The 1973 Hans Jayanti festival was held at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas, and publicized as "Millennium '73".[1] The free, three-day event was billed as "the most significant event in human history" that would herald "a thousand years of peace for people who want peace", the idea being that peace could come to the world as individuals experiencing inner peace.[2] To promote the event Prem Rawat's 20-year old brother, Bhole Ji Rawat toured with a 60-piece band, "Blue Aquarius" for two weeks giving free concerts.[3] The 500-member tour was dubbed "Soul Rush" and traveled to seven cities on the way to Houston.[4]
Rennie Davis, well known as one of the defendants in the Chicago Seven trial, attracted extensive media coverage as a spokesperson for Rawat.[5][6][7] At the event Davis declared that "All I can say is, honestly, very soon now, every single human being will know the one who was waited for by every religion of all times has actually come."[8] In a press conference at Millennium Rawat denied being the Messiah and when asked by reporters about the contradictions between what he said about himself and what his followers said about him, Rawat replied, "Why don't you do me a favor ... why don't you go to the devotees and ask their explanation about it?"[9] While Rawat's brother Satpal was nominally in charge of the festival, Davis was the "General Coordinator" and handled the details.[10]
Expectations for the event were very high with predictions that it would attract more than 100,000,[11] or even as many as 400,000 people from Satpal. Davis privately said he thought 22,000 was a more realistic estimate and reserved 22,000 hotel beds.[12] There was even talk about a space in the parking lot reserved for a flying saucer to land.[13] When Satpal heard about the flying saucer he said, "If you see any, just give them some of our literature".[14]
The actual attendance was estimated at 35,000 and 10,000 by police.[2][15]
The event featured spectacular staging, a 56-piece rock band and a giant video screen that showed a barrage of shots from the tumultuous 1960s.[16][2][17] Though it was not covered by the national television news, it did get extensive coverage in the print media. The premies were reported to be "cheerful, friendly and unruffled, and seemed nourished by their faith". To the 400 premie parents who attended, Rawat "was a rehabilitator of prodigal sons and daughters". Other reporters found a "confused jumble of inarticulately expressed ideas."[18][19] It was depicted in the award-winning U.S. documentary "Lord of the Universe" broadcast by PBS Television in 1974.[20][5] The event was called the "youth culture event of the year".[21] Singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III visited the festival and later remarked that while the premies inside were looking happy the ones outside were arguing with Jesus Freaks and Hare Krishnas. Waiwright's song "I am the Way" was partly inspired by Prem Rawat.[22]
At the festival Larry Bernstein, a prize-winning, 41-year-old architect described a "Divine City" to be built from the ground up starting the following year. It was to feature translucent hexagonal plastic houses stacked on concrete columns and connected with monorails. Polluting vehicles would be replaced by electric vehicles, and solar power would be used to provide energy. Cards would replace cash. The use of advanced technologies to ensure pollution-free air, Rennie Davis told a journalist, would be a practical demonstration of what it means to have Heaven on Earth.[23] Two sites were suggested: either the Blue Ridge Mountains or somewhere near Santa Barbara, California.[6][24] The former president and vice president of the DLM later said that Prem Rawat had spoken frequently of building such a city.[25] Plans for the city were delayed amid the fiscal crisis following the Millennium festival.[26] Incorporation papers for the formation of the "City of Love and Light Unlimited, Inc." were filed in Colorado in 1974, and there was a failed attempt in 1975 to build the community near San Antonio, Texas.[27]
According to Thomas Pilarzyk, the Millennium economic deficit was partially the result of poor management by the "holy family", Rawat's mother and three older brothers as well as the much lower than anticipated attendance. DLM incurred a debt estimated between $600,000 and over $1 million, severely damaging its finances.[28][29] Event-related expenses were covered by short-term credit based on the expectation that contributions would pour in following the free festival.[30]DLM's post-Millennium financial troubles forced it to close ashrams, sell its printing business and real estate, and to drop the lease on its IBM computer. Monthly donations fell from $100,000 to $70,000.[31] By 1976 it was able to reduce the debt to $80,000.[32]Consequently, the festival necessitated policy shifts within the movement organization. [33]
