As part of the ongoing celebrations to commemorate the birth centenary of Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj, a series of kirtan bhakti programmes began at various mandirs and centres across the UK and Europe in December 2017.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj was born on Magshar Sud Atham – the eighth day of the bright half of the Hindu month Magshar. Special kirtan programmes began on Tuesday 26 December 2017 (Posh Sud Atham according to the Hindu calendar). This marked the first in a series of kirtan bhakti events to be held every Sud Atham, and which continued in January 2018.
Children, youths and senior devotees joined together to sing bhajans extolling the life and saintly virtues of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The events also brought together talented musicians who played a variety of musical instruments to accompany the devotional singing.
In addition to the ‘Sud Atham Kirtan Bhakti’ programmes, 100 kirtan aradhanas will take place at mandirs, centres and various other locations across the UK and in Europe until the finale of the centennial celebrations in December 2020.
The aim of these aradhanas is to pay tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s selfless service to humanity. These aradhanas will also serve to develop devotional talent within individuals and foster unity within groups.
The initiative will climax with a final aradhana that will bring together singers and instrumentalists from across the UK and Europe, to provide a fitting and uplifting conclusion to this devotional initiative.