Friday 18th March 2022 saw Fuldolotsav celebrations take place at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury – marking the first time the Mandir community has been able to enjoy Samuh Raas in some two years.  

Fuldolotsav takes place on the day after Holi, when all over India these events are celebrated by spraying coloured water and powder over one another - representative of the beautiful spring flowers blossoming at this time of year. While there are many ‘paroksh’ myths, legends and histories behind this day, for disciples of the ‘pratyaksh’ Lord Shree Swaminarayan, this festival is all about defeating the internal enemies that would otherwise detract us from our devotion to the Lord.

Due to the recent global pandemic, there have been many restrictions in the way that the Mandir community has been able to mark auspicious occasions and celebrate religious festivals over the last two years – one of which is the inability to enjoy mass devotional dancing, or Samuh Raas. It is with little wonder then, why today’s celebrations were particularly joyous and energetic, as disciples young and old danced around the Lord as Swamibapa Orchestra performed a medley of kirtans. It was obvious that everyone had missed this kind of bhakti, and disciples’ pent up appetite to devotionally dance was on clear display, to the pleasure of Lord Shree Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa.