Diwali

Diwali is a festival of lights celebrated during the last day of the Hindu calendar. Disciples at Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, Shree Swaminarayan Siddhant Sajivan Mandal - Nairobi started preparing for these celebrations with great joy.

On 22nd October, the youth gathered at Swamibapa Education Center to make the preparations more fun by showing their creative side while making Diwali Cards, Aarti Thalis, flower arrangements and beautiful rangolis. On the other hand, members of the community gathered in the temple to prepare the Maha Prasad for the Grand Annakut. A variety of Indian sweets and Savories were made.

Diwali fell on the 30th of October 2016, which was also the day when Chopda Poojan is conducted; is a day for everyone not only to reconcile one's financial books but also the spiritual books. People should pray to God to forgive us for all the mistakes this past year and to give the wisdom and strength to not make them the next year.

The variety of Indian sweets and Savories were systematically placed at the lotus feet of Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa in form of an Annakut. Hindus from all over Nairobi flocked at Swamibapa Temple for the Divine Darshan of Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and receive blessings with Annakut Prasad.

The celebrations commenced with devotees performing meditation to purify one’s soul, followed by Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapas’ divine blessings, Sandhya Aarti and niyams were recited. Thereafter Chopda Poojan was conducted.

The next day, 31st of October, Hindus all over the world welcomed the New Year - Samvat 2073. Devotees gathered to seek blessings from Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and ask for forgiveness for any bad deeds attained; knowingly or unknowingly; and prayed for better strength, better knowledge and better power and welcome the year 2073 in a better way.