The third anniversary celebrations of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chigwell, were marked with devotional festivities in October 2020. Devotees joined from their respective homes to celebrate and recollect memories from the murti consecration ceremony performed by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj on 8 October 2017.
The celebrations began with a kirtan aradhana on the evening of Friday 9 October, performed live by swamis at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London. The kirtan aradhana celebrated the life and work of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj and his tireless efforts to build mandirs for the betterment of society.
This was followed by a Vedic mahapuja ceremony on the morning of Sunday 11 October to commemorate the anniversary of the Mandir’s murtis when they were infused with divine presence by Mahant Swami Maharaj three years ago.
More than 200 families from Chigwell, East London and surrounding areas joined via webcast to participate in a mahapuja conducted by swamis at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London.
The ceremony was simultaneously performed at the mandir in Chigwell by the resident pujari and as part of the patotsav celebrations, a variety of sweet and savoury dishes were devotionally offered to the deities in the mandir.
The patotsav celebrations concluded with a short address by the swamis from London.
The online celebrations provided an opportunity for devotees – who could not attend this year’s event in person due to the coronavirus pandemic – to still participate in this auspicious occasion.