Chaturmaas is a holy period of four months in the Hindu calendar during which devotees undertake additional religious observances. During this time, parayans (scriptural discourses) are held at BAPS mandirs and centres around the world.
This year, learned sadhus from India presided over 39 of these discourses. Gnanpriya Swami, Atmatrupt Swami and Yoginayan Swami offered their wisdom on a variety of Hindu and Swaminarayan themes based on the Shrimad Bhagwat Puran, Mahabharat, Harililamrut, Vachanamrut, and other sacred texts.
The discourses provided spiritual enrichment through theological insight and practical guidance to thousands who attended. Many of the centres also organised special exhibits to consolidate the theme of their respective parayan.
A key feature of these parayans was the involvement of children, who conducted the inaugural parayan pujan in fluent Sanskrit at some of the venues. There were also parallel discourses for children, while mahilas also conducted their own special parayans.