Home > News > UK & Europe > Diwali & Annakut Celebrations, London > Hindu New Year: Artis, Thal, Annakut, Abhishek & Sabha

Diwali & Annakut Celebrations, London, UK & Europe

15 Nov 2020

The day following Diwali began with the auspicious Mangala Arti at 6.00am

The Shangar Arti followed at 7.30am

Sadhus performed the arti at each of the shrines in the upper sanctum

After the delayed webcast of Mahant Swami Maharaj's puja darshan from Nenpur, India, the mahapuja was ready to commence

Swamis performed the mahapuja, praying for an auspicious and righteous beginning to the Hindu New Year

Swamis welcomed the divine presence of Bhagwan and the gurus into the mahapuja

Swamis honoured Bhagwan and the gurus with flower petals and rice grains

Swamis took the main vow of the mahapuja to establish its purpose and fruits

The holy rivers were invoked into the kalash (water pot)

The murti was bathed, in turn, with Panchamrut, the five holy ingredients (milk, yoghurt, ghee, honey and sugar)

In between each bathing, fresh water is poured over the murti

Swamis bathed the murti with honey

Swamis bathed the murti with finely granulated sugar

The murti was then bathed with fresh warm water

Swamis offered thal to the murtis

Swamis offered water to the murtis

Yogvivekdas Swami leads the prayers while swamis chanted the 'Swaminarayan' mahamantra

Swamis offer a list of supporters' names to the murtis, seeking blessings on their behalf

Swamis conclude the mahapuja with the arti

Swamis sang a series of thals in front of the murtis between 11.00am and 11.40am

The singing was accompanied by various musical instruments

While the thals were sung at London Mandir, devotees offered their own annakut in their respective homes in their ghar mandir

During the thal offering in London, the webcast also showed images of the annakuts offered at all the hari mandirs in the UK and Europe

Swamis sang along with the offering of the thal in the various shrines

The Govardhan Puja is a traditional ceremony with its basis in the Shrimad Bhagwat Puran

Yogvivekdas Swami and Satyavratdas Swami performed the Govardhan Puja in thanksgiving to Bhagwan for his protection and providence

Yogvivekdas Swami and Satyavratdas Swami performed the Govardhan Puja prior to the Rajbhog Arti

The annakut is a ceremonial offering of the first meal of the new year made in thanksgiving to Bhagwan for all his blessings

Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami, Parabrahma Purushottam Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Aksharmukta Gopalanand Swami

Parabrahma Purushottam Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj

Shri Harikrishna Maharaj, Shri Radhaji and Shri Krishna Bhagwan

Shri Harikrishna Maharaj

Shri Thakorji

Shri Nilkanth Varni Maharaj

Shri Sitaji and Shri Rama Bhagwan

Shri Parvatiji and Shri Shankar Bhagwan

Shri Hanumanji

Shri Ganpatiji

Brahmaswarup Bhagatji Maharaj

Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj

Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj

Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Shri Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj and Pragat Brahmaswarup Mahant Swami Maharaj

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant national lockdown in the UK, no devotees were able to attend London Mandir for darshan

This year's annakut offering in London was limited to the upper sanctum only

The relatively fewer items offered as part of the annakut were still devoutly and artistically arranged in each shrine

During the afternoon, swamis held video calls with devotees from around the UK and Europe

Swamis were able to meet each group of devotees to pray for them and their families on this auspicious day

During the course of the afternoon and evening, thousands of devotees from all over the UK and Europe were able to meet the swamis online

Before the Sandhya Arti, swamis performed the abhishek, praying for everyone's good health, happiness and success in the coming year

Yogvivekdas Swami performed the abhishek on behalf of the devotees

Swamis in turned performed the abhishek on behalf of the devotees

Yogvivekdas Swami addressed the devotees from the upper sanctum in a brief online sabha after the Sandhya Arti

The celebrations concluded with the fifth and final arti of the day, Shayan Arti