The full moon day in the Indian month of Ashadh holds special significance within the Hindu calendar as Guru Purnima, a day to celebrate and honour one’s guru.
The festival of Guru Purnima was celebrated this year at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs and centers across Africa and the Middle East on Saturday 22 July 2013.
The celebrations began with kirtans extolling the spiritual glory of God and the guru.
Speeches by sadhus or devotees followed in which they elucidated the virtues of a guru and the good fortune of finding the guru. The devotion of Pramukh Swami Maharaj towards Bhagwan Swaminarayan and his virtues as a guru were highlighted.
Devotees performed arti during the Guru Purnima sabha and then bowed to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj's murti.