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Celebrating 50 Years of Satsang in Europe, UK & Europe

24 Jan 2021 to 31 Jan 2021

The ‘Europe Rangvu Chhe’ documentary commemorated 50 years since the first European visit of the Satpurush through a mesmerising 4-hour journey down memory lane, reliving 11 unforgettable and truly monumental moments in the history of BAPS Europe

The programme began with an introductory montage of the setting in which the narrated elements would be embedded, at centre of which was a rustic album titled ‘Europe Rangvu Chhe’

The preface of the album took the viewers back to 18th-century Gujarat, India, where Bhagwan Swaminarayan looked towards the west as spiritual aspirants awaited his arrival

The story begins in 1970, where history is in the making as Yogiji Maharaj boards a plane in Entebbe, Uganda, and is heading west to fulfil the two-century-old vision of Bhagwan Swaminarayan

The viewers experienced never-before-seen footage and never-before-heard audio of Yogiji Maharaj on this historic plane journey over the continent of Europe

Ishwarancharandas Swami narrates his conversations with Yogiji Maharaj onboard the plane as Swamishri blessed the land of Europe below with his divine gaze from the window

Yogiji Maharaj’s main purpose for this historic visit to the UK was to inaugurate the first BAPS Hindu temple in the western hemisphere, in the London borough of Islington

Viveksagardas Swami recounts key moments from Yogiji Maharaj’s 45-day vicharan in the UK

Yogiji Maharaj delivered a powerful address in London where he reiterated the divine vision of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami, and prophesied that Satsang will spread far and wide

Pramukh Swami Maharaj reminisces how Yogiji Maharaj’s divine yet unfathomable prophecies were now coming to fruition before our very eyes

Yogiji Maharaj, upon completing his UK vicharan, embarked upon a plane which would journey back to Mumbai, India, through a series of flight stopovers, the first being Paris, France…

… where Pramukh Swami and Mahant Swami, at the request of Yogiji Maharaj, stepped foot on European soil on his behalf, historically marking the first European visit of the Satpurush, as narrated by Mahant Swami Maharaj himself

Meanwhile, Viveksagardas Swami requested Yogiji Maharaj on the plane to write blessings in his personal diary

Viveksagardas Swami reads aloud the divine blessings written by Yogiji Maharaj aboard the plane while stopping over in France and Switzerland

Aksharviharidas Swami emphasises the spiritual importance of Yogiji Maharaj’s flight stopovers across Europe and the Middle East…

… during that historic plane journey back to India which laid the foundations on which Satsang would eventually grow

Each vicharan was recorded on a ‘Progress Map’, where each country that was visited would be coloured year-on-year

‘1982’ was the second chapter of the programme

Swayamprakashdas Swami (Doctor Swami) led the first BAPS sant vicharan on mainland Europe

At the time, there were only a few, modest devotees among the European countries, therefore the swamis spents their days travelling aboard two motorhomes and spent their nights in camping sites

Anandswarupdas Swami highlights the immense hardships that the French devotees were enduring on a daily basis…

… so much so, that the first sabha took place, in the presence of Doctor Swami, in a public park at the foot of the Eiffel Tower

Gnaneshwardas Swami takes the journey forward to the two other countries that this first historic sant vicharan covered: Portugal and Germany

‘1984’ was the third chapter of the programme

Pramukh Swami Maharaj, in his first European vicharan as Guru, arrived in Italy on 4 April 1984

Vivekjivandas Swami narrates Swamishri’s insightful replies amid the press attention he received in anticipation of the meeting with Pope John Paul II

This historic interfaith meeting took place in a hall adjacent to St Peter’s Basillica, Vatican City, where Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Pope John Paul II exchanged gifts, kind words and an embrace, stressing the importance of harmony among world religions

Upon arriving in Belgium on 7 April 1984, Pramukh Swami Maharaj insisted to travel to the Netherlands, fulfilling a 12-year-old wish of Jeanette, a friend of Hanbhai Kop, the narrator of this story

The viewers witness never-before-seen footage of Pramukh Swami Maharaj conversing with Hanbhai in his house in Voorburg, the Netherlands

