A yagna for World Peace was held at Swaminarayan Nagar this morning. Amidst Vedic chanting, 1460 yajmans (participants) ritually performed the yagna ceremony around 164 yagna kunds. Pramukh Swami Maharaj worshipped the murtis of Anand Mandir and murtis of seven Swaminarayan mandirs to be consecrated later.
In the afternoon a 2.5 km long procession of fabulous floats with the murtis of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Ghanshyam Maharaj, Laxminarayan Dev, Ganapatiji, Hanumanji and Guru Parampara rolled through the streets of Anand. The 3-hour long procession comprised of costumed children and youths dancing to the rhythm of bhajans, sadhus and devotees chanting the Swaminarayan dhun, elephants, camel carts, decorated bullock carts, a motorcycle cavalcade and women singing auspicious bhajans.
The citizens of Anand enthusiastically watched and welcomed the colorful spectacle.