Datta’s birthday celebration was conducted in Ashram with pomp and pleasure. Though the birthday was on 18th December 1975, people from Bijapur district and Nasik started arriving from 16lh. Baba talked to each devotee who had arrived and enquired of his well-being. He took keen interest in arrangements made for their stay and food. Happy devotees had filled every space in the Ashram and their manner was such that they belonged to one family.
It was just Baba’s influence that people of different status and language lived there like brothers of one family. On 16th December 1975, after the evening Bhajan and Arati, Baba sat talking to guests from Mumbai and outside. The time passed and dawn was to break. At that time the devotees saw glow on Baba’s face and their expectation was another miracle from Baba. Baba gave darshan of “Atma Linga” to all devotees.
On I7lh December 1975 Ashram was full of devotees and mood was one of joy, devotion and expectation. Devotees from Mumbai were busy in making arrangements for outstation guests. Till 12 ‘O’ clock night Baba’s darshan programme was going on. Then it was time for reading the biography of Baba. When a page about the Rudrax’s importance was being read there was a special glow on Baba’s face. He nibbed his hand on the face and a Rudrax came out. He gave it to one of the senior devotees Patil. Patil was very happy that he got Prasad on the morning of Datta Jayanti from Baba. The reading of Baba’s Charita (Biography) went on till early morning.
Chief organizers of Jayanti, Sundar Shetty, Joshi and others were sitting there talking. Preparation of Prasad for thousands of devotees was the task assigned to them. They were waiting for Brahma Muhoort (4 am) for lighting the coal stove. When it was 4.05 they got up hurried to light the stoves. There were three stoves. They lighted two stoves and when they came to the third stove they were surprised that it was already lighted at least 10 to 15 minutes earlier. They were sure it was another miracle of Baba just to save the devotees from the sonow of missing the Brahma Muhoort.
When the day of jayanti dawned all devotees were in ecstatic mood and the large number of devotees arrived for darshan. The programme of darshan and Prasad distribution went on till 3 pm. Then the work of preparing for the evening programme started. Ashram was decorated. The flow of devotees started from 5 pm. Just in a few minutes the Ashram was full of devotees to witness the programme of Datta Janma (Birth). It was performed at the auspicious time of 6.45 pm. Then there was the evening Arati. Baba in traditional dress was sitting on his decorated Asan (traditional chair). His face was glowing with benevolence and 78 devotion and those who visited felt that the darshan of the God. 7 to 8 thousand devotees took darshan and Prasad that day evening.
There was also a musical programme arranged that evening where singers Bhimrao Joshi of Bijapur, Vasant Ajgaonkar and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi sang with fervor and devotion. People listened to this with full devotion and absolute silence. The programme ended at 12 night. It was a great success due to the blessings of Baba.
The outstation devotees, filled with joy and fervour returned to their places in next 2 or 3 days. They thought themselves to be fortunate to witness and participate in grand ceremony.