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Vachanamrut Bicentennial Celebration
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'The Vachanamrut: An Unexpected Journey'
Vachanamrut Bicentennial Celebration, UK & Europe
14 Dec 2019 to 15 Dec 2019
Swamis inaugurate the celebration by lighting lamps and performing pujan of the Vachanamrut
Swamis inaugurate the celebration by lighting lamps and performing pujan of the Vachanamrut
The theatrical production,
‘The Vachanamrut: An Unexpected Journey’
, began with an opening soliloquy delivered by an overwhelmed father of two, Chandresh Patel
The audience engrossed in the opening soliloquy
The play follows the life of Chandresh’s younger child Tilak (L), a bright young boy experiencing life as a roller-coaster of emotions - both at school and at home…
…whilst constantly feeling a sense of self-doubt in the shadow of his elder brother Yogi (R)
Chandresh, in an attempt to capture his children’s interest in the Vachanamrut, creates a fictitious secret agent, 008, as a storytelling medium for the Vachanamrut
The audience observes Tilak drifting asleep midway through Chandresh’s descriptive story, in which the play thereafter follows Tilak’s imagination through his dream state
Tilak’s dream transports the audience back to 1821 where 008 receives his debut mission
008 is assigned the covert operation ‘Mission Swaminarayan’ by his superior
008's mission is defined by three key objectives…
... 1) Who is Bhagwan Swaminarayan? 2) How do his words affect people’s lives? 3) Will his presence remain?
008 embarks upon a treacherous journey across the world to India
008 embarks upon a treacherous journey across the world to India
After reaching India, 008 travels by land to Gadhada, Gujarat
Anupam Swami introduces the Vachanamrut and highlights its authenticity
The audience is welcomed to Gadhada through a solo traditional folk song and dance…
…which ends with a spectacular sunrise sequence over the village of Gadhada
A typical day in the village of Gadhada
A disguised 008, with the new alias ‘Dubli’, arrives in Gadhada in search for Bhagwan Swaminarayan
The audience is captivated by the stage performance
Chandresh, who plays the role of a villager within Tilak’s dream, introduces 008 to Dada Khachar’s darbar through an exhilarating musical number
A musical number was performed by various villagers in anticipation for Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s arrival
Paramhansas along with devotees arrive in Dada Khachar’s darbar in preparation for Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s arrival
Bhagwan Swaminarayan arrives in Dada Khachar’s darbar
Bhagwan Swaminarayan gracefully sits amongst the paramhansas and devotees in the darbar
The audience enjoy the creative mediums through which the play is delivered
Yogi, who plays the role of a child villager within Tilak’s dream, accompanies 008 to the banks of the River Ghela where they meet Dinanath Bhatt
As the sun sets in Gadhada, paramhansas make their way to Akshar Ordi, the residence of Bhagwan Swaminarayan…
…whilst devoutly singing nighttime kirtans in unison
A paramhansa plays the sitar to accompany a devotional nighttime kirtan
008 ploys to perform his first piece of direct espionage on Bhagwan Swaminarayan
The audience is gripped as 008 edges closer to Akshar Ordi
008 waits for the paramhansas to complete their nighttime kirtans
Chandresh and Yogi are tasked with doing a security round by Dada Khachar
008’s fate hangs in the balance as Chandresh and Yogi discover him near Akshar Ordi late at night
Tyagratna Swami expands upon Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s personality through various Vachanamruts
Tilak awakes from his dream only to find himself late for school
Tilak and his father suddenly have an early morning spat before heading into school
Tilak’s seat is seen empty as the class nears its end
Tilak’s struggles continue at school
Tilak unleashes his frustration as he gets increasingly overwhelmed
The audience empathises with Tilak’s struggles
Tilak arrives home where his father means to apologise for their earlier argument
Chandresh tells Tilak about a special volunteering session taking place at the mandir in a few hours
The audience enjoy the language-barriered conversation between father and son
Yagnatilak Swami explores the day-to-day applicability of the Vachanamrut's timeless teachings
008 'breaks the fourth wall' and deliberates on how to win back Yogi’s trust
008 listens attentively as Yogi expands upon Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s teachings on the swabhavs
Tilak thereafter awakes refreshed and decides to go to the mandir according to his father’s wishes
Tilak and his father engage in another heated argument en route to the mandir as Chandresh once again accidentally compares him to Yogi
Tilak reaches the mandir in time for the evening arti
Attendees perform the evening arti
Attendees perform the evening arti
Attendees perform the evening arti
Satyavrat Swami elaborates on Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s teachings about eradicating one’s swabhavs
Tilak and his friend volunteer at the mandir
Tilak begins to ponder upon his dreams as he realises the similarities within the Vachanamrut
Tilak introspects upon his actions and their underlying swabhavs
As Tilak treats himself to a nap, Yogi desperately pleas with his father to allow him to travel with Bhagwan Swaminarayan
The journey follows 008, Chandresh and Yogi to Vartal, where the festival of Holi is being celebrated
The musical number echoed the words
‘Vartal gaam fulvadiye re, Hindolo ambani dal’
Bhagwan Swaminarayan arrives in Vartal and plays Holi with his devotees
The devotees dance down the aisle immersing the audience within the celebrations
Within the celebratory commotion, to his dismay, 008 drops his diary which is discovered by Yogi
Manoharmurti Swami defines the distinction between the atma and the body
Bhagwan Swaminarayan discourses in Vartal on the necessity of developing profound love for the Satpurush
008, in a frantic attempt to fulfil his last objective, investigates Muktanand Swami’s Vachanamrut manuscripts in order to understand the identity of the Satpurush
The audience is engrossed as 008 unravels the truth behind his final objective
Gopalanand Swami finds 008 struggling to grasp this knowledge and answers his final objective through a powerful monologue
008’s journey reaches a climax as Bhagwan Swaminarayan invites him to a personal audience
Yogikirtan Swami emphasises the glory of the Satpurush as revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in the Vachanamrut
Paramtattva Swami finds a struggling Tilak in the mandir and offers guidance from the Vachanamrut
Tilak performs an emotive solo musical number expressing a reflective gratitude to the Satpurush
The musical number acted as a vital turning point in Tilak’s life, where he realises an all-encompassing purpose for life: ‘Every Action, One Question... Is Swami Raji?’
