CHINO HILLS, CA: On Sunday, March 29 the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills celebrated the auspicious occasion of the 234th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, recognized as Swaminarayan Jayanti. According to the Hindu calendar, Chaitra Sud Nom also marks the birth of Bhagwan Ram. This year’s program commemorated the occasion following the theme Bhakta Thavu Bhagwan Na – on how to become an ideal devotee of Bhagwan.
Local youth volunteers organized the Swaminarayan Jayanti festivities. Children and youth dedicated weeks leading up to the event to organize a professional stage production. With classical devotional songs and dance as well as spiritual discourses, they illustrated examples of exemplary devotees from Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Bhagwan Ram’s time, making them relevant to modern day. The program took the audience on a journey through time, highlighting the meaning of being a true devotee and citing examples such as Sitaji and Hanumanji.
With the mission of uplifting the moral standard of society at a time when adharma once prevailed, Bhagwan Swaminarayan helped enlighten a generation of people by describing the movement to uplift women to the practice of ahimsa (principle of non-violence). The festivities aimed to connect the audience with the life’s work of Bhagwan Swaminarayan in honoring his legacy. Today, the continuation of this journey is seen through His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj who continues to inspire devotees to lead a life built upon spirituality and higher purpose.
India Post News Service
