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Prarthana Sabha, UK & Europe

8 May 2020

Prarthana Sabha

Yogikirtandas Swami conducted the ceremony in the upper sanctum of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London

Yogvivekdas Swami performed the ceremony to bring closure for the families who had lost loved ones

Devotees prepared to join in from home via a live webcast

Yogvivekdas Swami began by performing pujan of Thakorji

Devotees joined in from home

Yogvivekdas Swami offered flowers to Thakorji

Devotees followed at home by also offering flowers

Yogvivekdas Swami offered flowers at Thakorji's feet

Yogvivekdas Swami affirmed the 'sankalp' (objective) of the ceremony, for granting peace and fortitude to all the families who had lost loved ones

The 'sankalp' ceremony involves holding water in a spoon

Devotees also affirmed the 'sankalp' of the ceremony by holding water in a spoon

Devotees closely followed the ceremony from home via a live webcast

After the ceremony, swamis sang kirtans reaffirming the prayers

The devotional singing was interluded with video blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Mahant Swami Maharaj

Swamis sang melodious prayers to the accompaniment of musical instruments

Devotees who had lost loved ones joined in the prayers from home

Swamis sang bhajans reaffirming a devotee's spiritual allegiance to God and Guru

Swamis sang prayers seeking moral and spiritual strength from God in times of sorrow and tribulation

The devotional singing was interluded with video blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Mahant Swami Maharaj

Yogvivekdas Swami memorialised all the devotees and swamis who had passed away (not all from COVID-19) and reiterated key teachings from the Vachanamrut and the lives of the Gurus

The devotional singing ended with the chanting of the Swaminarayan mahamantra

To conclude the ceremony, swamis performed the mantrapushpanjali in each of the main shrines

Swamis then performed the shayan arti of the murtis

Devotees joined in from home by performing the arti as well

Devotees joined in by performing the arti at home

Swamis performed the shayan arti of the murtis

Throughout the evening, each devotee who had recently passed away was individually remembered and offered respect

Each devotee who had passed away was introduced individually in this manner

Each devotee was individually remembered and offered respect

In all, there were about 76 devotees who had recently passed away, whose families had been unable to conduct a prarthana sabha at their local mandir because of the COVID-19 lockdown

Swamis and devotees also offered their respects to Srutidharma Das and prayed for his family and friends. He was a leading member of the ISKCON fellowship in the UK and a respected figure among the British Hindu community.

Swamis and devotees also offered their respects to four BAPS swamis who had recently passed away

The BAPS fellowship also paid humble tribute to the many healthcare workers who had tragically died in the line of duty while fighting COVID-19