Inspirator: His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj
Shree Swaminarayan Gadi
Shakotsav celebrations at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bolton
Preparations are complete for celebrating the shakotsav festival in Shree Swaminarayan Mandir BoltonPreparations are complete for the village setting decorations with vibrant colours and a homely feelPreparations are complete for the village setting decorations with vibrant colours and a homely feelPreparations are complete for the village setting decorations with vibrant colours and a homely feelOne of the many fantastic decorationsThe deep frying pan to be used to prepare the 'shak'Divine darshan of Lord Shree Swaminarayan, Jeevanpran Shree Abji Bapashree and Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa adorned in 'vagha' made from tapioca seeds, black peppercorns, cardomom seeds and seasame seeds at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir BoltonDivine darshan of Lord Shree Swaminarayan adorned in 'vagha' made from tapioca seeds, black peppercorns, cardomom seeds and seasame seeds at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir BoltonDivine darshan of Jeevanpran Shree Abji Bapashree adorned in 'vagha' made from tapioca seeds, black peppercorns, cardomom seeds and seasame seeds at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir BoltonDivine darshan of Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa adorned in 'vagha' made from tapioca seeds, black peppercorns, cardomom seeds and seasame seeds at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir BoltonDivine darshan of Shree Harikrishna Maharaj adorned in 'vagha' made from tapioca seeds, black peppercorns, cardomom seeds and seasame seedsHis Divne Holiness Acharya Swamishree offers freshly churned butter to Lord Shree SwaminarayanDivine darshan of His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree holding freshly churned butter and delicious rotlaDisciples dressed in vibrant coloured village outfits play traditional instruments and sing devotional songs as His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree is escorted to the stageDisciples who have sponsored the festival escort His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree to the grand stageDisciples who have sponsored the festivalDisciples who have sponsored the festival escort His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree to the grand stageDisciples who have sponsored the festival escort His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree to the grand stageDisciples carry various delicious vegetables into the festival hallDisciples carry various delicious vegetables into the festival hallDisciples who have sponsored the festival escort His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree to the grand stageDivine darshan of His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree on the vegetable cartDisciples carry various vegetables for the shakotsavDisciples pull the vegetable cart with His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree towards the grand stageDivine darshan of Acharya Swamishree seated on the vegetable cartDisciples dressed in colourful village dress perform dances welcoming His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree to the stageSant Shiromani Shree Gurupriyadasji Swami is the master of ceremonies for the festival programmeDivine darshan of 'Nand' padvi sants offering delicious wholesome 'shak' and rotla to Lord Shree SwaminarayanDivine darshan of Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa dining on shakotsav sweet and savoury itemsA disciples offers a 12kg water melonDivine darshan of Acharya SwamishreeHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree showers all with sweet plum tomato prasadThe magnificent stageDivine darshan of Lord Shree Swaminarayan feasting on freshly churned butter as a young adorable childYoung disciples catch cherry tomato prasadDivine darshan of Acharya Swamishree with Lord Shree Swaminarayan feasting on freshly churned butter as a young adorable childHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree offers delicious rotla to Lord Shree SwaminarayanDivine darshan of Acharya Swamishree with Lord Shree Swaminarayan feasting on freshly churned butter as a young adorable childHis Divine Holiness Acharaya Swamishree draws water from a well as part of the village sceneHis Divine Holiness Acharaya Swamishree draws water from a well as part of the village sceneHis Divine Holiness Acharaya Swamishree draws water from a well as part of the village sceneHis Divine Holiness Acharaya Swamishree draws water from a well as part of the village sceneHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree carries the raw material for churning butterHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree carries the raw material for churning butterHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree uses traditional village equipment to churn fresh butterHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree uses a traditional hand driven stone grinder to crush fresh milletHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree uses a traditional hand driven stone grinder to crush fresh milletHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree uses traditional village equipment to churn fresh butterWonderful delicious freshly churned butterDivine darshan of Acharya SwamishreeHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree offers freshly churned butter to Shree Harikrishna MaharajDivine darshan of Acharya SwamishreeWonderful delicious freshly churned butterHundreds of disciples fill the hall