With the grace and blessings of Lord Swaminarayan and Akshar murti Gunatitanand Swami, the first ever traditional Swaminarayan Mandir on African soil was inaugurated at Nairobi in Kenya by HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj on 29 August,Sunday. Each and every stone of the Mandir reverberates with the blessings of Pujya Shastriji Maharaj and Pujya Yogiji Maharaj, along with the hard work and determination put in by the devotees of Africa.
The Mandir has been carved and created entirely according to ancient Hindu Shilpashastras. It houses a comprehensive world class exhibition on Hinduism and India, covering an area of 6,000 sq.ft. The Swaminarayan Mandir in Nairobi, inspired by HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj, is the first ever mammoth traditional Mandir in the region.
Venue:
Shree Swaminarayan Mandir,
Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha,
Forest Road,P O Box 40570,Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254 -2-742822 / 743730
Fax: 254-2-742437
The Mandir Mahotsav was spread over four days from 26 August to 29 August, culminating on a Sunday.
26 August, Thursday, Nariyeri Poonam- Rakshabandhan
The first assembly was conducted in the morning, followed by the Rakshabandhan ceremony being performed.
A religious assembly in the evening was accompanied by cultural events highlighting aspects of Indian culture.
27August, Friday
A Ladies assembly was held in the afternoon. A Kirtan Aradhana, a assembly where melodious bhajans were sung by saints and devotees, was held in the evening.
28 August, Saturday
The early morning saw a Yagna for World Peace being organized, concluding at noon. The performance of this yagna stressed the need for World Peace and Harmony.
The Yagna was followed by the afternoon procession, the Shobha Yatra, through the streets of the city. The Shobha Yatra serves to grace parts of the city with the divine gaze and bliss of the Murtis which are then installed in the mandir.
29 August, Sunday
The crowning glory of the festival was its culmination in the Idol installation ceremony. HDH Pramukh Swami Maharaj performed the ceremony to the accompaniment of due rites and rituals. Shlokas were recited, the Murtis installed, and the first Aarti performed.
The morning ceremony was immediately followed by an assembly where the huge gathering of saints and devotees was addressed by dignitaries and then blessed by Swamishri's discourse.