Baba made it clear that for 1968 he wished his Centers in the East and West to celebrate his birthday publicly and on a large scale, and he was pleased that many planned to do so. In Andhra Pradesh, which now boasted over 150 Meher Centers, 74 days of programs were planned in honor of Baba's 74th birthday. "These people would dive into the ocean if they could tell the fishes about Meher Baba," one of the mandali remarked, praising the zealous Andhraites.
Meherazad was also splendidly decorated on Sunday, 25 February 1968, for Baba's birthday. As usual, Baba embraced each of the mandali that morning in his room, and he also embraced the driver Yusuf, and all the garden servant boys who had hung the decorations. Then Baba did one hour of work in the hall alone.
That day, Baba sent this special message by telegram to his lovers and Centers throughout the world:
On this, my apparent physical birthday, I send my homage and obeisance to my lovers who live for me and would, if ordered, die for me.
A grand celebration took place at the Ahmednagar Center that day. Welcome arches were erected over different roads in town, and other decorations were displayed. Like the previous year, a large procession was planned, and the principal of Jabalpur College, Girjanandan Dube, had come to deliver a public address at Gandhi Maidan.
In his room at Meherazad that afternoon at about 4:00 P.M., Baba remarked to Bhau, "Today, the Ahmednagar people are going to celebrate my birthday publicly. This evening, they are having a big parade through the town. I know they have all worked very hard, and this makes me happy. I, in turn, want them to feel pleased that the celebrations come off well. But if it rains, then everything will be spoiled! Do you think it will rain?"
Bhau said, "No, Baba, it won't rain! The sky is clear."
"But if it rains, what will happen? Sarosh will be the most upset, because he has worked day and night for the procession. Do you think it will rain? Go and look at the sky."
Bhau went outside to look and came back and repeated the same thing, "It won't rain, Baba.The sky is very clear. There is no sign of rain. Don't worry, Baba. Just rest now."