Like every year the Fuldol festival, festival of colors, celebrated in the presence of HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Sarangpur has a growing attraction for thousands of devotees in India and abroad. The thrill and joy of being drenched by the colored water issuing from the ‘pichkari’ held by Swamishri is a divine and fulfilling experience.
The stage backdrop was themed on the colors of the rainbow. The festival assembly commenced with singing of dhun and prayer. Thereafter the senior sadhus addressed the assembly on the significance of Fuldol, and the message behind the prayer of “Mahã balvant mãyã tamãri…” Viveksagar Swami, Ishwarcharan Swami, Dr Swami and Mahant Swami elaborated upon coloring one’s inner self with the virtues of absolute faith, divinity, humility and not seeing faults of others.
At 9.50 am Swamishri arrived on stage amidst an ecstatic welcome by over 42,000 devotees. Swamishri happily responded to the bhajan “Vartãl gãm fulvãdiye re hindolo ãmbãni dãl…” being sung by sadhus. The entire assembly was filled with joy at Swamishri’s deep appreciation through his gestures for the bhajan which described the Fuldol festival held in Vartal in the presence of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Prior to his blessings, the senior sadhus garlanded Swamishri. Swamishri spoke about the glory of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and how His devotees rejoiced during the Fuldol festival. He also added that we imbibe the principles of morality and faith in our lives, together with the practice of doing bhajan and bhakti daily.
Thereafter Swamishri colored Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and the multitude of devotees and sadhus with the holy, colored water. The young and old danced and rejoiced as they approached the spray of colored water. All the devotees were served mahaprasad and fagwa (containing popcorns, baked grams and dates).