The Hans Janyanti of 1973, called "Millennium '73", was held in the Astrodome of Houston, Texas. It was promoted as "the most significant event in human history". Organizers, including Rawat's eldest brother Satpal Rawat (Bal Bhagwan Ji) and activist Rennie Davis, had publicly predicted attendance of 100,000 or more, but the event only attracted an estimated 20,000. Though it was not covered by the national television news, it did get extensive coverage in the print media and was depicted in the award-winning U.S. documentary "Lord of the Universe".[34] The premies were reported to be "cheerful, friendly and unruffled, and seemed nourished by their faith". To the 400 premie parents who attended, Rawat "was a rehabilitator of prodigal sons and daughters". Other reporters found a "confused jumble of inarticulately expressed ideas."[35][36] The event was called the "youth culture event of the year".[37] The failure of the event to meet expectations generated negative publicity and left the Divine Light Mission heavily in debt which , forcing changes in the movement.[38]
According to Thomas Pilarzyk, the Millennium economic deficit was partially the result of poor management by the "holy family", Rawat's mother and three older brothers as well as the much lower than anticipated attendance. Consequently, the festival necessitated policy shifts within the movement organization. [39]
Proposal 1
The Hans Janyanti of 1973, called "Millennium '73", was held in the Astrodome of Houston, Texas. It was promoted as "the most significant event in human history". The main organizers, Rawat's eldest brother Satpal Rawat (Bal Bhagwan Ji) and activist Rennie Davis, had publicly predicted attendance of 100,000 or more but the event only attracted an estimated at 20,000. Called the "youth culture event of the year"[40], the failure of the event to meet expectations disappointed followers[41] and left the Divine Light Mission heavily in debt.[42] The festival has been described as the high-point of Rawat's prominence as a guru.[43]
Proposal 2
The 1973 Hans Jayanti festival was held in the Houston Astrodome, Texas. Renamed "Millennium '73" it was billed as "the most significant event in human history" that would herald "a thousand years of peace for people who want peace". Rawat's eldest brother Satpal Rawat (Bal Bhagwan Ji) and activist Rennie Davis, the main organizers, predicted attendance of 100,000 or more, but the event only attracted an estimated 20,000 and left the DLM with debts of over $600,000.
Proposal 3
The Hans Janyanti of 1973, called "Millennium '73", was held in the Astrodome of Houston, Texas. It was promoted as "the most significant event in human history". Rawat's eldest brother Satpal Rawat (Bal Bhagwan Ji) and activist Rennie Davis, the main organizers, predicted attendance of 100,000 or more but the event only attracted an estimated at 20,000 and left the group heavily in debt.[44] The failure of the event to meet expectations disappointed followers.[45] The festival has been described as the high-point of Rawat's prominence as a guru.[46]
Proposal 4
similar to as proposal #3, but with attribution of opinions
The Hans Janyanti event of 1973, called "Millennium '73", was held in the Astrodome of Houston, Texas and was publicized as "the most significant event in human history".[47] Rawat's eldest brother Satpal Rawat (known as Bal Bhagwan Ji) and activist Rennie Davis, the main organizers, predicted attendance of 100,000 or more but the event only attracted an estimated at 20,000 and left the DLM heavily in debt.[48] According to Downton and other observers, the failure of the event to meet expectations disappointed many followers.[49]Vishal Mangalwadi describes the festival as the zenith of Rawat's popularity.[50]
Proposal 5
The Hans Janyanti event of 1973, called "Millennium '73", was held in the Astrodome of Houston, Texas and was publicized as "the most holy and significant event in human history" by Rawat's eldest brother Satpal Rawat (known as Bal Bhagwan Ji).[51] He and activist Rennie Davis, the main organizers, predicted attendance of 100,000 or more but the event only attracted an estimated 20,000 and left the DLM heavily in debt.[52] According to Downton and other observers, the failure of the event to meet expectations disappointed many followers.[53]Vishal Mangalwadi described the festival as the he zenith of Rawat's popularity which overshadowed that of all the gurus and religious leaders in the world. [54]
The Hans Jayanti event of 1973 was called "Millennium '73", and was held in the Houston Astrodome, in Texas, USA. Prepublicity by Rawat's eldest brother Satpal Rawat (known as Bal Bhagwan Ji) had described it as "the most holy and significant event in human history",[55] and the main organizers, Satpal and activist Rennie Davis, had predicted an attendance of at least 100,000. Only an estimated 20,000 attended, and the DLM was left heavily in debt.[56] According to Downton and other observers, the failure of the event to meet expectations disappointed many followers.[57]
Proposal 7
This builds on Jossi's P3.4, but doesn't unattribute the undisputed claim of it being the high-point.
