Wednesday 6 October 2021 marked 114 years since Gurudev Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa manifested upon the Earth. The event is celebrated at all Mandirs of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan around the world, as an opportunity for disciples to offer poojan to our beloved Guru. 

After nearly two years of the Mandir being closed to visitors or drastically restricted in numbers, this year’s celebration at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury felt far more normal. Shree Muktjeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band led a Swagat Yatra in which Gurudev Swamibapa was carried into the Mandir held aloft in a golden palanquin; everyone was able to offer aarti and poojan to Swamibapa inside the Mandir; young disciples were able to partake in the Swagat Yatra; and those who attended in person were able to celebrate communally. These were just some of the aspects of this important occasion that worshippers had missed in recent months.  

After Gurudev Swamibapa arrived into the Mandir, the sponsors for the day adorned Him with a beautiful flower chaadar and moogat, before offering aarti and poojan to Him. A special cake was then cut and offered to Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, before the entire congregations was able to offer poojan and aarti to Swamibapa.

All then enjoyed video darshan from 1979. This was Jeevanpran Swamibapa’s final visit to the UK and it was during His 72^nd birthday celebrations that year, that Ved Ratna Acharya Swamishree adorned Him with a magnificent moogat – a famous darshan that is immortalised in a famous photograph of Gurudev Swamibapa. On that occasion, Acharya Swamishree Maharaj delivered an address to the London congregations, explaining who Swamibapa truly was – Lord Shree Swaminarayan Himself.