Shakotsav was celebrated in Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bolton on Saturday 6th June 2015. The temple was turned into a rural village to commemorate a 200 year old festival to mark the occasion when Lord Shree Swaminarayan fed masses in the village of Loya, in Gujarat.
Lord Shree Swaminarayan himself cooked an aubergine curry which required a huge 360kg of ghee and 1200kg of aubergine. Lord Shree Swaminarayan fed his disciples and the people of Loya to demonstrate the virtues of selfless service for the benefit of the poor and the needy.
The temple was recreated into village scenes using props sent from India. Some of the props included a water well, a stone fire and a traditional stone grinding wheel. Acharya Swamishree Maharaj was warmly welcomed into the village scene on a decorated vegetable cart.
Devotional dances were performed and young disciples spoke about the festival. A special devotional kirtan (hymn) composed for the shakutsav was sung and music played by talented and skilled sants and disciples. Acharya Swamishree Maharaj cooked the aubergine curry and flat bread made out of millet flour. Prasad was given to all present.
Acharya Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swamiji Maharaj is the current spiritual leader of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan. He is the heir to Acharya Shree Purushottampriyadasji Swamishree Maharaj, and sixth in the lineage of ascetic Acharyas, which descends directly from Lord Shree Swaminarayan.
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Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bolton
161 Deane Road
Bolton, Greater Manchester
BL3 5AH
Tel: +44 1204 533 558
Tel: +44 7529 981422 / Bolton@SwaminarayanGadi.com
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