A special evening programme focussed on innovative ways for families to spend time together and progress spiritually was held in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj on Saturday 13 May 2023 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London.
The Family Din evening programme, titled ‘Satsang at Home: A New Way. Swami’s Way’ explored effective ways to participate in satsang activities at home with family members. The underlying messages were delivered through engaging discourses, presentations, videos, and an interactive skit with Swamishri, with contributions from swamis as well as children, youths and seniors.
Swamis began the assembly by addressing various challenges that families are facing today, particularly regarding the potentially harmful impact of various devices on family interactions and personal development, and their judicious use for positive family time together.
They further elaborated on an innovative way to re-energise satsang at home by exploring the wealth of tools and resources that are available for parents and children of all ages, through reading material, family games and online content in various languages. They particularly highlighted the Swaminarayan Bal Prakash – a monthly magazine that caters to the social, moral and spiritual needs and interests of children – as a vital publication to achieve this goal.
Mahant Swami Maharaj was joyously welcomed to the assembly as the focal point of the programme transitioned into a drama, which began with Swamishri ‘arriving at the home of a family’ for a padhramani (home visit) with Sadguru Tyagvallabhdas Swami and other swamis.
After the vibrant welcome, the interactive skit introduced Daily Satsang Time – a new, weekly structured plan for families to practise satsang at home through thematic daily activities, including the reading of various satsang texts and publications, the learning of scriptural passages, engaging in smruti (recalling and enjoying the divine incidents of God and the Guru), and conducting ghar sabha (family satsang assemblies at home).
These daily initiatives were individually unveiled by Swamishri, who also provided practical guidance on how families can avail the maximum benefits of each activity, as the family members posed questions as a part of the skit. He also shared his personal experiences from performing these activities and explained that everyone can feel the presence of the Satpurush in their homes through such daily satsang time. In conclusion, Swamishri personally prayed for all families to immerse themselves in this valuable initiative and for their all-round happiness and welfare.
The event provided thousands of families with a new, effective method of coming together daily and participating in satsang activities, as well as developing their family bonds. Mahant Swami Maharaj’s enthusiasm and interactions made the event a memorable one for the thousands who attended and watched online.
Premvati Shah, a mother of two from Luton, shared, “This new package has been so carefully thought out and delivered. My children are already excited at exploring each new day and talking about what we can do throughout the week during ‘DST’ together. These different daily areas of focus will keep us all motivated and strengthen our bond with satsang and each other.”