On Monday
18th April 2005, countless devotees visited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan
Mandir, Neasden to celebrate the auspicious festival of Shri
Swaminarayan Jayanti and Ramnavmi. To mark the festive occasion,
annakuts were offered to the sacred images of Ghanshyam Maharaj
and Ram Sita.
The festival started at 12 noon, with the sadhus performing
the birth arti of Shri Ram. All visitors had the opportunity
to rock the birth cradle of Shri Ram.
The birth celebration of Shri Ram was celebrated in an assembly
held between 6:00pm and 7:15pm, during which youths and sadhus
recited episodes from the life of Shri Ram from 'Ramcharit Manas'
compiled by Tulsidas.
Thereafter
at 8:00pm, a special assembly was held in which the divine life
of Bhagwan Swaminarayan was presented through bhajans and speeches.
These grand celebrations climaxed in the celebrations of the
birth of Bhagwan Swaminarayan at 10:10pm.
During the
course of the day, devotees were given the opportunity of offering
abhishek to the sacred image of Nilkanth Varni Maharaj (Bhagwan
Swaminarayan). Special prasad of 'panchajiri' was given to all
the devotees who visited the Mandir.