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Vasant Panchami occurs on Maha Sud 5 and marks the beginning of spring. Since this festival celebrates the rejuvenation of nature after winter’s dormancy, there is no scriptural reference for this festival. However, Vasant Panchami has been a part of the Hindu festival calendar for thousands of years and is a special festival in the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Nishkulanand Swami and Brahmanand Swami, two of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s paramhansas, were born on this day. Vasant Panchami also marks the advent of the Shikshapatri and the birth of Shastriji Maharaj, the third spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the founder of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. In the Swaminarayan Sampraday, devotees gather to sing bhajans written by Brahmanand Swami and Nishkulanand Swami, to listen to discourses on the Shikshapatri, and to celebrate the life and work of Shastriji Maharaj.

Join us as we celebrate the “Pushpadolotsav” (Holi) and the birth anniversary of Bhagatji Maharaj, the second successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

Fuldol, also known as Pushpadolotsav, is celebrated on Fagun Vad 1, the day after Holi. Pushpa means flower; hence, this is the festival of flowers and colors. On this day, devotees place the murti of Bhagwan in a hindolo made of colorful flowers, which is then gently swung by devotees. People also spray colored water and toss gulal powder on each other. The sentiment behind the festival is to ask God to color one’s life with bhakti and to symbolically bring God closer to one’s heart by continuously striving to offer bhakti. In the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Pramukh Swami Maharaj usually celebrates Fuldol every year in Sarangpur, Gujarat, where tens of thousands of devotees gather to be sprayed by the pichkari in Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s hands. At BAPS Swaminarayan mandirs around the world, a pichkari is placed in Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s right hand, from which colored water is sprayed on devotees.The changing season, new blooms, and vibrant colors of spring are celebrated by Hindus across the world.