This year marks 50 years since Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa gave physical embodiment to Shree Swaminarayan Gadi. To celebrate this momentous and auspicious event, Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, Shree Swaminarayan Siddhnat Sajivan Mandal – Nairobi, through inspiration from Acharya Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swamiji Maharaj, organised a night cricket tournament which saw boys and girls, men and women, from ages 5 to 65 play a night cricket tournament from Thursday, 7th April 2022 until Sunday, 10th April 2022.
Over 150 cricketers of all ages took part in this tournament at Jamhuri Sports grounds - Nairobi. All participants and Committee members kicked off the tournament on Thursday, 7th April 2022 with a grand opening ceremony, where Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa was ceremoniously escorted to the pitch on a palanquin, where young devotees performed a welcome dance. Team members alongside committee members performed poojan and aarti to Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa. This then followed a cake cutting ceremony of a beautifully decorated cake with the Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Suvarna Mahotsav logo. Thereafter, Acharya Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swamiji Maharaj commenced the tournament by showering His Divine Blessings upon all participants, volunteers and devotees. He stated that through organising such events we encourage worldwide enlightenment of the Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Mahotsav. 10 men’s teams and 4 ladies teams took part in the tournament. Games began immediately after the opening ceremony. Maha Prashad was served to all the devotees on each day.
On the final day of the tournament, Sunday, 10th April 2022, quarter finals, semi finals and finals were played. Prem Murti Bapa Team C emerged as winners from the ladies teams and Ghanshyam Maharaj Team emerged as the winners from the mens teams. Steve Tikolo, a former member/player of Swamibapa Cricket Club, Kenya, gave a vote of thanks at the end of the games. The tournament was concluded by presenting medals to all the teams and trophies to the winning teams.