Wednesday 6 July 2022 | Ashadh Sud 7, Samvat 2078
Wed 6 Jul 2022
Sants and disciples gathered at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Maninagar on Saturday 3 October to celebrate Sharad Poonam with Acharya Swamishree.
After the start of the harvest season on Dushera comes Sharad Poonam, traditionally regarded as being the when the first full moon is seen after the monsoon season has ended. On this day, the newly harvested grain is offered to the Lord and then eaten. During the night of Sharad Poonam, people dance to devotional music in the village square under the moonlight. Displays of silver ornaments are arranged to reflect the bright light of the moon everywhere, creating a cooling and calming atmosphere.
In accordance with this tradition, sants and disciples gathered at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Maninagar on Saturday 3 October to celebrate Sharad Poonam with Acharya Swamishree.
A splendid display of lights and steel utensils was arranged in the grounds, at the centre of which presided Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and Acharya Swamishree.
Sants and disciples danced to devotional music, after which doodh powa was offered to the Lord and distributed as prasad.
Acharya Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swamiji Maharaj is the current spiritual leader of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan. He is the heir to Acharya Shree Purushottampriyadasji Swamishree Maharaj, and sixth in the lineage of ascetic Acharyas, which descends directly from Lord Shree Swaminarayan.