May-June 2013 Annual Subscription `80/- - Baps.org

Grand Pushpadolotsav Celebration27 March 2013, BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, SarangpurIn the evening, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.,over 70,000 devotees gathered at the BAPSShri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sarangpur inthe presence of the senior BAPS sadhus – PujyaMahant Swami, Pujya Doctor Swami, PujyaBhaktipriya (Kothari) Swami, Pujya TyagvallabhSwami and Pujya Viveksagar Swami – tocelebrate this annual festival.Speeches by the senior and other sadhus andvideo shows described how Pramukh SwamiMaharaj’s life has been coloured with the virtuesof dharma, jnan, vairagya and bhakti.Following the inauguration of new publicationsby Swaminarayan Aksharpith, the seniorsadhus performed pujan of Shri HarikrishnaMaharaj and sprayed him with saffron-scentedwater. Thereafter, arti was performed.At the conclusion of the celebration, aspecially compiled video of the past Fuldolcelebrations held in Sarangpur in the presenceof Swamishri was shown. Finally, volunteerssprinkled scented gulal powder, previouslysanctified by Swamishri, on all the devotees.This year, due to the drought in Gujarat,gulal powder, flowers and flower petals wereused for the celebrations at both Ahmedabadand Sarangpur instead of the traditional use ofwater.uIn a grand diksha mahotsav, guruhariPramukh Swami Maharaj initiated 28 youths asparshads and 45 as sadhus. Among the youthswere doctors, engineers, pharmacists, MBAs andgraduates of other faculties. Of the 73 youths,16 were from abroad.The youths, and their parents and relativesperformed the Vedic mahapuja rituals. Later, theparents wholeheartedly offered their belovedsons for becoming sadhus at the holy feet of guruPramukh Swami Maharaj. The devotees presentDiksha Ceremony11 April 2013, Ahmedabad, Indiain the assembly hailed the newly initiated youthsand their parents in reverence.Senior sadhus of BAPS – Pujya Mahant Swami,Pujya Doctor Swami, Pujya Kothari Swami, PujyaTyagvallabh Swami, Pujya Ishwarcharan Swamiand Pujya Viveksagar Swami – were present inthe initiation ceremony. They expounded on thespiritual significance of receiving initiation froman enlightened guru.At the end of the ceremony Pramukh SwamiMaharaj personally gave the guru mantra to64 Swaminarayan Bliss u May-June 2013