April 19, 2008
USA & Canada

The 228th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan was celebrated across North America with great devotion and dedication by the BAPS North America Mahila Mandal.

The theme of the celebration was ‘Yashgăthă’. The variety filled program began with traditional prayers and devotional songs sung by the Kishori and Yuvati Mandals. The speeches extolled how Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s powerful personality, peaceful and compassionate method of working and His loving insistence had a universal appeal and succeeded in effecting a social change. In between the speeches, audiovisual presentations enabled the audience to understand Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s monumental sacrifice and service to redeem mankind.

Balika, Kishori and Yuvati Mandals added the color and festive atmosphere to the occasion by presenting splendid traditional dances.

In the end, the entire celebration assembly sang the birthday arti in chorus. After the arti, Shri Harikrishna Maharaj was cradled in a beautifully decorated swing as devotional songs were sung and balikas in traditional costumes danced joyfully.