Chitranjanbhai Patel takes the story forward as Swamishri travels to Lisbon, Portugal, on 11 April 1984, and narrates an emotional incident where Swamishri finds out that many of the devotees were living in shanty towns. Swamishri thereafter blessed the devotees individually and sent sanctified food to their homes

When Pramukh Swami Maharaj exited the Sanctuary of Christ the King, a local resident humbly asked Swamishri to bless his child, Bernadinho, that his disabilities subside. Swamishri graciously placed his hand on Bernadinho’s head – a blessing that would come to fruition in the near future

Pramukh Swami Maharaj graced Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Portugal during his first European vicharan as Guru

‘1986’ was the fourth chapter of the programme

Mahant Swami Maharaj, Shreejiswarupdas Swami and Brahmaviharidas Swami joyfully reminisce their motorhome sleeping arrangements during the research trip they undertook across Europe for the exhibitions in Swaminarayan Akshardham, Gandhinagar, India

Mahant Swami led a group of five other swamis, including Ishwarcharandas Swami, on this European research trip in 1986

Sagoonbhai Patel, along with other devotees, accompanied the swamis on this extensive research trip across Europe

Mahant Swami, swamis and accompanying devotees travelled across six European countries: France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands

Sureshbhai Patel – who regularly facilitated the transport of travelling swamis – highlights Mahant Swami’s incomparable eye-for-detail when studying the various monuments in Europe

Mahant Swami and swamis walk among the scenic Alps in Switzerland whilst explaining Hindu traditions to intrigued Europeans

Swamishri remembers and appreciates the intricacy and accuracy of the models at Madurodam, the Netherlands

‘1988’ was the fifth chapter of the programme

Upon a heartfelt plea from Shantibhai, a Swiss devotee, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s vicharan in 1988 grew from being in just one country to spanning eight countries, the largest vicharan that the Satpurush would bestow upon Europe

Swamishri arrived in France, the first of eight countries during that vicharan, on 3 May 1988

Shukmunidas Swami narrates his personal encounters with Pramukh Swami Maharaj, highlighting Swamishri’s loving care for the accompanying swamis on the vicharan

After blessing the city of Paris by showering flower petals from a helicopter, Pramukh Swami Maharaj arrives at the world-famous Eiffel Tower

Swamishri, atop the Eiffel Tower, looks far into Paris through a telescope, blessing the city with his divine gaze

Pravinbhai Bhavsar recounts an intimate moment between the French devotees and Pramukh Swami Maharaj on the eve of his departure, where Swamishri compassionately leaves them a parting gift – the gift of God’s presence

Pramukh Swami Maharaj thereafter travels to Portugal on 5 May 1988

Swamishri, whilst sat on the steps of the basilica in the Sanctuary of Fatima, prays for the salvation of all the pilgrims who journey to this popular place of worship

Aksharjivandas Swami narrates the jovial moments between Swamishri and European children in the garden near the Sanctuary of Fatima

Pramukh Swami Maharaj thereafter reaches Barcelona, Spain, on 9 May 1988. Swamishri sanctified the Mediterranean Sea by bathing Shri Harikrishna Maharaj within it

Pramukh Swami Maharaj subsequently arrives in Switzerland on 10 May 1988. Upendrabhai Patel and Krishnamurtibhai Pattani reminisce their time with Swamishri atop the snowy peak of Mount Säntis…

… and the unforgettable bliss that Pramukh Swami Maharaj showered upon the swamis and devotees

Pramukh Swami Maharaj thereafter arrives in Vienna, Austria, on 12 May 1988, where Maheshbhai Patel facilitates Swamishri’s vicharan

To fulfil the wish of the local devotees, Swamishri sits in a horse carriage and blesses the streets of Vienna whilst swamis and devotees chant the 'Swaminarayan' mahamantra following afoot

Hiteshbhai Patel narrates a personal encounter with Pramukh Swami Maharaj, highlighting Swamishri’s pure heart and unshakeable faith in God

Pramukh Swami Maharaj arrives in Germany on 13 May 1988, bestowing bliss upon devotees from several cities during his short stay

Swamishri arrives in London, UK, on 15 May 1988, to celebrate the birth anniversary of Yogiji Maharaj, an occasion made even more special as Swamishri himself sang ‘Yogi avo te rang’ to commemorate his Guru’s wish to spread Satsang across Europe