The Hans Janyanti of 1973, called "Millennium '73", was held in the Astrodome of Houston, Texas. It was promoted as "the most significant event in human history". Rawat's eldest brother Satpal Rawat (Bal Bhagwan Ji) and activist Rennie Davis, the main organizers, predicted attendance of 100,000 or more but the event only attracted an estimated at 20,000 and left the group heavily in debt.[58] The failure of the event to meet expectations disappointed many followers.[59] The festival was later described by various writers as the high point of the movement in the U.S.[60][61]
Proposal 8
DLM held the 1973 Hans Janyanti, called "Millennium '73", in the Astrodome of Houston, Texas and promoted it as "the most significant event in human history". The organizers, Rawat's eldest brother Satpal Rawat (then known as Bal Bhagwan Ji) and activist Rennie Davis, publicly predicted attendance of 100,000 or more, but the event only attracted an estimated 20,000. Though it was not covered by the national television news, it did get extensive coverage in the print media and was depicted in the award-winning U.S. documentary "Lord of the Universe".[62] The premies were reported to be "cheerful, friendly and unruffled, and seemed nourished by their faith". To the 400 premie parents who attended, Rawat "was a rehabilitator of prodigal sons and daughters". Other reporters found a "confused jumble of inarticulately expressed ideas."[63][64] The event was called the "youth culture event of the year".[65] The poor attendance generated negative publicity and left the Divine Light Mission heavily in debt, forcing changes in the movement.[66] According to Thomas Pilarzyk, the Millennium economic deficit was exacerbated by poor management by Rawat's mother and older brothers.[67]
Proposal 9
DLM held the 1973 Hans Jayanti, called "Millennium '73", in the HoustonAstrodome and promoted it as "the most significant event in human history". The organizers, Rawat's eldest brother Satpal Rawat (then known as Bal Bhagwan Ji) and activist Rennie Davis, predicted an attendance of 100,000 or more, but only an estimated 20,000 came. Though not covered by the national television news, it got extensive coverage in the print media, and was depicted in the award-winning U.S. documentary "Lord of the Universe".[68] The premies were described as "cheerful, friendly and unruffled" and seemingly "nourished by their faith", though other reporters saw only a "confused jumble of inarticulately expressed ideas."[69][70] The event was called the "youth culture event of the year",[71] and to the 400 premie parents who attended, Rawat was "a rehabilitator of prodigal sons and daughters". The poor attendance generated negative publicity, and left the Divine Light Mission heavily in debt, forcing changes in the movement.[72] According to Thomas Pilarzyk, the Millennium economic deficit was exacerbated by poor management by Rawat's mother and older brothers.[67]
References
References
^"Under the Astrodome: Maharaj Ji – The Selling of a Guru", Gregg Kilday, Los Angeles Times, Nov 13, 1973 So when the DLM's annual Hans Jayanti [= birthday] festival drew near, although it has been traditionally held in India, the decision was made to move the show to America.
