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The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha celebrates the festival with great fervor in all mandirs at night. Devotees sing Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swamikirtans and extol the glory of Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami.Five artis are performed during the assembly. Pramukh Swami Maharaj usually celebrates Sharad Punam in the Gondal mandir - built on the sacred site of Gunatitanand Swami's cremation.

It was Yogiji Maharaj who introduced this festival in Gondal along with the ritual of 5 artis. Usually one arti is performed at the time of birth - the Janma mahotsav arti - as for Shriji Maharaj on Chaitra sud 9 and for Shri Krishna on Janmashtami. When asked about the reason for the 4 artis preceding the birth arti, Yogiji Maharaj gleefully replied, 'These 4 artis are in joyful preparation for Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami's birth celebration!' Such was the glory he attributed to Bhagwan Swaminarayan's choicest devotee.

Diwali – one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar will be celebrated with great devotion and splendor. On this day, business-owners close existing account books and open new ones in preparation for the year ahead. Devotees also take stock of their spiritual relationship with Bhagwan and consider any progress or regress they have made in the year past.

The day following Diwali is the beginning of the Hindu New Year. The Hindu New Year is traditionally celebrated with the Annakut – literally meaning, a mountain of food. Every year over 1,000 unique thals (vegetarian delicacies) are offered in devotional gratitude for the past year and to seek blessings for the New Year ahead.  The Annakut offering includes hundreds of items of food, snacks, sweets, pickles, spicy dishes, salads, fruit drinks, and other items devotionally prepared by devotees. We cordially invite you for darshan of the Grand Annakut with family and friends.

At the BAPS Children’s Diwali Celebration, the traditional rituals are combined with patient explanations and hands-on learning to engage a younger audience. Children participate in events ranging games to making small oil lamps which symbolize the triumph of light over darkness. Fireworks kits will be provided to Children.