Four days of festivities were held to celebrate the 244th birthday of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
The first day, 3 April, was Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s birthday, as per the English date. In the morning, more than 300 greeting cards and e-greetings prepared by the youths of the Vadodara city were placed before Thakorji in the mandir.
In the evening, more than 5,000 devotees joined the annakut of cakes and chocolates prepared enthusiastically and devoutly offered by devotees at 15 hari mandirs throughout the city.
Also, at the BAPS Mandir in Atladara, 49 cakes and chocolates, commemorating his 49 years of divine presence on this earth, were offered to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Many local MLAs and corporators were also present.
At night, from 9 to 10:15 p.m., a 'Gher Gher Janmotsav' program was held in more than 6,000 homes.
On 4 April, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., more than 10,000 women offered various forms of devotion to Bhagwan Swaminarayan in the more than 100 women’s assemblies held throughout Vadodara city.
On 5 April, to mark the 244th birthday of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, a grand procession by 244 yuvaks and 244 yuvatis on 244 two-wheelers left Chhani at 4 p.m. and rode over 38 km throughout Vadodara city before arriving at Atladara mandir at 9 pm. In 1825 AD, the Gaekwad government had welcomed Bhagwan Swaminarayan with a grand procession from Chhani to Rajmahal. In memory of that historic occasion, this procession started from Chhani.
The next day, Chaitra sud 9, marked the 244th birthday of Bhagwan Swaminarayan as per the Hindu calendar. Also, on this tithi in 2020, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj completed writing the Satsang Diksha shastra. In honor of this, over 600 balaks and balikas recited the Satsang Diksha Granth in the mandir premises in the early morning. Also, more than 60 balaks and balikas who had memorized all the 315 verses of Satsang Diksha were felicitated.
Then, under the theme, 'From My House, In My Vessel, I Serve My Bhagwan', an annakut of vegetarian delicacies prepared at the homes of 3,244 devotees was offered to Thakorji in the mandir. From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., more than 15,000 devotees had darshan of this annakut.
More than 5,000 devotees attended the main birth anniversary assembly held in the mandir premises from 8 to 10:15 p.m. on the theme 'Aksharana Vasi Vahlo Avya Avani Par'.