Gurupoornima - Africa

Ashad sud poonam is the auspicious Gurupoonam, one of the 3 main annual festivals celebrated in Maninagar Dhaam. Devotees gather and pay homage to our beloved Gurudev Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa. 

“Guru Guru to sahoo kahe pan Guru ek Sahajanand, Pragat malyaa ne haathaj zhaalyo, teno chhe aanand” (Shree Nirgunanandji Brahamchari Maharaj); which translates to ”Many may be called a Guru, but the one and only true Guru is Sahajanand (Lord SwaminarayanBapa Swamibapa). Only those who have resorted unto Him, will attain immense happiness and eternal bliss."

Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa says, “Guru veenaa gnaan nahi” which translates to; “Without a Guru, knowledge cannot be attained.” Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa  also explains the precise meaning of the Sanskrit word guru; ‘Gu’ means andhkaar (darkness) and “Ru’ means prakash (light). Thus, he who enlightens the ignorant, i.e., shines light to those in darkness, is called a Guru. It is only Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa who can enlighten us ignorant souls to the supreme bliss of eternal happiness, the endless peace of the supreme Lord. Thus our supreme Guru can only be Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa.

This year Gurupoonam fell on Wednesday the 13^th of July 2022. Devotees in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kampala celebrated this day with great joy.  

The day’s activities commenced from 5:30pm with Sandhya Niyams and Kirtan Bhakti. Thereafter, was a Swagat Yatra from H.H. Swamibapa Hall. Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa was   elegantly escorted out from H.H. Swamibapa Hall on a Palanquin after which Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band- Nairobi gave Him a guard of honour. The Band led the Swagat Yatra towards the temple. Closely following the band were ‘Sahi Swagat’ members carrying ceremonial offerings of dry fruits, fresh fruits and flower garlands followed by Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa escorted to the temple hall, till the sihasan, on a palanquin carried by the sponsors of the event. Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa’s Palanquin was gracefully placed on a stand where the members of ‘Sahi Swagat’ placed their offerings at the lotus feet of Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa followed by aarti. The temple poojari performed the cake cutting ceremony and offered cake to Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa. On this auspicious day all the devotees then pleased Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa, Prem Murti Bapa and Acharya Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swamiji Maharaj by offering poojan and aarti . 

The day ended with Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa’s Divine Ashirwad and finally prasad was served to all. 

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Gurupoonam Celebrations - Nairobi 2022