AVATAR MEHER BABA (center, blue coat) at Meher Mount on August 2, 1956. Co-founder and lifetime caretaker Agnes Baron is taking Him on a tour of the property. (Photo: Darwin Shaw (c) Meher Nazar Publications)
Anniversary Sahavas — Saturday, August 5, 2023
You are invited to delight in the celebration on Saturday, August 5, 2023, of Avatar Meher Baba’s 1956 visit to Meher Mount.
You will love hearing the stories from special guest Merwan Dubash about his childhood and teen years of being with Meher Baba. Merwan was named by Meher Baba and grew up under Baba’s guidance and orders.
Through Merwan’s stories that describe simple acts of reading the newspaper aloud to Meher Baba or playing card games with Him, we get a glimpse of the intimate daily contact with God in human form.
You will also have time to... walk in Meher Baba's footsteps, visit Baba's Tree, and see the views and love God in nature.
The in-person Sahavas will be outdoors at Meher Mount. Guest speaker Merwan Dubash will be filmed for viewing later.
Anniversary Sahavas Program — Saturday, August 5, 2023
Sahavas means close companionship of, or in the company of, a spiritual master. It also refers to a spiritual retreat or gathering where Meher Baba’s followers meet to remember Him.
MERWAN DUBASH will share his experiences of being with Meher Baba as a teen. Merwan is the special guest at the Anniversary Sahavas on August 5, 2023. (Photo: Avatar’s Abode in Queensland, Australia)
10:00 a.m.: Arrival, Sign-in, Fellowship
10:30 a.m.: "My Experiences with Meher Baba, Part 1” — Merwan Dubash
12:00 p.m.: Lunch: Bring your own or something to share for a potluck lunch
1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.: “My Experiences with Meher Baba, Part 2” — Merwan Dubash
4:15 p.m.: Arti (prayers, songs, poems, quotes) by Baba's Tree
5:30 p.m.: Catered Italian Dinner on the Topa Topa Patio (Optional)
All are welcome. There is a suggested donation of $20 for the program to help cover expenses. For those who are staying for dinner, there is an additional $15 donation per person.
About Merwan Dubash
Merwan Dubash is the son of Adi and Rhoda Dubash. The family had decades of close contact with Meher Baba.
MERWAN DUBASH, special guest speaker at the 2023 Anniversary Sahavas at Meher Mount, with his parents, Rhoda and Adi Dubash, in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1967.
Born in what is now Pakistan in 1947, Merwan was named by Meher Baba and grew up under Baba’s guidance and orders.
He met Meher Baba for the first time when he was 18 months old and has had the great privilege of spending time with Baba on many occasions, including the Wadia Park Darshan 1954, East-West Gathering 1962 and three long visits with Baba in Guruprasad in Pune in the 1960s.
Through Merwan’s stories that describe simple acts of reading the newspaper aloud to Meher Baba or playing card games with Him, we get a glimpse of the intimate daily contact with God in human form.
Merwan and his wife Ruby currently live in Canada and spend many months a year volunteering for the Avatar Meher Baba Perpetual Public Charitable Trust in Meherabad and Meherazad, India. Merwan was a trustee of the Avatar Meher Baba Trust from 2014 to 2020.
About Ruby Dubash
Joining Merwan at the Anniversary Sahavas is his wife Ruby Dubash.
Ruby was was born in Karachi, Pakistan, to a Parsi, Zoroastrian family and did not meet Meher Baba. When she married Merwan in 1972, she was not a Baba Lover, but knew that Merwan and his family believed in Meher Baba.
MERWAN AND RUBY DUBASH are the special guests for the 2023 Anniversary Sahavas at Meher Mount on August 5, 2023.
At that time, she decided that Merwan could follow Meher Baba, but she would follow her Zoroastrian beliefs. She did not need any guru or Meher Baba.
During her stay in London, England, she would attend the Meher Baba meetings with Merwan. And she first visited Meherabad and Meherazad in 1974.
The the loving welcome she received from the mandali (close disciples), especially the women mandali, made her feel like a close family member, making a very favorable impression on her. After several years of visiting Meher Baba’s Samadhi (Tomb Shrine) and meeting the mandali, she gradually came into Meher Baba’s embrace.
What to Bring for the Anniversary Celebration
The weather will be warm and beautiful. The Anniversary is a wonderful time to remember and celebrate the presence of the Avatar of the Age at Meher Mount.
Please bring:
Your lunch or something to share in the potluck - whichever is most comfortable for you. Your food should be ready to eat and not require additional prep or cooking. Plates, cups, and eating utensils will be provided.
A hat, sunscreen and water are recommended. Suggest close-toed shoes for walking.
There is a suggested donation of $20 to help cover the costs of the event.
Parents are responsible for maintaining their children's safety. Children under nine years must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
Please do not bring:
Please do not bring your pets.
There are no fires, incense or candles. The fire danger is extremely high.
For more information, see the Visitor Guidelines.
More About the Dubash Family
Surrendering to Him: My Life with Meher Baba by Rhoda Adi Dubash has many wonderful stories of the Dubash family and Meher Baba. The 121-page softcover book is available from Meher Baba Books and in a PDF format.