5 November 2010 (VS 2066) Friday, Gondal; Diwali and Chopda Pujan
After Swamishri’s morning puja, Mr John Malcolm (who is writing a biography on Sir John Malcolm, the Governor of Bombay State who had met Bhagwan Swaminarayan) was honoured by Viveksagar Swami.
Swamishri also inaugurated new publications by Swaminarayan Aksharpith: Hinduism, An Introduction, Sanskrutinad, Smruti Toran (photo album of Yogiji Maharaj), Vachanamrut (MP3) and a small replica of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s murti in Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi.
At 6.10 p.m. Swamishri performed the rituals of chopda pujan (pujan of accounts books of devotees) in front of the mandir. Thousands of devotees also participated in the rituals. Viveksagar Swami gave a discourse on the importance of chopda pujan and honoured Swamishri with a garland. Finally, Swamishri blessed the assembly and personally showered flowers and rice grains to sanctify the accounts books.