The divine bond between female devotees and God and the Guru was explored through an enlightening programme of mono-acts, dramas, kirtans, presentations and dances on Saturday 13 May 2023 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London.
The Mahila Din programme began with a prayer offered on behalf of mahilas during Mahant Swami Maharaj’s morning puja, charting the spiritual connection that mahilas have with the Satpurush and how it evolves throughout the journey of their life.
A series of devotional offerings were also presented to Swamishri, including an official invitation to Shri Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj to preside over the day’s festivities.
Later in the morning, women and children offered a grand welcome to Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj in the Mahila Din assembly, which centred around navdha bhakti (the nine ways to express devotion to God as detailed in Hindu scriptures). These were visually represented through cultural performances and devotional offerings to the murtis, which enhanced the spiritual experience for the attendees.
The programme featured inspiring incidents from the lives of female devotees from the time of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and each of the Gunatit Gurus, revealing a powerful spiritual message. These teachings, brought to life through various mediums, explained the unbreakable bond between female devotees and the Guru, illustrating the spiritual benefits of cultivating the ideal understanding and living according to their wishes.
Women shared cherished memories of Yogiji Maharaj, Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Mahant Swami Maharaj through video presentations and a panel discussion, further reinforcing the spiritual bond they have maintained with their gurus.
These personal contributions were also supported with examples of the international impact that mahilas have made – such as the
world record bubble wrap painting in tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s centennial birth anniversary, the seva that mahilas from the UK offered during these centennial celebrations in Ahmedabad, India, as well as at the construction site of Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, USA, and the humanitarian relief work near the Polish border with Ukraine.
These inspirational testimonies underlined the spiritual strength of women and the role that they play in building a better world.
A video of Mahant Swami Maharaj touching a lamp that simultaneously illuminated a lamp inside the assembly hall provided a memorable finale to the event – delivering a symbolic message to the devotees that his connection with them is not confined by boundaries or physical distance.