The Vasant Panchami festival and the 6th Patotsav of BAPS Mandir, Auckland was celebrated on 17 February 2008. It coincided with the great occasion on 17 February 2002, when Pramukh Swami Maharaj consecrated the Auckland Mandir.
In the morning a grand mahapuja was organised in which 172 people participated. An Annakut of 111 vegetarian food items was offered to the deities.
The evening assembly commenced at 4:30 pm and featured bhajans by yuvaks and speeches on the life and work of Shastriji Maharaj. The celebration assembly of 400 devotees was attended by Minister of Information Technology and Communication Honorary Mr. David Cunliffe. Arkesh Patel, a member of the Kishore Mandal was felicitated for securing first place in the internationally renowned Cambridge Exams for consecutive two years. He stood first out of 8 million students worldwide.
The celebration assembly concluded with arti.