Wednesday 6 December 2023 | Kartik Vad 9, Samvat 2080

Wed 6 Dec 2023

Acharya Swamishree explains that, “The hindola festival is an opportunity for each devotee to become engrossed in the Lord's murti. As you stand in front of the hindoro, gently swinging the Lord and having the divine darshan of the enchanting God, you can quickly become immersed into His lustrous murti and experience a tranquil state of mind. Hindolas are thus a mode through which to meditate unto the Lord.”

Devotees at Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, Shree Swaminarayan Siddhant Sajivan Mandal – Nairobi started preparing for the festivities months before they commenced on the 29th of July 2018 (Ashadh Vad Bij) for one month till the 28th of August 2018 (Shravan Vad Bij).

 This year the first hindolo was composed of beads, pins, sequins and sponge balls whereby disciples of all age and gender created beautiful sequined sponge balls to form a Chandelier.

The next hindolo showcased the jewels of Africa; the Big Five and the wild animal where devotees carved shapes of a Lion, Rhinoceros, Elephant, Tortoise, Ostrich amongst many others and artistically hand drew mandala art on each of them.

Stationary supplies were brought together to form melodious Musical instruments. Some of which were a violin, Piano, Xylophone and a Harp. Keeping in mind the plastic waste pollution increasing by the day in todays world, diciples gathered plastic bottles and used it as a theme to artistically create the continents in this world for the fourth hindolo. Other recycled items also included auto parts.

The final hindolo was composed of a family tree which displayed various mandirs of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan all over the world. Disciples also celebrated Rakshabandhan by adding Rakhis and Pompoms to decorate the Hindolo.