Diwali Festival
At 8.00 a.m. Swamishri commenced his puja in his room. At about 9.00 a.m. He came to the Nilkanth Abhishek Mandap for darshan. The accounts books were ritually worshipped (Chopda Pujan) by the senior sadhus. Swamishri performed the Chopda Pujan arti and sanctified the rice grains and flowers to be showered on the books.
Swamishri also performed the murti-pratishtha rituals of murtis for the BAPS hari mandir in Lakhiyani (Gadhada region). Then Swamishri gave his Diwali blessings to the devotees in the Abhishek Mandap, “Today, people in every village and town of India celebrate Diwali. Shriji Maharaj, Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj had also celebrated this festival many times and blessed the devotees with happiness. On this auspicious day the lighting of divas (lamps) also illumine our minds and hearts. One is inspired to give up one’s bad nature and habits today. Bhagwan Swaminarayan brought his Akshar-dham, Gunatitanand Swami, with him to reveal that we have to become aksharrup in order to offer bhakti to Purushottam. Because of body-consciousness (dehbhav) we suffer from many afflictions and miseries in life. However, when we believe and realize that we are atma, we transcend all miseries.”
Thereafter, Swamishri did darshan of Thakorji in the mandir and blessed devotees from India and abroad assembled beneath the mandir dome.
Swamishri gave darshan to all for 55 minutes. The festive occasion was relayed live through Aastha Channel and the Sanstha’s website.