birthday song. A flower crown was placed on Baba's head by Minoo Kharas, and Baba was garlanded profusely.
Before Baba took his seat, Gaimai Jessawala and her family worshiped him in Parsi-fashion from the steps of the dais. Gaimai then applied a red tilak mark to Baba's forehead, and broke a coconut on the ground in front of him for good luck. Baba took off his crown of flowers and explained to Godavri Mai, who was seated at his right, about the disagreement as to the selection of twelve men and twelve women to wash his feet. So he had decided to wash his own feet and mix the water with the rest of the water from the sacred Godavri River, which the sahavas men and women should apply to their foreheads.
Leaving his seat, Baba sat on a chair at the edge of the dais. He helped the Arangaon lovers empty the Toka river water into a large copper teep (cylindrical vessel) kept on Baba's right. Several men and women brought bottles filled with water from the Ganges and other sacred rivers of India, which were likewise emptied in the metal vessel. Milk, honey and rosewater perfume were also poured into the vessel. Then Baba put his feet into a clean basin-like bowl and poured four to five mugfuls of water over them. The music continued, as he did so. With his own hands, Baba poured the precious charanamrit (nectar of the lotus feet of God) into the large copper vessel. The entire pandal full of people burst forth with his praise. Eruch wiped and dried Baba's feet with a towel. Then standing up, Baba returned to his original seat. The towel was presented to Thirumala Rao, who held it to his forehead and eyes in gratitude.