Baba also participated in the fun by riding a bucking donkey and was the first to reach the winning post. The tug-of-war contest, which was played between the Arangaon Harijan children and the Maratha villagers, provided amusement to all.
Two days later, Rustom and Arjun distributed prizes to the winners and to the boys who passed their exams. The Master's gaadi (divan) was brought to a room in the school that had been decorated with flowers. The ceremonies began with a short speech by Vishnu, followed by the ghazal singing of Abdur Rehman. Rustom handed out the awards. He first presented the prize for winning the donkey race by garlanding Baba as the winner.
During that race a very funny incident had occurred: Gustadji had fallen off the donkey he was riding. But, when he remounted the animal, it refused to budge. Quite upset by the donkey's stubbornness, Gustadji swore at it, but it still would not move. His abuse of "the stubborn ass" made many laugh uproariously.
Baba, in turn, gave a prize to Rustom for winning the long-distance race. Rustom then handed out the rest of the prizes, and the function ended with the serving of tea and sweets.
On Friday, 26 June 1925, Baba declared that he would observe silence from the 10th of July. A sign about his statement was painted and erected at the entrance to Meherabad. Notices were printed and mailed announcing that Meher Baba would not speak with anyone for one year. It was also intimated through the notices that, from the 1st of July, the Master would not give darshan to any outsiders for a few weeks. Baba wanted to have sufficient time to give final instructions to the men and women at Meherabad about their stay and duties.
During a discussion of the upcoming year of silence, one person expressed the concern that Baba, on becoming upset with any person, might let a few words slip from his mouth. It was even suggested that Baba tie a handkerchief around his mouth to prevent this. But Baba assured everyone present that once he started to keep silence he would not lose control of his temper or utter a word thereafter.
Baba concluded the meeting by singing the lines:
As soon as I became conscious of Shyam Sunder [the beauty of Krishna] A mustard seed blossomed before my eyes. O its yellow flowers! What I saw is indescribable! Its seed moved the mountain when it flowered before my eyes.