Home > News > North America > New York > Golden Jubilee Celebrations of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir > Sankalp

Golden Jubilee Celebrations of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New York, NY, USA

24 Aug 2024 to 8 Sep 2024

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New York, NY

Decorations showcasing the NA50 Logo adorn the mandir, adding a festive touch to the celebrations

Devotees arrive at the offsite parking for the 50-year celebration

Devotees board a shuttle bus to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New York

Devotees arrive at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New York for the celebration

The mandir campus displays a car sanctified by Pramukh Swami Maharaj during his visits to New York in the 1980s and 1990s

Volunteers welcome devotees as they enter the mandir gates

Devotees make their way down Bowne Street, arriving at the mandir's location.

Devotees arrive at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New York, for the celebration

Devotees gather on the mandir campus, engaging in conversations and admiring the surroundings

Devotees gather on the mandir campus, conversing and admiring the surroundings

Volunteers assist in registering devotees for the celebration

An aerial view of the mandir campus captures the bustling energy of all the visitors

Devotees tie wristbands on each other after checking in for the celebrations.

Congressman Tom Suozzi is welcomed to the mandir

Devotees look at the historical facts about the sanctified car, showcasing its connection to Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Devotees take photos with the sanctified car, capturing a memorable celebration moment

Devotees gather around the sanctified car, appreciating its spiritual significance

Devotees pay their respects at the memorial spot honoring the first BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in North America, located in a house's basement

Devotees enter the mandir as the doors open

Visitors are welcomed with a chandlo on their forehead

Volunteers warmly greet the devotees as they enter the mandir

Devotees enter the mandir foyer, admiring the beautiful decorations that enhance the celebratory atmosphere

Pujya Gnaneshwardas Swami arrives at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New York

Pujya Gnaneshwardas Swami garlands a senior devotee

Pujya Swamis apply chandlo to the devotees

Pujya Swamis tie a nadachadi to the devotees

Volunteers tie a nadachadi to the devotees

The program begins with a video highlighting the Sankalps of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the Gunatit Gurus

The narrator shares the history of the mandir and the events that led to the inauguration of the first BAPS Mandir in North America

Pujya Viveksagardas Swami shares his firsthand account of Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj's wish to build a mandir in New York

Devotees watch a video sharing Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj's wish for a mandir in New York and the initial events that led to its establishment

Devotees are immersed in a video that highlights the history of the first murtis of the mandir

Pujya Swamis and devotees are immersed in a video that highlights the history of the first murtis of the mandir

Pujya Swamis are immersed in a video highlighting the history of the first murtis of the mandir

A skit narrates the story of how the land for the mandir was acquired

Congressman Tom Suozzi listens intently to the program

Devotees enjoy learning about the beginnings of the mandir

A skit narrates the story of how the land for the mandir was acquired, humorously starting with a trip to a grocery store for some cardamom

Devotees laugh heartily while watching the skit

The skit depicts a young boy sent by his mother to buy cardamom from the local Indian grocery store. Upon arriving, he forgets what he was supposed to get, resulting in a phone conversation between the store owner and the boy’s mother

Pujya Swamis engage with the skit

During the phone conversation, the store owner informs the boy's mother about a piece of land for sale right across from their home, which eventually becomes the site for the first BAPS mandir in North America

Devotees watch a video featuring personal accounts and archived footage of Pramukh Swami Maharaj's first visit to New York and the murti pratishtha

Immediately following the video, a grand unveiling of all the murtis of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New York, takes place

Devotees experience heartfelt emotions while doing darshan of the murtis during the grand unveiling

The different murtis that have graced the Mandir since 1974 are beautifully displayed

Pujya Swamis affectionately do darshan of the murtis

Devotees do darshan of the murtis during the grand unveiling

The murtis installed by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 2004, are enshrined in the mandir today

Parabrahma Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan and Aksharbrahma Shri Gunatitanand Swami

Bhagwan Swaminarayan

Shri Harikrishna Maharaj

Bhagwan Shri Krishna and Shri Radhaji

Shri Guru Parampara

Shri Nilkanth Varni

The narrator explains the history of the three different sets of murtis

The first murtis installed by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1974, which remained in New York until 1984

Murtis installed by Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1984, which remained in the mandir until 2004

Bhagwan Swaminarayan

A beautifully decorated arti featuring NY50 themed decorations

Pujya Gnaneshwardas Swami performs the arti

Arti of Shri Nilkanth Varni

Devotees perform arti

A young boy plays the conch shell during the arti

Devotees perform arti

Pujya Swamis perform arti

Devotees perform arti

Pujya Yagnavallabhdas Swami honors and thanks an NYPD representative for their support during the celebrations

Priests from The Hindu Temple Society of North America, located just a block away from the Mandir, congratulate the Mandir on its historic milestone and recite prayers

The priests present a gift basket to commemorate the historic milestone of the Mandir

Pujya Gnanpriyadas Swami honors Dr. Subramanian, who performed the bypass surgery of Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1998 at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York

Dr. Subramanian addresses the assembly, sharing his personal experiences with Pramukh Swami Maharaj

Pujya Haridarshandas Swami ties a nadachadi to Dr. Varun Jeph, Deputy Consul General of India, New York

Dr. Varun Jeph, Deputy Consul General of India, addresses the assembly

NY State Assemblyman Edward Braunstein addresses the assembly

NY State Assemblyman Edward Braunstein presents a citation

Pujya Nilkanthsevadas Swami ties a nadachadi to Binaya Shrikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India, New York

Binaya Shrikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India, New York, addresses the assembly

NY State Senator John Liu’s Chief of staff, Shiang Liu, presents a legislative resolution commemorating the 50th Anniversary of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Flushing, New York on August 4, 2024

Pujya Nilkanthsevadas Swami honors Donovan Richards, the Queens Borough President

Donovan Richards, the Queens Borough President, addresses the assembly

Donovan Richards, the Queens Borough President, presents a proclamation celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Mandir

Pujya Nilkanthsevadas Swami ties a nadachadi to U.S. Congressman Tom Suozzi

Congressman Thomas Suozzi addresses the assembly

Congressman Thomas Suozzi presents BAPS with an American flag, which was previously flown at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Mandir

Congressman Tom Suozzi presents BAPS with an American flag, which was previously flown at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Mandir

NY State Assemblyman David Weprin addresses the assembly

NY State Assemblyman David Weprin presents a citation

Congressman Tom Suozzi's Chief of Staff, Cindy Rogers, honored by volunteers

Devotees engrossed in the darshan of the murtis

Devotees offer flowers to the murtis

Devotees engrossed in the darshan of the murtis

Devotees offer flowers to the murtis