Swamishri thereafter blessed the devotees of Sweden and Norway with his divine presence, completing this historic eight-country vicharan across mainland Europe

‘1994’ was the sixth chapter of the programme

To selflessly fulfil the wish of one Professor Jaroslav Frič, Pramukh Swami Maharaj arrived in Prague, Czech Republic, on 4 August 1994

Jan Frič reminisces his father’s excitement for the arrival of Pramukh Swami Maharaj and describes the unique friendship he witnessed between them

Jan Frič also narrates his personal encounters with Pramukh Swami Maharaj, remembering his humility and saintliness as traits that he still finds touching today

Ishwarcharandas Swami, Narayanmunidas Swami and Brahmaviharidas Swami recount a light-hearted moment where Professor Frič pointed his finger towards Swamishri stating that it is his responsibility to ensure the people of Prague realise Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s spiritual glory

Pramukh Swami Maharaj expressed his fondness for Prague because of its numerous churches. He said it reflected people’s immense faith in God

Pramukh Swami Maharaj thereafter arrived in Sweden on 8 August 1994. Narayanmunidas Swami reveals Swamishri’s health difficulties at the time and his impalpable perseverance to spread Satsang and fulfil his Guru’s vision

In 1995, Pramukh Swami Maharaj briefly graced Paris, France, in the build-up to the opening of the new traditional stone mandir in London, UK

‘1997’ was the seventh chapter of the programme

Swamishri arrived in London, UK, on 21 October 1997, to celebrate the auspicious Hindu festivals of Diwali and Annakut

Atmaswarupdas Swami narrates the backstory to an inspiring moment where Pramukh Swami Maharaj also shared his vision for Satsang across Europe

Pramukh Swami Maharaj, in his inspiring address during Kishore-Kishori Din, alludes to the inevitable realisation of Yogiji Maharaj’s prophecies and thus invites devotees to keep firm faith

Prabuddhmunidas Swami reminisces a jovial incident with Pramukh Swami Maharaj en route to Paris for the murti pratishtha ceremony of the new hari mandir

Despite a unique night-time procession down the River Seine and a traditional murti pratishtha ceremony in the heart of Paris, governmental permission was denied and the sanctified murtis were later installed in Loughborough, UK

‘2000’ was the eighth chapter of the programme

Pramukh Swami Maharaj blesses a devotee over the telephone en route to Paris, France, aboard a Eurostar train

Pramukh Swami Maharaj reaches Paris, France, on 13 June 2000. Kalibhai Godiwala, who facilitated the catering for Swamishri and the accompanying swamis, fondly recalls…

… a pleased Swamishri going to the kitchen where he prepares a chapati himself, bestowing the French devotees an unforgettable lifelong memory

Rameshbhai Patel narrates a personal encounter with Pramukh Swami Maharaj during his departure, where Swamishri recognised the loving nature of the French devotees

Swamishri thereafter arrives in Lisbon, Portugal, on 16 June 2000

The main purpose of this vicharan was for Swamishri to sanctify the newly acquired building in which a hari mandir would be built, where he also performed a murti pratishtha arti

‘2014’ was the ninth chapter of the programme

Satyavratdas Swami explains how the very same site on which Pramukh Swami Maharaj performed the murti pratishtha arti in 2000 was now renovated and transformed into a new hari mandir

Mahant Swami and Bhaktipriyadas Swami (Kothari Swami) blessed the land of Portugal for the inauguration of Lisbon Mandir

Kothari Swami reminisces the various locations within the Sanctuary of Fatima where they remembered the divine presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Mahant Swami and Kothari Swami led a grand procession (nagar yatra) through the heart of Lisbon, culminating at the soon-to-be inaugurated new hari mandir

Mahant Swami Maharaj narrates how the rain incredibly stopped minutes before the nagar yatra in Lisbon – and then started again minutes after it ended

At the time, Bhadreshdas Swami, with the blessings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, was about to embark upon an extensive tour of the top European universities, where he would discuss Akshar-Purushottam Darshan and its texts with eminent scholars

