The birth celebrations of Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj were celebrated at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London on Saturday 5 June 2010, Wednesday 9 June 2010 and Saturday 12 June 2010.
According to the Hindu calendar, the date of Yogiji Maharaj’s birth (Vaishakh vad 12) fell on Wednesday 9 June 2010. The evening sabha began with dhun and kirtans, followed by discourses by the sadhus. Satyavrat Swami recalled some poignant and humorous incidents from the life of Yogiji Maharaj, while Yagnatilak Swami and Tyagprakash Swami focused on Yogiji Maharaj’s virtues and his life-changing messages. The enlightening presentations were interspersed with video clips of Yogiji Maharaj during his visit to London in 1970, rekindling many memories for the older devotees.
Yogi Jayanti was also celebrated on a grand scale on the evening of Saturday 12 June 2010 through a magnificent kirtan-bhakti programme by the sadhus. Shukmuni Swami, Vishwaprakash Swami, Manoharmurti Swami and Yagnatilak Swami eloquently sang bhajans depicting the spiritual character and virtues of Yogiji Maharaj. Each kirtan was introduced with narrations from Yogiji Maharaj’s life and the positive role he played in elevating others.
The Women’s Forum had celebrated Yogi Jayanti a week earlier on Saturday 5 June 2010. Themed around ‘Brahmavidyani College’, they engaged the audience through a lesson of Yogiji Maharaj’s teachings. His principles of unity (samp, suhradbhav and ekta) were portrayed through speeches, skits, kirtans and various presentations. The festival was also attended by local Junior Minister and MP Sarah Teather and Councillor Ann John OBE.
Yogi Jayanti was also celebrated at other BAPS mandirs and centres across the UK and around Europe.