The 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj were joyously celebrated at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London on Saturday 24 January 2015.
The year-long festivities focusing on Shastriji Maharaj climaxed with an enlightening production exploring the ‘Man’, ‘Mission’ and ‘Message’. The dramatisation was supported with emotive video presentations, devotional songs, and insightful discourses from sadhus, revealing a deeper understanding of Shastriji Maharaj’s life and work.
An interactive exercise to appreciate the personality of Shastriji Maharaj set the platform for the assembly. Amrutkirtan Swami developed this by sharing Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s own words on his guru.
Shastriji Maharaj’s mission was revealed through a panel discussion by sadhus, who spoke of the sacrifice, dedication and faith that Shastriji Maharaj inspired in his sadhus and devotees.
The remarkable task of building five majestic mandirs amidst formidable hardships and challenges was placed into context by Manoharmurti Swami who compared the construction of such mandirs to the resources and manpower that have created some of the most iconic buildings in the world today.
Young children presented Shastriji Maharaj’s message through a medley of delightfully sung bhajans. Satyavrat Swami elaborated upon this by explaining the historical and philosophical background behind Shastriji Maharaj’s departure from Vartal to propagate Akshar-Purushottam upasana as revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
A collage of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s video blessings on Shastriji Maharaj fittingly summarised the programme before the grand finale.
A colourful procession, in which the murti of Shastriji Maharaj was brought inside the assembly hall on a beautifully decorated palanquin, and a vibrant dance, brought the evening to a jubilant conclusion.