On Thursday
6 April 2006, numerous devotees visited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan
Mandir, Neasden, London to celebrate the sacred festival of
Shri Swaminarayan Jayanti and Ramnavmi. To mark this auspicious
occasion, grand annakuts was offered to the deities.
At 12 noon, the sadhus performed the birth arti of Shri Ramchandra.
All the devotees had the opportunity to rock the cradle of Shri
Ramchandra.
During the course of the day, devotees were also given the opportunity
of offering abhishek to the sacred image of Nilkanth Varni (Bhagwan
Swaminarayan).
In the evening bhajans and speeches extolling the virtues and
greatness of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Shri Ramchandraji were
presented. The grand assembly culminated in the celebrations
of the birth of Bhagwan Swaminarayan at 10:10pm.
On Saturday 8 April 2006, further celebrations of Shri Swaminarayan
Jayanti took place with a wonderful programme in the evening
in which countless devotees attended. The programme demonstrated
through dramas, bhajans and discourses, the true inspiration
provided by Bhagwan Swaminarayan to the devotees to lead morally
upright lives.
During the day many
devotees took part in the ‘Akhand Swaminarayan Dhun’
in front of the sacred image of sacred image of Nilkanth Varni
(Bhagwan Swaminarayan).
Devotees from all
over the country also gathered at the local mandirs and centres
to celebrate this important festival.