Tilak delivers an emotional plea for forgiveness from his father through a riveting monologue
A speechless Chandresh embraces his son to form the emotional climax of Tilak’s story
Yogvivek Swami delivers the concluding address on ‘Every Action, One Question... Is Swami Raji?’
An after-credits sequence showed another unexpected climactic end with 008’s resignation and a final message from Mahant Swami Maharaj, bringing the whole production to an end
The cast and crew of
‘The Vachanamrut: An Unexpected Journey’
with swamis
1 of 0
Swamis inaugurate the celebration by lighting lamps and performing pujan of the Vachanamrut
2 of 0
Swamis inaugurate the celebration by lighting lamps and performing pujan of the Vachanamrut
3 of 0
The theatrical production,
‘The Vachanamrut: An Unexpected Journey’
, began with an opening soliloquy delivered by an overwhelmed father of two, Chandresh Patel
4 of 0
The audience engrossed in the opening soliloquy
5 of 0
The play follows the life of Chandresh’s younger child Tilak (L), a bright young boy experiencing life as a roller-coaster of emotions - both at school and at home…
6 of 0
…whilst constantly feeling a sense of self-doubt in the shadow of his elder brother Yogi (R)
7 of 0
Chandresh, in an attempt to capture his children’s interest in the Vachanamrut, creates a fictitious secret agent, 008, as a storytelling medium for the Vachanamrut
8 of 0
The audience observes Tilak drifting asleep midway through Chandresh’s descriptive story, in which the play thereafter follows Tilak’s imagination through his dream state
9 of 0
Tilak’s dream transports the audience back to 1821 where 008 receives his debut mission
10 of 0
008 is assigned the covert operation ‘Mission Swaminarayan’ by his superior
11 of 0
008's mission is defined by three key objectives…
12 of 0
... 1) Who is Bhagwan Swaminarayan? 2) How do his words affect people’s lives? 3) Will his presence remain?
13 of 0
008 embarks upon a treacherous journey across the world to India
14 of 0
008 embarks upon a treacherous journey across the world to India
15 of 0
After reaching India, 008 travels by land to Gadhada, Gujarat
16 of 0
Anupam Swami introduces the Vachanamrut and highlights its authenticity
17 of 0
The audience is welcomed to Gadhada through a solo traditional folk song and dance…
18 of 0
…which ends with a spectacular sunrise sequence over the village of Gadhada
19 of 0
A typical day in the village of Gadhada
20 of 0
A disguised 008, with the new alias ‘Dubli’, arrives in Gadhada in search for Bhagwan Swaminarayan
21 of 0
The audience is captivated by the stage performance
22 of 0
Chandresh, who plays the role of a villager within Tilak’s dream, introduces 008 to Dada Khachar’s darbar through an exhilarating musical number
23 of 0
A musical number was performed by various villagers in anticipation for Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s arrival
24 of 0
Paramhansas along with devotees arrive in Dada Khachar’s darbar in preparation for Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s arrival
25 of 0
Bhagwan Swaminarayan arrives in Dada Khachar’s darbar
26 of 0
Bhagwan Swaminarayan gracefully sits amongst the paramhansas and devotees in the darbar
27 of 0
The audience enjoy the creative mediums through which the play is delivered
28 of 0
Yogi, who plays the role of a child villager within Tilak’s dream, accompanies 008 to the banks of the River Ghela where they meet Dinanath Bhatt
29 of 0
As the sun sets in Gadhada, paramhansas make their way to Akshar Ordi, the residence of Bhagwan Swaminarayan…
30 of 0
…whilst devoutly singing nighttime kirtans in unison
31 of 0
A paramhansa plays the sitar to accompany a devotional nighttime kirtan
32 of 0
008 ploys to perform his first piece of direct espionage on Bhagwan Swaminarayan
33 of 0
The audience is gripped as 008 edges closer to Akshar Ordi
34 of 0
008 waits for the paramhansas to complete their nighttime kirtans
35 of 0
Chandresh and Yogi are tasked with doing a security round by Dada Khachar
36 of 0
008’s fate hangs in the balance as Chandresh and Yogi discover him near Akshar Ordi late at night
37 of 0
Tyagratna Swami expands upon Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s personality through various Vachanamruts
