Uttarayan
Swamishri arrived at the Abhishek Mandap, which was decorated with kites. Large displays of Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj with the begging bags (jholis) hanging from their shoulders was arranged in the Mandap. A rangoli of Nilkanth Varni begging for alms was created before the murtis of Guru Parampara. After Thakorji’s darshan Swamishri came to the mandir dome. Pujya Kothari Swami and Pujya Tyagvallabh Swami hailed the jholi call of ‘Swaminarayan Hare Sachchidanand Prabho’. Pujya Viveksagar briefly spoke about the impor-tance of Uttarayan jholi and how Swamishri used to beg for alms while studying Sanskrit in Bhadran. Then bowls full of different grains were given to Swamishri, who displayed them to the devotees before him. When Swamishri held each bowl, filled with rice, millet, wheat grains and tuver, flattened rice, cooking oil, val, rai, gur and sugar, the announcer described their qualities and virtues. Swamishri then blessed the gathering saying that the tradition of begging grains in the Sampradaya was initiated by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (Nilkanth Varni) and thereafter it was continued by Shastriji Maharaj and Yogiji Maharaj. The BAPS mandirs were built with the aid of food grains received in jholis. Finally, Swamishri blessed all for consolidation of satsang, devotion and prosperity in their lives. Then Swamishri hailed the jholi call ‘Swaminarayan Hare, Sachchidanand Prabho’. In conclusion, senior sadhus honoured Swamishri with garlands.