His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree commenced the four-day festival in Surat, the Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav, by performing the Mangla Aarti ceremony to the supreme Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa. Following this, Acharya Swamishree presided on His throne on the stage in the Sabha Mandap.
Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav - Day 1
Thursday 12 February 2009, Samvat 2065 Maha Vad 3
Morning Images
Evening Images
Morning Video
Evening Video
Morning
His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree commenced the four-day festival in Surat, the Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav, by performing the Mangla Aarti ceremony to the supreme Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa. Following this, Acharya Swamishree presided on His throne on the stage in the Sabha Mandap.
Acharya Swamishree initiated the main scripture recital of the festival, of the Rahasyarth Pradipika Tika sah Vachanamrut scripture, and then gave His divine blessings to the thousands that had gathered in the congregation. He then proceeding to an annex near the main Temple, where He inaugurated the Yagna ceremony. Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band London was waiting outside as Acharya Swamishree exited and presided on an ornately decorated gold palanquin. Having saluted Acharya Swamishree, Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band led Him to the entrance to the Sabha Mandap, where He was greeted and saluted by His Holiness Swamibapa Pipe Band Nairobi. The Band then led Acharya Swamishree to the stage.
Several eminent guests were also welcomed to the first day of the festival, and were duly saluted by His Holiness Swamibapa Pipe Band. The guests included:
Ranjeetbhai Gilitewala – Mayor of Surat.
Nanubhai Vanani and Kishorbhai Vakabhai – Gujarat Dhara Sabha
Mukeshbhai Dalal – Chairman of the Standing Committee
Bhimjibhai Budhana, Mansinghbhai Patel and Babubhai Jirawala – Leader, President and Vice President of the Surat BJP political party.
Prafulbhai Panseria, Arvindbhai Godhani and Nitinbhai Bhajiawala – Surat Councillors.
Bharatbhai Satsiya – President of the Sadar Patel Education Trust
Jeerubhai Dhamelia – Primary Education Committee
His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree then showered His ashirwad on all.
The morning’s events concluded with everyone taking Prasad lunch.
Afternoon
His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree inaugurated the recital of the Bapashree Ni Vato scripture on the first afternoon of the Mahotsav.
Granting access to education, and establishing educational centres, was an one of Jeevanpran Swamibapa’s many societal endeavours. Acharya Swamishree has followed in these inspirational footsteps and has continued to build kindergartens, schools and colleges, particularly in areas where education will be granted to those who would not have otherwise have access to it. For example, Acharya Swamishree has recently established Shree Muktajeevan Art and Commerce College, with a girls’ hostel at the College opening next year. The afternoon’s guests have all been instrumental in the dissemination of education, and were recognised by Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan for this. The guests included:
Dr R. Zanzarkya of the Jilla Shikhshandhi
Dr C.Z. Shah and Dineshbhai Bhatt – President and Trustee respectively of the Jeevan Bharat Trust
Babubhai Radia – President of the Sarkal Patel Vidhya Bhavan
Arvindbhai Bhalada – President of the Viskhatan Vidya Bhavan
Vanjeebhai Chawda – President of the Anuspuri Janjani Mochana
Arwindbhai Bhalada – President of Vishvidha Bhavan
Acharya Swamishree honoured the guests with prasad, paaghs and flower garlands, and then showered His divine blessings on all.
On behalf of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree donated water coolers to the Border Station at the India-Pakistan border at Wagha.
The afternoon sabha concluded with the disciples on whose behalf the scripture recitals were being held, performing aarti to Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa.
Evening
The first evening of the Murti Pratishtha Mahotsav took place at the grounds of Dharuka College, nearby to Shree Swaminarayan Temple Surat. The evening’s events were an eclectic range of music, dance and ballet – all performed by disciples of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi from across the world and Jeevanpran Swamibapa’s beloved sants.
At 8pm, His Divine Holiness Acharya Swamishree arrived at the College site, where he was greeted by the combined Band of Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band London and His Holiness Swamibapa Pipe Band Nairobi. The Bands saluted Acharya Swamishree and led Him into the congregation, where thousands had turned out to see the evening’s events.
The full itinerary of the performances was: