Today we celebrated the spirit of universal goodness "Gandhijis birthday" at Sabarmati Ashram in a very auspicious and sacred way. The day started with prayers from the younger generation, it built up with heartful insights and visits from elders (like Arun-bhai Dave, Ashram trustee Amrut Dada, and ex-chancellor of Gujarat Vidyapeeth, Sudarshan Iyengar), and it concluded with a blessing ceremony of our newly built Jai Jagat (Homage to One World!) amphitheater.

All throughout the day, we all felt unending waves of happiness. The joy on Ajeet Dada (Ashram trustee) who was born and brought up in the ashram was overflowing and immersing all of us in it.

For the Jai Jagat amphitheater inauguration, children of the Ashram School offered two performances. More than 80% of them were first-time performers -- although no one could tell, after witnessing their exuberant talent show, complete with singing, dancing, acting and speeches. Nimo-bhai nurtured the latent talent and provided a platform through HeArt center. Even most of us in the audience couldn't even imagine having such a platform in our childhood. I certainly felt blessed watching the ashram children having what I wished I had.

There were two consecutive shows one for 320 invited guests and another for our 400 children. We had an amazing team behind the scenes -- Sandeep bhai, Neeta didi, Anish bhai, Himmat, Ajeet dada, teachers and wardens of ashram shala vinay mandir and Ptc. with Ashram Mitra's including Sanchi, Meghna didi, Devesh, Diken, Madhubhai, Vijay, Somnath worked literally day and night for last few days to create the magic to honour what is emerging - pouring head, hands and heart. ❤

During the conclusion of the second show, one the student (7 grade) volunteered to share in front of the whole audience. She invited Shanta ben (Ashram mother) while holding her hands with deep gratitude; she had tears in her eyes while sharing, "I am new in the system (her first few months in the hostel) and feel fortunate to receive love more than what my mother could give." To us, it was a sacred moment to hold. Speaks a volume of what about the roots that are cultivated below the surface.

Speaking of roots, more than 100 trees were planted today in addition to hundreds others over the last few days. All the construction workers (20+) were honored in front of all at the end of the first show for their labor of love ❤

And metaphorically speaking, we also had the blessings of deeper roots. Elaben (founder SEWA) blessed us all with her presence and sharing - how she feels joyous witnessing Jayesh bhai taking one step after another towards collating people and spaces for universal goodness. While people seek her time, given her health and her labour of love filled schedule, it's highly valuable to have even few minutes from her -- and even though she wasn't feeling great, she ensured to spend the entire two and half hours with us. Such humility and faith she showered on what is emerging.

Although Jayeshbhai is always in the back, everyone was profoundly grateful for what is emerging through him. Ela-ben emphasized multiple times that she would like to interact with volunteers, with Jayesh bhai, to share and to learn. Arun-Dada asked him to spend at least one time in all of Gandhi's space around the country. Sudarshan-bhai requested him to start a university. :) With his vintage humility, Jayesh-bhai shared, "Our focus is just on small practices. It's a little difficult to imagine a big goal like Jai-Jagat, but I find Love-Jagat (love all beings as one) is more suitable. And to love is to serve, serve with what we have - - with small acts of kindness."

It was also magical to witness everyone expressing gratitude to everyone! Children were showing their gratitude to Nimo bhai, Meghna didi, Sanchi, volunteers and teachers while they all were showering gratitude to the children. I was thinking that we're hard-pressed to find even small settings for such love, and here we are creating not ripples (but probably tidal waves) straight from the land of Gandhi ... in the spirit of universal goodness.

At the end, we held a collective minute of silence. Imagine 400 children, from 7 to 18 years of age, doing this together. The time was 10:15PM and it was literally pin-drop silence. We could hear the rustling sound of leaves, as if they rejoicing with us. We concluded with "Sathe Ramiye, Saathe Jamiye, Saathe Kariye Saara Kaam." May we all play together, eat together, do good together.