^ abc“Guru's Followers Cheer 'Millennium' in Festivities in Astrodome", by Eleanor Blau, New York Times, November 12, 1973
^"'Round and About" The Vidville Messenger. Valparaiso, Indiana, October 25, 1973
^Collier, Sophia. Soul Rush. William Morrow and Co. 1978. p. 170
^ ab"TV: Meditating on a Young Guru and His Followers", by John O'Connor, New York Times, February 25, 1974
^ ab"Oz in the Astrodome", by Ted Morgan, New York Times, December 9, 1973
^"Houston's Version of Peace in Our Time" GREGG KILDAY, Los Angeles Times Nov 25, 1973 p. S18
^"Kent, Stephen A. From Slogans to Mantras Syracuse University Press, 2001. p 52
^RollingStone Magazine Issue N°156 - March 14, 1974 (Page 36-50)
^Sophia Collier.Soul Rush'The Odyssey of a Young Woman of the '70s', New York: Morrow, 1978. From the first he had taken a great interest in the festival, and sometime in the early summer Maharaj Ji had put him "in charge" of the festival effort. Despite the title though, it was commonly understood that Rennie Davis, going under the more humble billing of "General Coordinator," was the person to listen to on any nuts and bolts issues involving the event.
^"A LOOK BACK AT THE '70S" HENRY ALLEN, Los Angeles Times Dec 16, 1979; p. K30
^Sophia Collier. Soul Rush – The Odyssey of a Young Woman of the '70s, New York: Morrow, 1978. p. 159 "I know that even though BB [Satpal Rawat] claimed 400,000 (or 200,000, depending on the day) would come to the festival ...and Rennie carefully noted this down as if he believed BB, Rennie would then quietly reserve hotel rooms for only 22,000. From my tours to promote the festival and my previous experience organizing this sort of event, I know 22,000 is all we can count on. It's a reasonable figure,"
^"Kent, Stephen A. From Slogans to Mantras Syracuse University Press, 2001. p 156
^Oz in the Astrodome; Middle-class premies find Guru. The guru enthroned by Ted Morgan, New York Times, December 9, 1973, Page 338
^"Worshiping the Absurd: The Negation Of Social Causality Among The Followers of Guru Maharaj Ji", Daniel A. Foss, Ralph W. Larkin, Sociological Analysis, 1978, 39, 2:157-164 "in fact attended by a maximum of 35,000
^J. Gordon Melton Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America (New York/London: Garland, 1986; revised edition, Garland, pages 141-145
^"Maharaji Ji: The Selling of a Guru, 1973", by Gregg Killday, Los Angeles Times, November 13, 1973, p. D1
^"Videotape Explorers on the Trail of a Guru" by Dick Adler, Los Angeles Times, February 23, 1974 p. B2
^Worshipping the Absurd 'The Negation of Social Causality among the Followers of Guru Maharaj Ji.' Article by Daniel Foss and Larkin in Sociological Analysis, 1978.
^"They Won't Boo Loudon Any Longer", Grace Lichtenstein, New York Times, February 3, 1974
^Kopkind, Andrew. The Thirty Years' Wars: Dispatches and Diversions of a Radical Journalist, Verso, United States, 1995, ISBN1859840965 p. 234
^"Kent, Stephen A. From Slogans to Mantras Syracuse University Press, 2001. p 156
^"Two ex-cult officers see possible Guyana repeat", UPI, Newport Rhode Island Daily News November 25, 1978. p. 8
^Larson, Bob (2004). Larson's Book of World Religions and Alternative PUBLISHER: Tyndale House Publishers. Wheaton, Ill: Tyndale House Publishers. pp. p.151. ISBN0-8423-6417-X. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
^Rudin, A. James and Marcia R. Prison or Paradise?. Fortress Press, Philadelphia. 1980, p.62
^"New Religious Movements Turn to Worldly Success", Kirpal Singh Khalsa, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, Vol. 25, No. 2 (Jun 1986), pp. 233–247
^Carroll Stoner & Jo Anne Parke All God's Children, Chilton Book Co ISBN0801966205
^Sophia Collier. Soul Rush – The Odyssey of a Young Woman of the '70s, New York: Morrow, 1978. p.166 "Our debts were not long-term notes, either; everything came due right after the festival ... 'But Millennium is going to be big, really big. People are going to give us money afterward. ...'"
