Janmashtami Raas

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Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bolton – Suvarna Mahotsav Day 3 - Mangla Aarti

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Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bolton – Suvarna Mahotsav Day 3 - Janmashtami Ustav

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Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bolton – Suvarna Mahotsav Day 3 - Samuh Raas

Janmashtami was celebrated in the presence of Acharya Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swamiji Maharaj and eminent Sants on the evening of 20th of August 2022 to kick-start the Day 3 celebrations in honour of Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bolton Suvarna Mahotsav, commemorating 50 years since Gurudev Muktajeevan Swamibapa first visited the UK in 1970.

Janmashtami is observed as the manifestation day of Lord Shree Swaminarayan’s Guru - Sadguru Shree Ramanand Swami in Samvat 1795, in the holy city of Ayodhya. The remarkable aspect of his manifestation is that he was not born from the womb of a mother. He simply appeared, at the home of father Ajay, and mother Sumati.

Shree Ramanand Swami was sent by the Lord to create the platform of the Satsang and to announce the forthcoming arrival of the supreme Lord Shree Swaminarayan. The day’s importance is amplified as it was also the day in Samvat 1976 when Jeevanpran Abji Bapashree established the Satsang Mahasabha to protect the Faith and its assets.

Lord Shree Swaminarayan was seated on a decorated cradle (paranyu) and gently swung to the accompaniment of jubilant singing of kirtans to form the Janmashtami Utsav. Aarti and Thaal was offered with the traditional Thaal being panchajiri.

After the Janmashtami celebrations concluded, all disciples headed to the hall, where the Samuh Raas program was set to begin. Devotees heartedly welcomed Acharya Swamiji Maharaj into the hall with thrilling introductory kirtans to set the festive atmosphere for the evening ahead. The live Raas commenced with numerous Sants and disciples playing a host of instruments and the singing of both new and traditional kirtans. Bapa bestowed His Divine Darshan upon all the musicians on stage, as well as the hundreds who danced around Him in celebration of our Golden Jubilee in Bolton.

Ved Ratna Swamishree Maharaj taught us that “Even ordinary music has the ability to evoke delight to all those who listen to it. But when that music is embellished with devotion, its strength is amplified in a remarkable manner”. For that reason, Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa commenced the practice of teaching devotional dancing in order to please the supreme Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa.