Thousands of devotees in India and abroad joined the online celebration of Pushpadolotsav in the presence of guruhari Mahant Swami Maharaj.
The early morning celebration assembly, which was webcast live, began at 6.00 a.m. with Mahant Swami Maharaj’s puja darshan. Swamishri was seated on a small dais under a sprawling banyan tree in the grounds of Shantivan in Nenpur. To his right was a 12-door hindolo, similar to that used for Bhagwan Swaminarayan during the historic Fuldol festival in Vartal. At the centre of the hindolo were the murtis of Shri Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj surrounded by ornate bowls of colorful powders. The serene rustic settings added to the devotional atmosphere.
During Swamishri’s puja, in between bhajans sung by swamis in Sarangpur, Narayanmuni Swami concisely narrated the glory and traditions of the Fuldol festival celebrations since the time of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
After Swamishri’s puja, a video reliving the past Pushpadolotsav celebrations in the presence of Pramukh Swami Maharaj and Mahant Swami Maharaj was shown.
Thereafter, Pujan Ishwarcharan Swami, in Ahmedabad, and Pujya Doctor Swami, in Sarangpur, spoke on the spiritual significance of the Fuldol celebration.
Then, Swamishri, now seated inside the sanctified 12-door hindolo, was honored with a garland. Celebratory bhajans were sung while Swamishri was gently rocked in the hindolo.
Afterwards, Swamishri blessed the assembly, emphasizing Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s insistence in the observance of dharma even while joyously celebrating festivals.
Thereafter, Swamishri performed pujan and arti of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Shri Gunatitanand Swami, and devoutly sprayed them with saffron-scented water. At the same time, Swamishri, too, was sprayed with sanctified water from small sprays by Shri Harikrishna Maharaj and Shri Gunatitanand Swami.
Finally, Swamishri took a large spray in hand and virtually sprayed all the devotees at their homes with sanctified saffron-scented water.
In this way, the Pushpadolotsav celebration assembly, which had commenced under the backdrop of the bright full moon, concluded amid the cool morning sunlight.