Bartlett - Merely a few years ago, on March 28th, 1999, The Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (B.A.P.S.) Chicago, enthusiastically performed a traditional Khat Murat or ground-breaking ceremony to commence construction of the now vibrantly standing Haveli Complex at Rt. 59 and Army Trail Rd. Celebrated with great joy and anticipation, this ceremony marked the inauguration of new beginnings - a time to look to the pious and prosperous future awaiting us. Only a year and a half later, thousands of devotees physically began to see that miraculous future open its gates to our lives as the initial and long-awaited phase of the Mandir Complex had finally been completed - the Shri Swaminarayan Haveli had opened its doors to all awaiting its commencement. In honor of this event, B.A.P.S. extolled what it called the Haveli Mahotsav for a period of 10 days, October 20th - 29th, 2000, illustrating and giving indication to the fact that more auspicious times do indeed lie ahead. In this timely manner, on November 9th, 2002, B.A.P.S. commenced construction of the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, in the presence of Pujya Mahant Swami, during the high-spirited and zestful occasion of Diwali. The first carved stone of America's upcoming first traditional Hindu Mandir was layed on its construction site. A traditional mahapuja, prayer ceremony, for this event had been carried out. The next step in the long awaited Mandir Complex project was underway. In this way, from one step to the next, devotees witnessed and partook in moment after moment, and year and year, of divine celebrations such as this.
Hence, now, in April of 2003, we enjoyed and celebrated another exciting and auspicious occasion in the construction of the mandir - a traditional mahapuja sanctifying the eleven Kumbhis to the five central shrines of the upcoming mandir. At 3:00 pm, on Saturday, April 12th, a ceremony was held to consecrate each shrine that had been placed above the foundation of the mandir. Each of the five shrines repesent the area exactly underneath where the murtis of God will be placed. Hence, these five areas were properly purified through a mahapuja before any of the murtis would be layed in these sections. Incidentally, Friday, April 11th, marked the grand and auspicious day of Ramnavmi, the 222nd birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Thus, simultaneously with the performance of the mahapuja on Saturday for the mandir, B.A.P.S. also celebrated the auspicious day of Ram Navmi and Harijayanti on the 12th as well. Thousands of devotees and well-wishers alike came to partake in the celebrations as well as pay their respects to Shri Swaminarayan Bhagwan and Ram Bhagwan. A three-hour cultural program, held from 4 to 7 pm in the Haveli Prayer Hall, was completely organized, prepared, compered and performed by the B.A.P.S. youth. Program highlights consisted of numerous dances, skits, and bhajans extolling the greatness, glory, and the spiritual accomplishments of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. The theme of this year's program was "Shikshapatri," a sacred book of ethics, consisting of 212 spiritually potent verses written in Sanskrit by Bhagwan Swaminarayan Himself on February 11th, 1826 CE. It consists of the essence of Hindu moral codes of conduct for everyday life. The very essence of this divine book was extolled and shared with devotees during Saturday's program. In addition, an exhibition, detailing the foundation, the essence, the background, and several verses of the book was prepared and displayed for devotees to physically walk through, personally experience, and learn from.The exhibition was prepared, set up and presented by the Girls' Youth wing (Yuvati Mandal). Saturday's evening program concluded with the spiritual blessings of H.D.H. Pramukh Swami Maharaj and arti. Thereafter Thakorji was honored by the women's wing. The monumental devotional fervour of the female devotees was experienced and felt by hundreds of well-wishers. Thereafter, a garba was also held for the ladies. Thus, the weekend celebrations took place on a grand scale in which devotees, guests, and visitors alike gathered together to share joy and enthusiasm in being part of such extraordinary beginnings and propitious events. Bhagwan Swaminarayan's birthday could not have been celebrated with more grandeur and joy than with the hand in hand ceremony of the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir's central shrines carried out simultaneously.