BAPS Swaminarayan temple celebrates golden jubilee year
A GRAND celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the first BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in the west was held last weekend.
Devotees commemorated the virtual event, which marked the golden jubilee of the opening of the mandir in Islington, north London. It was inaugurated on June 14, 1970.
This was the first ever Swaminarayan mandir in the western hemisphere. BAPS leader His Holiness Yogiji Maharaj and a group of 12 saints were among those who helped launch the place of worship in Islington, north London.
The anniversary was marked through a documentary-style production of rare video footage, photographs, letters and audio records, as well as first hand accounts from senior devotees, saints, and archive material featuring the late His Holiness Param Pujya Pramukh Swami Maharaj and current leader His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj.
A ceremonial prayer (arti) was performed to the original idols of deities inaugurated at Islington Mandir at precisely 12.22pm – marking the exact time of the first arti at that temple 50 years ago. An annakut (a devotional offering of food) was also offered to the deities in the various shrines.
His Holiness Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj also sent video blessings especially for the occasion.
Families also marked these celebrations throughout the day with a host of festivities, including preparing freshly made sweet dishes as a devotional offering at their homes.