Another unexpected ‘2014’ was the tenth chapter of the programme

Yogvivekdas Swami explains the unexpected nature of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s last overseas vicharan in 2014

Swamishri’s flight stopped over in Brussels, Belgium, on 5 August 2014, on the way to New Jersey, USA

The viewers experienced Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s divine voice through a never-before-heard recording on-board the plane during the stopover, drawing heart-warming parallels to Yogiji Maharaj’s voice recordings during his flight stopover in 1970

Brahmaviharidas Swami takes the story forward to 18 August 2014, during Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s final stopover in Paris, France, where Swamishri, whilst looking out the window, prayed for a fine mandir to be built in the city of Paris

At the tender age of 93 – 64 tireless years after his very first overseas vicharan with Yogiji Maharaj – Pramukh Swami Maharaj landed in France. It would be the last overseas country blessed by Swamishri’s vicharan

Through his tireless vicharan over 44 years, Pramukh Swami Maharaj bestowed paramount bliss on countless devotees, aspirants and well-wishers in 13 different European countries

‘2017’ was the eleventh chapter of the programme

Mahant Swami Maharaj compassionately requested to grace the land of France, for his very first vicharan in Europe as Guru

Akhandyogidas Swami describes the excitement of the European devotees as this vicharan was 17 years in the waiting

Mahant Swami Maharaj arrived in Paris, France, on 15 October 2017

Munichintandas Swami narrates touching encounters between Swamishri and the devotees, highlighting the solidarity amongst the European devotees that Swamishri especially appreciated

Not only did Mahant Swami Maharaj bestow the long-awaited bliss of the Satpurush upon the devotees of Europe, but he also left an intergenerational gift – the gift of a mandir in the making

Mahant Swami Maharaj personally met over 430 European devotees in one day, revealing his selfless care and love towards the devotees

Jenishbhai Parekh, along with Saileshbhai Bhavsar, narrates how the Mayor of Bussy-Saint-Georges was so touched from his personal meeting with Swamishri, that he not only gave permission to build a mandir in his suburb, but also invited Swamishri back to Paris so that he could personally offer him a Medal of Honour

Swamishri, upon finishing his lunch, unexpectedly requested for the microphone and recognised the hardships that devotees in Europe face in order to carry out Satsang and blessed them with words of strength and appreciation

Manoharmurtidas Swami summarises Swamishri’s blessings, explaining how we, too, can help fulfil Yogiji Maharaj’s prophecy of ‘Europe rangvu chhe’

Yagnatilakdas Swami reiterates Mahant Swami Maharaj’s deep fondness of the unshakeable solidarity between the devotees across the continent

Mahant Swami Maharaj emphatically blessed all the devotees from UK & Europe to unite together in building this historic and divine mandir in the city of Paris and in the heart of mainland Europe. A 50-year-old tale, when Yogiji Maharaj prophesied and asked him to step foot on his behalf, was now coming to fruition by that very same disciple

Over the last 50 years, Yogiji Maharaj, Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Mahant Swami Maharaj have graced Europe with their tireless vicharan…

… bestowing devotees and well-wishers with spiritual wisdom, paramount bliss and unforgettable memories

The viewers had a chance to reminisce, reflect and rejoice as treasured memories of all three Gurus climactically filled a wall of videos

The viewers together pledged that on top of the foundation laid so firmly by our Gurus, we, too, would play our part in spreading Satsang across Europe

The final ‘Progress Map’ makes its way to Mahant Swami Maharaj in Nenpur, India, as Swamishri gazes over the countries of Europe

Mahant Swami Maharaj delivers the concluding address in which he reassures the devotees that Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj’s and Yogiji Maharaj’s vision is both borderless and timeless, hence, Satsang will grow not only throughout Europe but also around the world

Swamishri then gracefully picks up a paintbrush…

… which he first offers to Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj

Swamishri then begins to paint the rest of the incomplete map…

… inspiring the devotees that Satsang will spread to countries far and wide

Mahant Swami Maharaj adds the finishing touches to his artwork…

… and signs the map in the bottom right corner…

… gracing the European devotees with a unique and inspirational gift, showing the way forward into the future of Satsang in Europe

Mahant Swami Maharaj concludes the programme by emphatically saying “Europe rangvu chhe”... as the album closes