Grand Nagar Yatra (Procession) Launches New Mandir Inauguration Festivities
28 January 2020, Navsari
A grand procession through the main streets of Navsari city marked the start of the three-day festivities to commemorate the consecration of the murtis in the new BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir.
Stretching for 1.5 km, the procession consisted of over 60 creative attractions, including beautifully decorated chariots housing the various murtis, youths on horseback and motorcycles, children and youths performing a variety of traditional dances, BAPS sadhus and youths singing devotional bhajans, tribal youths playing drums, youths carrying lighted torches (mashals), women devotees carrying kalashes (auspicious water pots) and other presentations.
The participation of over 300 BAPS sadhus and 4,000 devotees from Gujarat and abroad enhanced the devout atmosphere created by the procession.
Thousands of local residents joyously and devoutly welcomed the procession along the 4 km route by showering flower petals on and offering garlands to the murtis. The murtis cast their divine gaze upon the city to bless all the residents.
Senior BAPS sadhus and Shri Piyushbhai Desai (MLA, Navsari) performed the initial pujan rituals to flag off the procession.
The procession set off from the Garda College Hostel grounds at 2.30 p.m. and concluded at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir at 7.00 p.m. in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj.
Yagna For World Peace
29 January 2020, Navsari
The highlight of the second day of festivities to commemorate the inauguration of the new BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Navsari was the grand Yagna for World Peace.
From 8.00 p.m. to 12 noon, around 3,750 yajmans, seated around 380 yagna altars, participated in the Vedic rituals. They were guided through the rituals by 100 learned Brahmins.
The main yagna rituals were performed by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj at the main yagna altar. He also performed the pujan and arti of the murtis to be consecrated.
Blessing the devotees, Mahant Swami Maharaj said, “A grand new mandir has been built in Navsari. May all enjoy good health and all-round prosperity. By serving God in even a small way, you will earn his infinite blessings. He will fulfil your sincere and noble prayers. All should regularly visit the mandir for darshan and to offer devotion.”
New BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir Consecrated by Param Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj
30 January 2020, Navsari
On this auspicious day of Vasant Panchami (Maha sud 5), over 20,000 devotees and wellwishers from India and around the world gathered at the 10-acre BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir campus to celebrate the consecration ceremony of the grand new BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir performed by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj.
At 7.00 a.m., the consecration (murti-pratishtha) rituals of the murtis began with a celebratory procession along the 900ft-long Gajendra Pith circling the mandir base. From 9.00 p.m., senior BAPS sadhus and over 900 devotees participated in the consecration mahapuja rituals under the main mandir dome, while thousands of devotees watched the live relay of the ceremonies on large LED screens in the assembly hall.
Thereafter, at 10.30 a.m. Mahant Swami Maharaj ritually inaugurated the main gate of the mandir and released balloons from the mandir podium. Then, Swamishri and sadguru swamis performed the main consecration and pujan rituals of all the murtis in the various shrines of the marble mandir.
At the conclusion of the Vedic consecration rituals, Mahant Swami Maharaj, sadguru swamis and everyone present performed the first arti of the consecrated murtis of Shri Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj, Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj, Shri Harikrishna Maharaj, Shri Nilkanth Varni (abhishek murti), Shri Guru Parampara (marble murtis), Shri Radhakrishna Dev, Shri Sita-Ram and Shri Hanumanji and Shri Shiv-Parvati and Shri Ganeshji.
Blessing the gathered devotees, Mahant Swami Maharaj said, “May all the residents of Navsari and everyone be blessed with good health and prosperity and may everyone be spiritually strengthened by the mandir. May all strengthen unity and experience inner peace.”
More than 2,500 male and female BAPS volunteers served during the 3-day festivities.
Thereafter, all through the day till 9.30 p.m., more than 37,000 devotees and well-wishers came for darshan of the mandir.
Mandir Features
This mandir is built of Rajnagar marble and has the following main features:
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• 5 towering shikhars (pinnacles)
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• 2 main domes; 17 secondary domes
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• 19 golden kalashes (auspicious water pots)
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• Height= 82 ft; Length = 205 ft; Width= 188 ft
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• 222 intricately carved pillars and 150 arches
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• Over 44 statues of divinities and inspiring devotees.
The numerous activities managed from the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Navsari include:
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• Over 150 satsang centres providing inspiring messages and practical spiritual guidance to people of all ages and backgrounds.
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• Over 100 children’s centres providing children and youngsters with character-building and academic encouragement.
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• 12 kutir mandirs in the Dang-Vasda region and around 50 regular assembly for spiritual and cultural inspiration.
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• School and hostel in Rambhas for 200 underprivileged tribal students.
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• 2 mobile ambulances providing free medical treatment and health guidance to tribal communities.
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• Deaddiction campaigns to motivate and guide people to shed addictions and other harmful habits.