1969 Darshan

The 1969 Darshan (also known as The Last Darshan and The Great Darshan) was a (Sanskrit for 'instance of seeing or beholding') where many followers of Meher Baba from around the world, many of whom had not met Meher Baba, came from East and West to Pune and Meherabad, India to pay homage to him after his death on January 31, 1969. The programs, held in spring of that year, had been arranged by Meher Baba in advance of his death. The darshan programs took place mostly in Pune, in phases, from April to June. Thousands attended, mostly Easterners, but included about 800 Westerners. Each group was given one day in which it got to see his samadhi (tomb) in Meherabad (150 miles from Pune). In Pune, Westerners attended programs in the morning and Easterners in the afternoon. The programs were held at Guruprasad, a large private home of the Maharani of Baroda, which has since been torn down.
History
Before his passing, Meher Baba had made extensive preparations for a public program to be held in Pune, India in the Spring of 1969. Originally the darshan had been planned for Meher Baba's followers in the East and West to see Meher Baba personally. Many in the West had heard of Meher Baba only in the last years of his life while he was maintaining strict seclusion and were hoping to see him for the first time. The darshan had been planned for April-June 1969, but Baba died at the end of January, ahead of the scheduled event. Meher Baba's body was laid in his samadhi (tomb) at Meherabad and was kept viewable to the public for one week, but was interred on February 7, 1969. Meher Baba's mandali decided to proceed with the arrangements for the large darshan despite the physical absence of the host. Baba's secretary Adi K. Irani sent out a circular that read, "God has invited you, and you are free to keep your appointment." Several thousand attended this "Last Darshan," including many hundred people from the U.S.A., Europe, and Australia.
Amartithi
Meher Baba's death is commemorated annually in India in festivities known as Amartithi held at Meherabad in the last week of each January. Several thousand visitors from all over the world gather at Meherabad for the three-day program.

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