The 10-day Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary was celebrated at the Patel Samaj ground in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
This was the first such large-scale Hindu cultural festival in the history of Tanzania. A total of more than 24,000 visitors attended the celebrations, with the grand finale attracting more than 5,400 people.
Over 350 volunteers worked tirelessly day and night for over a month to create the Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centennial Celebration Nagar in the heart of Dar es Salaam. Among the inspiring thematic attractions was an exciting and interactive exhibition on the life and work of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, titled ‘A Century of Inspiration, the Life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’. A team of over 40 well trained kishores and kishoris warmly took guests through the exhibition, explaining the wide-ranging spiritual and social works of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Gujarati, English, Hindi and Swahili. The exhibition housed 3D structures, informative screens, paintings and life size pictures. Guests learned about the selfless life Pramukh Swami Maharaj lived for the good of others.
Volunteers also crafted a mandir at the heart of the festival ground, where all guests were able to pay homage to Pramukh Swami Maharaj by participating in the daily evening Maha Arti. Over 5,550 visitors also offered prayers for everyone's good health and well-being by performing abhishek with their friends and family.
The event also celebrated India’s vibrant culture and classical heritage. Organizations such as the Sikh Gurudwara,
ISKCON, Pathshala, Indian Cultural Centre and many others presented more than 25 performances.
Another special attraction was ‘Shantilal’s Wonderland’, a special section for kids in which they enjoyed games themed on Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s childhood. Thousands of youngsters participated in these fun and engaging activities in which they learnt communication, teamwork and other skills.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj's messages of de-addiction, family unity and patience were conveyed through three inspiring shows titled ‘Muktanand’, ‘Premanand’ and ‘Nityanand’ respectively. Each 30-minute show was presented in a theatre style with a seating capacity of 100 guests at a time.
At the center of the festival grounds was a majestic fountain surrounded by sculpted murtis set in a luscious garden with tranquil lighting.
In this way, the celebrations gave a glimpse into the life, work and teachings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj that continue to inspire society.