The third BAPS Mandir in North Carolina was inaugurated on Saturday, September 7, 2013 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. Pujya Yagnavallabhdas Swami, Pujya Shantmurtidas Swami along with other Swamis performed the inauguration ceremony which was attended by devotees from throughout the region.
The two day festivities began with a kirtan aradhana on September 6. Nagar Yatra, a colorful procession parading the sacred images in beautifully crafted floats took place the next day. Devotees, young and old, dressed in traditional Indian clothes danced and sang as they walked through neighboring streets. Many residents came out along the way to watch.
After the Nagar Yatra, the Murti Sthapan Vidhi and the vedic mahapuja took place. The ceremony culminated with the placement of the divine murtis of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami, Shri Radha-Krishna, Guru Parampara, Shri Sita-Ram-Hanumanji, and Shri Shiv-Parvati-Ganeshji. These murtis were consecrated by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Ahmedabad, India on March 4, 2013.
During the inaugural assembly, devotees cherished memories of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s visit to High Point in 1977, and Greensboro in 1984 and 1988.