The festival of Guru Purnima, a day to celebrate and honour the Guru, was held at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on Saturday 11 July 2009. A blend of different presentations including bhajans, drama, dance and enlightening speeches provided an entertaining programme.

Kishores and yuvaks began the evening with dhun and the bhajan, ‘Asatya Ki Divalo Se’ which linked to the drama that followed illustrating Parikshit Raja’s path to redemption through the knowledge and blessings from a true sadhu in the form of Shukdevji.

Anandpriya Swami then provided some enlightening prasangs of Pramukh Swami Maharaj from his recent vicharan in Mumbai, which instilled the concept of understanding the importance of the guru. Opinions of Swamishri were then narrated from prominent sadhus via a video presentation, describing a selection of Swamishri’s qualities in detail before balaks and kishores performed a spectacular dance artistically enacting the words from the bhajan, ‘Sarjan Poshan,’ further extolling the greatness and virtues of Swamishri.

A short video of the Guru Punam festival in the presence of Swamishri in Bochasan followed thereafter before Yogvivek Swami summarised by discussing the concept of a true guru. A trophy presentation ceremony was also held to commemorate the winners of the Pramukh Cup and Yagnapurush Cup football tournaments that were held earlier that day.