Visitors from across Northamptonshire came to join in the Diwali and Hindu New Year celebrations at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir at 22 Mill Road, Wellingborough. The newly built Mandir (Hindu Temple), welcomed hundreds of people to participate in the joyous celebrations of the Hindu Festival of Lights (Diwali) and the New Year.

The final day of the Hindu year is considered to be one of the most auspicious and is celebrated as Diwali – the ‘Festival of Lights’. It is traditionally the day when business owners close existing account books and open new ones in preparation for the year ahead. The ceremony – called Sharada Pujan or Chopda Pujan – is also a time to take stock of one’s spiritual relationship with God.

Devotees and well-wishers gathered at the Mandir for the Chopda Pujan ceremony, which was held on Saturday 17 October 2009. Hundreds of new account books were blessed through the showering of flowers petals and rice grains amid the chanting of Vedic hymns and prayers. As the crowds dispersed, the volunteers continued their preparations for the following day’s New Years Annakut.

The following sunny morning ushered in the Hindu New Year. From early in the day, devotees and families arrived to offer their prayers on the first day of the New Year, which was dedicated to world peace and stability. Inside the grand prayer hall of the Mandir, visitors were treated to the promised masterpiece of culinary artistry. Adorned with the spectacular sight of hundreds of exotic vegetarian dishes, the ritual offering of food to God, known as Annakut (literally, ‘a mountain of food’) included a wondrous variety of snacks, sweets, curries, pickles, salads, fruit drinks and various other items. This lavish arrangement is traditionally offered as a thanksgiving to God and to celebrate the beginning of the Hindu New Year.

Weeks of hard work preceded the event with devotees of all ages volunteering their time and efforts to beautifully decorate the temple with flowers and rangoli (traditional designs using coloured powder), to welcome in the New Year. The Lord Mayor of Wellingborough, Peter Morrall had also come to the Mandir to join the festivities.

Mahesh Patel, Mandir coordinator said, “We would like to thank our volunteers and those who shared this very special occasion with us at the new temple, and would welcome all to join us for future celebrations.”