Pratishtha Ceremony

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After many months of efforts by the devotees of Havant (Southampton/Portsmouth), the day had arrived on which the murtis of Shri Akshar Purushottam Maharaj and the Guru Parampara would be installed amidst Vedic chanting in the newly opened BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Satsang Bhavan in Havant on 28 May 2006.

The day started at 6am with volunteers coming to prepare for the day’s events. Pujya Kothari Swami of Mumbai arrived from London and started the pratishtha rituals at precisely 9:30am.

After the pratishtha, Kothari Swami blessed the pratishtha gathering. Yogvivek Swami read out Param Pujya Pramukh Swami’s blessings written from Navsari in Gujarat, India.

Thereafter, there was a special pratishtha assembly held in the nearby Havant Leisure Centre in its Function Room. A short history of Havant Satsang Mandal was given after which the sadhus gave inspiring speeches explaining the importance of a Mandir. At the end Kothari Swami gave blessings. After Ãrti, everyone took mahaprasad.

Altogether, over 150 devotees and well-wishers were present to celebrate this auspicious occasion.