And after a year, a wooden canopy was built over the saint's marble tomb.
The private room for Baba's personal use was constructed within a week not far from Gilori Shah's tomb. Lord Ram's birthday was celebrated on Sunday, 13 April 1924. A small mandap (canopy) was erected opposite the newly constructed room, and many followers from Poona and Ahmednagar arrived. Khansaheb, Faredoon Masa, and Barsoap arranged to bring a bhajan singer named Bhikolya and his group from Kasba Peth. The mandali at Meherabad had been ordered to observe a 24-hour fast from the 12th of April.
A two hour program of bhajan singing was held, and afterward Bhikolya recited stories of Ram. A simple meal of rice and dal was served. Afterward the mandali were busy filling water pots, cleaning vessels and preparing enough food for a mass feeding the next day.
The Master gave a short discourse in the evening; the essential message was:
"The Perfect Master is God in human form. One should think twice before being in the company of a Sadguru; and once one has joined and stayed with him, one should completely surrender to him for the rest of one's life."
Baba then concluded with statements about Meherabad:
"Once I settle here, the atmosphere of this place will be greatly heightened spiritually and materially. I have a great mission to perform in my life for the benefit of humanity, the outcome of which will be observed in the near future."
At seven in the evening, a kirtan program (stories of God accompanied by song and music) was delivered by a Hindu kirtankar . The singing lasted until late in the night.
On the morning of 14 April, Baba hastened out of the Post Office building, shouting to the mandali, "I couldn't sleep for a moment last night! I couldn't sleep for a particular reason!"
He then gathered the mandali and explained:
"Kondiram asked me for train fare to return to Poona. His mother is ill, so I gave him money. But now I am making this rule: I will never give a pie [cent] to anyone, nor will I ask anyone else to give money for any such reason. If anyone's relative is seriously ill, he can go on foot. But if he does otherwise, at anyone's expense, he is no longer mine, and that person will be considered to have left me. So whoever wants to be relieved of my company should say so here and now, and I will furnish his return journey to his respective place and set him free."