The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Orlando, FL celebrated its 20th anniversary with a three-day event filled with devotion and inspiration. The theme of the celebration was “Nisthavan Bhava”.
The festivities began on Friday, June 27, with a melodious kirtan-aradhana by Pujya Shobhitswarup Swami and yuvaks. On the morning of Saturday, June 28th, the mahila mandal held their celebrations with a program that included folk dances, skits and inspiring speeches. The festivities continued in the evening with a cultural program themed Yagnapurush Sukhkari. The children and youth of Mandirs in Florida hosted the celebrations based on the inspirational life of Shastriji Maharaj. Focusing on how Shastriji Maharaj overcame numerous difficulties and hurdles in his quest to spread the Akshar Purushottam upasana, the program included kirtans, skits, speeches and video presentations. The morning of Sunday, June 29th, began with a Vedic Mahapuja, followed by the Patotsav Vidhi. An annakut of over 835 vegetarian dishes devoutly made by the mahila wing was also offered. In the evening, the audience witnessed a nostalgic video presentation on the history of BAPS in Orlando, Florida. Devotees fondly reminisced the auspicious day in 1994 when His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj graced Orlando to perform the murti pratishtha ceremony and inaugurated the new mandir. In his keynote address, Pujya Shantmurti Swami highlighted the importance of satsang in everyday life, and how the mandir serves as a beacon of Hindu values while also contributing to the local community.