The birth celebrations of Shri Krishna Bhagwan were piously observed in the presence of Sadguru Pujya Tyagvallabh Swami as well as senior swamis visiting from India at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London.
Shri Krishna – an avatar of Vishnu and a popular deity for Hindus around the world – manifested on the Earth on the Hindu calendrical day of Shravan Vad 8. The festival marking his birth this year fell on Monday 3 September and was celebrated with a host of devotional festivities.
Devotees and visitors arrived at the Mandir throughout the day to offer their prayers and respects as well as gently swing the image of Shri Krishna that is ceremoniously placed on a birth cradle on this day. As per tradition, a grand offering of food (the ‘annakut’) was arranged before the shrines in the upper sanctum.
An enlightening assembly was held in the evening where swamis narrated the life and messages of Krishna Bhagwan, while youths sang devotional songs extolling his personality and virtues.
Bhadresh Swami discussed Arjuna’s unshakeable faith in Krishna Bhagwan that he demonstrated amid various challenges throughout his life. Brahmavihari Swami expanded on the spiritual teachings that Krishna Bhagwan revealed in the Mahabharat.
Anandswarup Swami spoke of Shri Krishna’s mission to eradicate evil and instil piety in the world. Tyagvallabh Swami summarised the discourses by encouraging devotees to eradicate their base instincts and strengthen their devotion to God.
Children, youths and swamis marked the divine birth of Shri Krishna Bhagwan with the arti followed by the joyous swinging of the cradle accompanied with vibrant devotional singing to bring the festivities to a close.