Upcoming Events

Sharad Purnima is celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu lunar month Ashwin, and honors the significant role of the moon in Hinduism. It is the birth anniversary of Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami, the first successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, and is a spiritually significant day for BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Join us in a celebration that includes special discourses and bhajans.

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.

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 ceremony,  known  as Chopda  Pujan, will  take  place  in  the  evening.  Hundreds  of  new  account books – in  a  variety  of  paper  and  electronic  forms – are sanctified  through  the  showering  offlowers petals and rice grains amid the chanting of Vedic hymns and prayers.

At the start of the Hindu New Year, devotees arrive at mandir for early morning darshan of the beautifully adorned sacred images and to take part in the New Year's first arti.

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.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj is an inspiration for countless people around the globe. During the course of his lifetime, he has personally counseled countless people, having read and replied to over half a million letters from individuals of all walks of life.  He inspired thousands to lead lives grounded in spiritually and selfless service.

The 98th birthday of Pramukh Swami Maharaj will be celebrated in a special event by women for women on December 16, 2018 at BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, San Antonio.