38 of 0
Tilak awakes from his dream only to find himself late for school
39 of 0
Tilak and his father suddenly have an early morning spat before heading into school
40 of 0
Tilak’s seat is seen empty as the class nears its end
41 of 0
Tilak’s struggles continue at school
42 of 0
Tilak unleashes his frustration as he gets increasingly overwhelmed
43 of 0
The audience empathises with Tilak’s struggles
44 of 0
Tilak arrives home where his father means to apologise for their earlier argument
45 of 0
Chandresh tells Tilak about a special volunteering session taking place at the mandir in a few hours
46 of 0
The audience enjoy the language-barriered conversation between father and son
47 of 0
Yagnatilak Swami explores the day-to-day applicability of the Vachanamrut's timeless teachings
48 of 0
008 'breaks the fourth wall' and deliberates on how to win back Yogi’s trust
49 of 0
008 listens attentively as Yogi expands upon Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s teachings on the swabhavs
50 of 0
Tilak thereafter awakes refreshed and decides to go to the mandir according to his father’s wishes
51 of 0
Tilak and his father engage in another heated argument en route to the mandir as Chandresh once again accidentally compares him to Yogi
52 of 0
Tilak reaches the mandir in time for the evening arti
53 of 0
Attendees perform the evening arti
54 of 0
Attendees perform the evening arti
55 of 0
Attendees perform the evening arti
56 of 0
Satyavrat Swami elaborates on Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s teachings about eradicating one’s swabhavs
57 of 0
Tilak and his friend volunteer at the mandir
58 of 0
Tilak begins to ponder upon his dreams as he realises the similarities within the Vachanamrut
59 of 0
Tilak introspects upon his actions and their underlying swabhavs
60 of 0
As Tilak treats himself to a nap, Yogi desperately pleas with his father to allow him to travel with Bhagwan Swaminarayan
61 of 0
The journey follows 008, Chandresh and Yogi to Vartal, where the festival of Holi is being celebrated
62 of 0
The musical number echoed the words
‘Vartal gaam fulvadiye re, Hindolo ambani dal’
63 of 0
Bhagwan Swaminarayan arrives in Vartal and plays Holi with his devotees
64 of 0
The devotees dance down the aisle immersing the audience within the celebrations
65 of 0
Within the celebratory commotion, to his dismay, 008 drops his diary which is discovered by Yogi
66 of 0
Manoharmurti Swami defines the distinction between the atma and the body
67 of 0
Bhagwan Swaminarayan discourses in Vartal on the necessity of developing profound love for the Satpurush
68 of 0
008, in a frantic attempt to fulfil his last objective, investigates Muktanand Swami’s Vachanamrut manuscripts in order to understand the identity of the Satpurush
69 of 0
The audience is engrossed as 008 unravels the truth behind his final objective
70 of 0
Gopalanand Swami finds 008 struggling to grasp this knowledge and answers his final objective through a powerful monologue
71 of 0
008’s journey reaches a climax as Bhagwan Swaminarayan invites him to a personal audience
72 of 0
Yogikirtan Swami emphasises the glory of the Satpurush as revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan in the Vachanamrut
73 of 0
Paramtattva Swami finds a struggling Tilak in the mandir and offers guidance from the Vachanamrut
74 of 0
Tilak performs an emotive solo musical number expressing a reflective gratitude to the Satpurush
75 of 0
The musical number acted as a vital turning point in Tilak’s life, where he realises an all-encompassing purpose for life: ‘Every Action, One Question... Is Swami Raji?’
76 of 0
Tilak delivers an emotional plea for forgiveness from his father through a riveting monologue
77 of 0
A speechless Chandresh embraces his son to form the emotional climax of Tilak’s story
78 of 0
Yogvivek Swami delivers the concluding address on ‘Every Action, One Question... Is Swami Raji?’
79 of 0
An after-credits sequence showed another unexpected climactic end with 008’s resignation and a final message from Mahant Swami Maharaj, bringing the whole production to an end
80 of 0
The cast and crew of
‘The Vachanamrut: An Unexpected Journey’
with swamis