The birthday celebrations of Brahmaswarup Bhagatji Maharaj were celebrated on Wednesday 7 March 2012 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London. A devotional programme of bhajans and discourses was held to mark this occasion, in which sadhus explained the virtues of Bhagatji Maharaj and the hardships he tolerated.
Bhagatji Maharaj’s birthday was also celebrated on the evening of Saturday 10 March 2012 with a programme of enlightening sketches, video presentations, pravachans and bhajans which illustrated the life and virtues of Bhagatji Maharaj, and the manner in which he touched and changed the lives of so many.
The evening began with the eloquent singing of bhajans by kishores and yuvaks. A wonderfully insightful sketch followed, illustrating the opinions and thoughts of Bhagatji Maharaj from different individuals from his era – which exemplified the qualities he possessed, such as tolerance, humility, faith, and respect for God and his guru.
Vishwaprakash Swami explained that Bhagatji Maharaj’s life and work is not to be merely narrated and celebrated, but to be cultivated in our lives. The audience was then treated to a short video of Swamishri singing the Fagwa (a special prayer from chapter 64 of the Bhaktachintamani), which devotees sang together, creating an emotional atmosphere.
Yogvivek Swami concluded the programme by narrating episodes from the life of Bhagatji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj, describing the manner in which their life and work have positively transformed the lives of so many people around the world.
Celebrations were also held across the UK including in Wellingborough and at centres across Europe.