Early memories of being rocked to sleep in cradles, accompanied by lullabies and sweet tunes, have a profound impact on a child's character and nature. These moments shape the baby's personality and can influence their entire life. The Hindola festival, inspired by the swinging episodes of Shree Krishna's life, provides devotees with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the divine darshan of the Lord's murti, experiencing a tranquil state of mind while meditating upon Him. This year’s four Satsang Prashansa Shibir teams took the responsibility of designing and bringing the hindola to life. In 'The Apprentice fashion,' each team was tasked with the challenge of formulating an idea and presenting it to our decoration team, who acted as the panel of experts.
In a harmonious union, the teams have collaborated to craft these truly remarkable artworks, dedicated to pleasing Lord Swaminarayan Bapa Swamibapa. Throughout this journey, they have learned the value of teamwork, cooperation, and have been rewarded spiritually for their efforts. Team members of varying ages actively participated, contributing their ideas, big and small, as each individual's perspective adds value to the project. Despite fierce competition between teams, there was a remarkable willingness among everyone to support and assist each other. Witnessing the dedication and time they invested, along with the grace of the Lord, has been truly awe-inspiring as the fruitful results came to fruition.
Team Ghanshyam Maharaj created a beautiful swing crafted with origami, mirrors and mandala art. The team's choice of origami finds its roots in the ancient Japanese art of paper folding, known for its ability to promote inner peace and calm oneself. They adopted this theme to symbolize the purpose of dhyan, which aims to create a profound sense of peace for the mind and soul. Mirrors were chosen for their ability to reflect light and reveal not just our physical selves, but also to signify the presence of the divine within each of us.
Team Abji Bapashree seated the Lord under a blossom tree artificially assembled with melted crayons. The melting of crayons was used to portray the infusion of colour in everyone’s lives. With ingenuity, the team employed art to portray their theme of nature, much like it has been done for over 30,000 years. An eye-catching blossom family tree beautifully intertwined our beloved Gurus with the Guru Parampara gracefully descending down from the branches.
Team Swamishree swayed the Lord deep in the forest, under a canopy, beckoning animals from far and wide for His Divine Darshan. Utilizing string and mirrors, they depicted Nilkanth Varni’s Forest Expedition and the exquisite animals he may have encountered and blessed along the way. Illuminating Nilkanth Varni emphasized that he was the most splendid aspect of the entire expedition.
Team Swamibapa created a Hindola delicately decorated with rolled up paper, bringing vivid memories of The Lake District to life and taking us on a celestial journey to the planets. The voyage begins at the base where Prem Murti Bapa and Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa sit inside Miss Cumbria, a boat graced with a plaque in honour of Swamibapa. As we ascend the Hindolo, we embark on a captivating journey passing through a plane, a hot air balloon and a rocket until we reach the moon and the planets. The thoughtful concept serves as a tribute to our remarkable Guru, Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa, with a magnificent 3D Smruti Mandir standing proudly next to the Hindolo, complementing The Lakes displays.