^"Growing Pile of Unpaid Bills Beneath Guru's Spiritual Bliss", Deborah Frazier, UPI, March 23, 1975, Lincoln, Neb., Sunday Journal and Star
^Pilarzyk, Thomas, The Origin, Development, and Decline of a Youth Culture Religion, Review of Religious Research, Vol. 20, No. 1. (Autumn, 1978), pp. 23-43.
^"Videotape Explorers on the Trail of a Guru" by Dick Adler, Los Angeles Times, February 23, 1974 p. B2
^Worshipping the Absurd 'The Negation of Social Causality among the Followers of Guru Maharaj Ji.' Article by Daniel Foss and Larkin in Sociological Analysis, 1978.
^J. Gordon Melton Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America (New York/London: Garland, 1986; revised edition, Garland, pages 141-145
^Pilarzyk, Thomas, The Origin, Development, and Decline of a Youth Culture Religion, Review of Religious Research, Vol. 20, No. 1. (Autumn, 1978), pp. 23-43.
^Worshipping the Absurd 'The Negation of Social Causality among the Followers of Guru Maharaj Ji.' Article by Daniel Foss and Larkin in Sociological Analysis, 1978.
^Mangalwadi, Vishal. The World of Gurus. Vikas Publishing House New Delhi 1977. p.219
^Olson, Carl R. (2007). The Many Colors of Hinduism: A Thematic-Historical Introduction. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers. pp. p.343. ISBN0-8135-4068-2. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
^J. Gordon Melton Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America (New York/London: Garland, 1986; revised edition, Garland, pages 141-145
^Mangalwadi, Vishal. The World of Gurus. Vikas Publishing House New Delhi 1977. p.219
^Olson, Carl R. (2007). The Many Colors of Hinduism: A Thematic-Historical Introduction. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers. pp. p.343. ISBN0-8135-4068-2. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
^J. Gordon Melton Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America (New York/London: Garland, 1986; revised edition, Garland, pages 141-145
^Mangalwadi, Vishal. The World of Gurus. Vikas Publishing House New Delhi 1977. p.219
^Olson, Carl R. (2007). The Many Colors of Hinduism: A Thematic-Historical Introduction. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers. pp. p.343. ISBN0-8135-4068-2. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
^J. Gordon Melton Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America (New York/London: Garland, 1986; revised edition, Garland, pages 141-145
^Worshipping the Absurd 'The Negation of Social Causality among the Followers of Guru Maharaj Ji.' Article by Daniel Foss and Larkin in Sociological Analysis, 1978.
^J. Gordon Melton Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America (New York/London: Garland, 1986; revised edition, Garland, pages 141-145
^ abPilarzyk, Thomas. "The Origin, Development, and Decline of a Youth Culture Religion: An Application of Sectarianization Theory" in Review of Religious Research. Fall 1978, Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 23-43. At JSTOR Abstract: In this paper Wallis' theory of sectarianization is applied to data collected on the Divine Light Mission, a contemporary cultic movement of the American youth culture. Its development is discussed in terms of intra-organizational changes within the social context of American pluralism. The movement's short history to date largely substantiates Wallis' writings concerning the effects of cultic fragility, sectarianizing strategies and organizational constraints on movement development. The paper contributes to recent conceptual writings within the sociology of religion on youth culture movements in modern Western societies.
^"Videotape Explorers on the Trail of a Guru" by Dick Adler, Los Angeles Times, February 23, 1974 p. B2
^Worshipping the Absurd 'The Negation of Social Causality among the Followers of Guru Maharaj Ji.' Article by Daniel Foss and Larkin in Sociological Analysis, 1978.
^J. Gordon Melton Encyclopedic Handbook of Cults in America (New York/London: Garland, 1986; revised edition, Garland, pages 141-145
