Hundreds of families participated in the sacred Yagna for Family Harmony on the auspicious occasion of the second patotsav of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi. Devotees arrived from 4 a.m., taking their seats in the mandir courtyard.
The yagna commenced with a mahapuja led by Swami Brahmaviharidas. The recitation of Vedic mantras resonated through the air, offering prayers for peace, unity, gratitude, and harmony within families and society.
At 5 a.m., before dawn, swamis performed the patotsav abhishek and traditional rituals at each shrine in the mandir with deep devotion, culminating in the patotsav arti, reverently performed by Pujya Doctor Swami. As part of the celebrations, an annakut was lovingly offered to the deities.
As dawn broke, the yagna hom commenced in the courtyard. The rhythmic mantras reverberating across the mandir, the glow of the sacred yagna fires, and the fragrant smoke ascending heavenward carrying prayers created a profound atmosphere of spiritual peace and uplift.
The yagna concluded in the presence of Pujya Doctor Swami, who offered the final oblations and blessed the assembled devotees. In his address, he praised the Abu Dhabi Mandir as Number One – the finest Mandir he has seen in his 90 years of life. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Rulers of the United Arab Emirates and various government authorities for their unwavering support in nurturing this spiritual landmark.
This sacred celebration marked a deeply meaningful beginning to 2026, aligning with the UAE’s ‘Year of Family’ proclaimed by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reinforcing the timeless values of faith, unity, gratitude, and the central role of family in building a harmonious society, as advocated by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj.