Although Baba's health was poor, he had agreed to these festivities and indeed desired that they take place. It was his compassion to give darshan to his close lovers one final time, since he knew that for most of those present it would be their last opportunity to see him.
The next day, Saturday, 21 December 1968, Adi Jr.'s family and Ann Eve came to see Baba. This was also to be the first meeting between bride and groom; but upon reaching Meherazad, Amrit had fallen ill with temperature, and so no meeting between her and Dara occurred that day.
Sunday, 22 December, was the first day of celebrations, a triple occasion in honor of Mehera's birthday, the betrothal of Dara and Amrit, and also the navjot ceremony of four children of the Dadachanji family. Hoshang and Havovi Dadachanji had originally asked Baba through Arnavaz to perform the thread ceremony of their son, Rayomand, age ten, and daughter Meherrukh, age seven, in May 1969 at Guruprasad, but Baba had replied no.
They then requested it be done on Mehera's birthday and to that Baba replied, "Kabul [Agreed]!"
He had asked, "Are there any more children of the same age? It is better theirs be done also at the same time."
So Dara Dadachanji's son, Naozer, age six, and Dolly Dastoor's sister, Roshan Irani's daughter, Mehernaz, age seven, were also included.
That morning, about 200 guests arrived at Meherazad by buses. Baba was in his room and was brought onto the verandah in a wheelchair by Eruch and Bhau. He was greeted with repeated shouts of "Avatar Meher Baba ki jai!" The program began with the singing of Happy Birthday to Mehera. Dara was seated on the verandah and soon the women mandali brought Amrit out. Adi Jr. read the poem Francis had composed for Mehera's birthday. It had been read for Baba in the morning and he wished the guests to hear it.
Dara and Amrit exchanged rings after Baba had touched them, putting them on each other's fingers in his presence. Thereafter, the four children attired in their navjot finery came to Baba.
Baba blessed them with this simple invocation, "O Ahuramazda, Asho [Lord] Zoroaster, Avatar Meher Baba!"
Then this message from him was read out:
Religious ceremonies instead of freeing one from maya keep one firmly bound to maya. I have come to make people do away with ceremonies. God can be attained only through love; therefore, love me more and more until you know who I am.