The birth of Bhagwan Shri Krishna was celebrated with great devotion at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, on Thursday 2 August 2010. The day, traditionally known as Janmashtami, began with a grand Annakut offered to the deities in the Mandir, where guests and devotees arrived throughout the day for darshan.
The evening assembly was held inside the Haveli, where the programme began with dhun and bhajans extolling the glory of Shri Krishna. Yogvivek Swami, head sadhu of the Mandir, continued by narrating insightful episodes from the life of Shri Krishna. A colourful dance to ‘Bawa Nand Tane Darbar’ followed thereafter, artistically celebrating his birth.
The finale of the evening – marking the birth of Shri Krishna – was celebrated with the arti followed by the swinging of the ‘paranu’ (birth-cradle) by all the devotees, with the traditional devotional singing of ‘Sona-na bol jhule Nand-kishore’.