The festival of Janmashtami is significant in the Swaminarayan Faith, to mark the manifestation day of Sadguru Shree Ramamand Swami – the Lord’s own Guru. The day’s importance is amplified for the disciples of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi as it was also the day in Samvat 1976 (1920 CE) when Jeevanpran Abji Bapashree established the Satsang Mahasabha to protect the Faith and its assets.

In Maninagardham, the manifestation celebrations were held at midnight, when Shree Harikrishna Maharaj was seated in a silver ornate swing and offered thaal. The ‘Manifestation Aarti’ was performed by Acharya Swamiji Maharaj, whilst the sants and disciples sang to the accompaniment of musical instruments.

The traditional prasad of ‘Panchajiri’, the sweet powder made of five items: coriander seeds, cumin, coconut, ghee and ghor, was then offered to the Lord.