Baba was not pleased by the remark, but then changed his mind and consented to observe the day in a fitting manner.
He explained to Adi, "I encourage the Hindus because they take great interest in their religious festivals and are more devotional than any other community."
Nervous was sent to Ahmednagar by bicycle to buy flowers and sweets. Baba and the Parsi and Irani mandali bathed and put on clean clothes. They then stood, in a reverent manner, before a burning fire and soon Nervous returned and joined them. After prayers were offered in the Master's presence, sweets were distributed to all. Baba was very quiet during the prayers and prasad; he appeared in a solemn mood.
In the evening Baba sang for some time accompanied by Adi playing the sitar.
Religious differences between the Hindu mandali and the others persisted. The Hindus would not touch food cooked by others, yet Baba would side with them and encourage them to follow their religious beliefs and rituals. Baba wanted to free the Hindu mandali from these differences; but unless they were intoxicated by divine wine, it was no use trying to persuade them. So Baba would take interest in the Hindu festivals, and by his indifference to the Zoroastrian and Mohammedan festivals he would draw out deep inner thoughts of conflict and set fire to them, thus dissolving the differences. Gradually orthodox religious concepts were eradicated. All the mandali — whether Hindu, Muslim or Zoroastrian — found their true religion in the wine of the Master.
But to create longing for wine there must be thirst. And thirst can only be created when unclean thoughts are brought to the surface and wiped away. So the seeming conflicts over food or holy days were constructive. By purposely creating such conflicts, the Master was enabling everyone to banish such unnecessary desires and thus become naked — so they might one day be able to don the robe of Truth.