August 2009 Annual Subscription Rs. 60 - Swaminarayan Sanstha

PRESIDENT OF INDIA, HER EXCELLENCY
PRATIBHA PATIL, VISITS SWAMINARAYAN
AKSHARDHAM MANDIR
Tuesday, 7 July 2009, New Delhi, India
The President of India & her husband Shri Shekhawat perform
arti of Shri Neelkanth Varni at Swaminarayan Akshardham
The President and her husband at Swaminarayan Akshardham
Her Excellency President Pratibha
Patil and her husband, Dr D. R.
Shekhawat, visited Swaminarayan
Akshardham to celebrate their 44th wedding
anniversary and Guru Purnima. Their daughter,
Smt. Jyoti Rathore, and son, Shri Rajendra
Singh, also accompanied them on this special
occasion. They were traditionally welcomed
by Dr J.M. Dave on behalf of His Holiness
Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the inspirer of
Swaminarayan Akshardham and the head of
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.
The President and her family offered prayers
and flowers to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Ganeshji
and Hanumanji. Thereafter, they visited the
entire Akshardham complex, which included
the Ten Gates, Bhakti Dwar, Mayur Dwar, Holy
Footprints, Elephant Plinth and Narayan Sarovar,
which contains water from 151 holy rivers across
India.
The family then performed abhishek of the
sacred murti of Bhagwan Neelkanth.
Thereafter, the President and her family visited
the Hall of Values exhibition, the Giant Screen
show and the boat ride exhibition portraying
Indian culture.
Sharing her experience in the opinion book she
wrote: “Today, on the very sacred Guru Purnima
day we had the great fortune to have darshan and
offer our homage to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. We
thoroughly enjoyed every show. The life, penance,
and challenges of Shri Swaminarayan tell us about
his tremendous spiritual strength. I congratulate
each and everyone who had contributed to this
extraordinary monument. This creation was due
to the inspiration of Pramukh Swamiji, who is
worthy of praise by the nation.”
In honour of her visit, President Patil and
family were gifted Akshardham mementos.
The President and her family enjoyed the
two-and-a-half hour visit to Swaminarayan
Akshardham.
26 Swaminarayan Bliss August 2009