Three days of celebrations marked the inauguration of the new BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Cranbourne, Melbourne South.
On the evening of 15 April 2022, BAPS sadhus and volunteers presented a melodious program of devotional bhajans devoted to His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj as part of the birth centenary year.
On the afternoon of 16 April 2022, the murtis to be consecrated in the new mandir were seated in decorated floats and honored in a grand colorful parade that stretched over 500m from front to back. It included more than 50 women carrying kalashes in traditional celebratory style on their heads and many other enthralling presentations by children and youths. Around 1,150 people participated in this nagar yatra through the streets of Cranbourne South and was warmly received by the residents.
On 17 April 2022, Paramchintandas Swami and other swamis performed the auspicious Vedic installation ceremony and inauguration rituals of the beautiful new mandir in the presence of 1,500 devotees and well-wishers. Thereafter, a grand annakut of vegetarian delicacies was offered to the murtis with great devotion.
Among the guests present for the celebrations were Hon. Jason Wood MP (Federal Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs) and Hon. Craig Ondarchie MP (State Shadow Minister for Energy and Renewables & Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship and Minister for Communities’ Recovery, Victoria). The guests deeply appreciated and commended the efforts of BAPS and its volunteers, and also praised the contribution of the local Indian community in the region.
Mahant Swami Maharaj had previously performed the Vedic murti-pratishtha rituals of the murtis on 21 September 2021 in Sarangpur, India.