FAQ - Q17. How is Swaminarayan Jayanti celebrated around the world?

Inspirator: His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj

FAQ
	Introduction
		How is Swaminarayan Jayanti celebrated around the world?

	1	Why do we close the curtain whilst God is dining?
	2	Why do we do Aarti?
	3	Why are there five aartis during the day?
	4	Why is there a bell rung during aarti?
	5	Why do we burn agarbati?
	6	What is a Mahotsav and why do we celebrate them?
	7	Why do we not eat onions and garlic?
	8	Why do we have to wear a kanthi?
	9	Why do we perform pradikshana?
	10	Why do we wear a Tilak-Chandlo?
	11	Why do we observe special rituals during the time of an eclipse?
	12	Why are there 108 beads on a Mara?
	13	Who was Jeevanpran AbjiBapashree?
	14	I am twelve years old, what niyams should I do for Chaturmaas?
	15	Why can’t we have food before washing ourselves and performing Pooja?
	16	What is a Temple?
	17	How is Swaminarayan Jayanti celebrated around the world?

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Q17. How is Swaminarayan Jayanti celebrated around the world?

How do devotee’s celebrate Swaminarayan Jayanti?

On the day of the Lord’s manifestation, disciples pray and rejoice all day. In the delight of their celebrating, they forget to even eat. That is the sentiment behind fasting on this special day. Devotees observe a complete fast (oopvas) or eat only fruits or farari food only on this auspicious day.

What happen’s in the temples?
Traditionally, a continuous dhoon is held for 24 hours to announce the arrival of the supreme Lord Swaminarayan. The dhoon helps us to concentrate our minds on God and go into an almost trance like state before His manifestation. The excitement rises and the dhoon speeds up and gets louder to a crescendo. At the precise time of the Lord’s arrival onto the Earth, the Murti of the Lord is seated on a decorated cradle and offered Thaal.

Aarti is then performed, followed by hailing the glory of the Lord and describing His magnificent, divine robes and ornaments.
Jay Nado Akshardham na adhipati, Swaminarayanbapa ni Jay Ghanshyam Maharaj ni Jay Harikrishna Maharaj ni Jay Sahajanand Swami Maharaj ni Jay Bapashree ni Jay Sadgurushree ni Jay Shree Swaminarayan Gadi na Adya Acharya Pravar, Dharmadhurandhar, Sanatan Dharma Samrat, Param Kalyan-kari Jeevanpran Swamibapa ni Jay Chadhi E.. Sone ki chadi Roopan ni masal Jariyal ka jama Motan ki mara Mathe Mugat Kane Kundal Hath ma rumal Charan ma toda Dhamo na Dhami Namo na Nami Anadi Mukta ke Swami Karan ke Karan Rajan ke Rajan Bhupan ke Bhupan Sarvopari Saday pragat che che ne che j, Eva Shree Akshardham na adhipati Shree Swaminarayanbapa ni Jay ho … Jay Jay kar ho…

Verses and chants, describing the glory of the supreme Lord Swamainarayan are sung, whilst the Lord is gently swung in His cradle.

The divine ashirwad of Jeevanpran Swamibapa and Acharya Swamishree are heard, after which devotees are given the opportunity to perform aarti.

The prasad given on this day is Panchajiri, which is made from five main ingredients (panch meaning five) – ground dhania (coriander seeds), suva (dill seeds), goor (jaggery), topru (coconut) and varyari (fennel seeds). All the ingredients are held together with ghee.

The Lord gives darshan seated in the cradle for 6 days.