to capacityDisciples offer a garland of various whole fruits and vegetables to His Divine Holiness Acharya SwamishreeVarious vegetablesDivine darshan of Acharya SwamishreeThe five divine nectars held in a bow carved from the remains of a melonDisciples bathe the divine lotus feet of Lord Shree Swaminarayan with the five nectarsDisciples bathe the divine lotus feet of Lord Shree Swaminarayan with the five nectarsDisciples bathe the divine lotus feet of His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree with the five nectarsYoung disciples perform a traditional dance to please the LordYoung disciples peform a traditional devotional villagers dance to please Lord Shree Swaminaryanbapa SwamibapaYoung disciples peform a traditional devotional villagers dance to please Lord Shree Swaminaryanbapa SwamibapaVery young disciples enact a small drama to please Lord Shree SwaminarayanVery young disciples enact a small drama to please Lord Shree SwaminarayanDivine darshan of Acharya SwamishreeDisciples dance to please the LordThe intricately decorated footware offered to His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree as part of the celebrationsDisciples enact a vegetable merchant throwing various vegetables to the delight of all presentDisciples enact a vegetable merchant throwing various vegetables to the delight of all presentDisciples perform a mini drama productionDisciples perform a mini drama productionDisciples perform a mini drama productionDivine darshan of His Divine Holiness Acharya SwamishreeHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree cooks delicious aubergine 'shak'Talented disciples play various percussion instrumentsHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree cooks delicious aubergine 'shak'His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree cooks delicious aubergine 'shak'His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree cooks delicious aubergine 'shak'Delicious aubergine 'shak'His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree rolls a 'rotlo'His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree cooks a 'rotlo'Disciples capture elements of these celebrations on various mobile devicesYoung disciples offer various vegetables for shakotsavYoung disciples offer various vegetables for shakotsavDivine darshan of Acharya Swamishree with a delicious aubergineHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree showers His divine blessings on allDisciples hail the divine name of Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa at the start of Hid Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree's divine blessingsHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree showers His divine blessings on allDisciples listen attentively as Acharya Swamishree showers His divine blessingsDivine darshan of His Divine Holiness Acharya SwamishreeDivine darshan of Acharya SwamishreeThe magnificent view from the back of the assemblyDisciples dressed in wonderful Indian village outfitsDisciples hail Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa at the conlcusion of His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree's divine blessingsDisciples hail Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa at the conlcusion of His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree's divine blessingsA close up of the very large mrudangSants play various traditional insturments and sing devotional songs to please the LordDisciples play various games to please Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and His Divine Holiness Acharya SwamishreeDivine darshan of Acharya SwamishreeDisciples play various games to please Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and His Divine Holiness Acharya SwamishreeDisciples play various games to please Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and His Divine Holiness Acharya SwamishreeDivine darshan of Acharya SwamishreeDisciples play various games to please Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and His Divine Holiness Acharya SwamishreeDisciples enjoy the gamesDisciples play various games to please Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and His Divine Holiness Acharya SwamishreeDivine darshan of His Divine Holiness Acharya SwamishreeDivine darshan of Acharya SwamishreeDisciples danceHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree and Sants perform aarti to Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa SwamibapaSants sing traditional devotional songs as part of the festivitiesDisciples who have sponsored the festival perform aarti to Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and His Divine Holiness Acharya SwamishreeDisciples perfrom aarti to Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa SwamibapaDivine darshan of Acharya SwamishreeSant Shiromani Shree Gurupriyadasji Swami is the master of ceremonies for the festival programmeHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree blesses all disciples with various fruits and vegetablesHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree blesses all disciples with various fruits and vegetablesHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree blesses all Sants and disciplesHis Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree blesses all Sants and disciplesDisciples enjoy the Shakotsav celebrationsDisciples escort His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree after a wonderful summer's evening celebrationDivine darshan of Lord Shree Swaminarayan dining on delicious shakotsav dishes
Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan © Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan