| |
 |
- 2 May 2004
(V.S. 2060, Vaishakh sud 12) Sunday, London
At 2 p.m., a grand symbolic
Rath Yatra under the auspices of BAPS Golden Anniversary of
Children’s Activities was launched from Alperton High
School in London. About 6,000 devotees from London, Leicester,
Birmingham and other cities participated in the devotional event.
Children and youth colorfully dressed for the occasion danced
and expressed their devotion and joy in the streets of northwest
London. The murtis of Akshar Purushottam Maharaj, Pramukh Swami
Maharaj and Lord Jagannath were installed in two decorated floats.
The disciplined procession resonated with the singing of dhun
by the devotees. The Rath Yatra concluded at 5.30 p.m. at the
Neasden Mandir. Then on the mandir grounds Swamishri and the
dignitaries, Mayor of Brent Peter Lemmon, Minister of Transport
and Aviation Tony Macnulty, M.P. Barry Gardiner, Chairman of
Metropolitan Police Authorities Toby Harris and Mayor of London
Ken Livingstone released peace pigeons in the air. Children
released peace balloons to commemorate the Rath Yatra event.
Thereafter a celebration assembly was held in the mandir hall.
Mayor of Brent Peter Lemmon said, “The community here
is giving a message of peace to the larger community through
their activities. Brent is the largest multi-faith community…”
Minister for Transport and Aviation Tony Macnulty said, “I
was very happy to be part of this Rath Yatra. It is a very joyous
day. Wonderful procession for the whole community of London.”
The M.P. for Brent Barry Gardiner reminisced, “It was
my greatest honor to be in Delhi for breathing of life ceremony
of the murtis in the mandir over there. I know yet more temples
will be opened by His Holiness in Houston and Chicago. It is
the same breath that will give life to the murtis there. The
same simplicity and holiness in the murti will give life to
the community there as it gives life here.”
The chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority Lord Toby
Harris said, “Young people are inspired to work for the
community, that is a powerful message to all the communities
of London.”
The Mayer of London Ken Livingstone said, “Your Holiness,
we met 20 years ago in Alexandra Palace. I had no idea then
about the beauty of the building you would create in this city.
It has impounded this city with its beauty, and increased the
beauty of this city beyond measure. I praise you for the work
you’ve done for this city and for peace and for the children
whose 50th anniversary we will shortly celebrate.”
Finally Swamishri crowned the assembly with his blessings, “Today’s
festival was celebrated beautifully. Everyone participated by
chanting God’s holy name. By celebrating such festivals
our spiritual strength, devotion and remembrance of God increases.”
|
 |
- 3 May 2004
(V.S. 2060, Vaishakh sud 13) Monday, London; Young Yuvak Day
- A special assembly
of 400 youths between the ages of 23 and 35 was held in
the mandir hall in the morning. The theme of the assembly
was ‘Pride for Satsang’. Viveksagar Swami addressed
the youths about the glory of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj.
Finally Swamishri blessed the youths explaining about having
pride for one’s family, country and Satsang. In conclusion
the youths honored Shri Harikrishna Maharaj.
- In the evening
assembly the youths performed a drama ‘Be a Proud
Satsangi’. The assembly was capped with Swamishri’s
blessings.
|
 |
- 4 May 2004
(V.S. 2060, Vaishakh sud 15) Tuesday, London
Swamishri observed the
lunar eclipse from 7.45 p.m. to 4.15 p.m. During the program
of dhun and bhajans Swamishri said the rosary. Thereafter Viveksagar
Swami talked about the eclipse from the Indian scriptural perspective.
Finally Swamishri blessed the assembly and after the lunar eclipse
Swamishri bathed and performed his personal puja.
|
|
- 7 May 2004
(V.S. 2060, Vaishakh vad 3) Friday, London; Children’s
Day
- At 11.00 p.m. Swamishri performed
the murti-pratishtha rituals of Shri Akshar Purushottam
Maharaj, Shri Radha Krishna Dev, Guru Parampara, Shri Hanumanji
and Shri Ganapatiji for the hari mandir in Southend-on-Sea.
A beautiful annakut was arranged before the deities and
thereafter Swamishri performed the pratishtha arti. The
event concluded with Swamishri’ s blessings.
- At 6.30 p.m. the Children’s
Day assembly commenced on the theme of ‘Guru Bhakti’.
The volunteers of BAPS Children’s activities performed
a drama ‘Andehri nagari and gandu raja.’ A slide
show on Yogiji Maharaj was screened. Then a dance on the
kirtan ‘Ho Swami Guruhari chho tame’ was performed
by children. After every verse of the bhajan personal incidents
were narrated by children with reference to Swamishri as
a friend, inspirer and consolidator of niyam-dharma and
devotion.
Finally Swamishri blessed the assembly.
|
 |
- 9 May 2004
(V.S. 2060, Vaishakh vad 5) Sunday, Luton, London
At 9.30 a.m. Swamishri
arrived at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Luton to perform
the murti-pratishtha rituals. With the commencement of Vedic
rituals Swamishri performed the pratishtha of Shri Akshar Purushottam
Maharaj, Shri Radha Krishna Dev, Guru Parampara, Shri Hanumanji
and Shri Ganapatiji. After the annakut was arranged, Swamishri
performed the pratishtha arti.
During the pratishtha assembly Viveksagar Swami explained the
importance of mandirs in society. Then Lord Navnit Dholakiya,
president of the Liberal Democratic Party, addressed the assembly,
“By giving over 500 mandirs to us Swamishri has given
us our religion. Today we find that because of religion there
are wars and killings, whereas in our Hindu mandirs we hear
the words Om Shantihi, Shantihi, Shantihi.”
The Mayor of Luton Councillor Michael Dolling said, “This
is an occasion that I shall treasure for the rest of my life.
You do Luton a very great service by establishing a mandir in
our town. The Hindus of the town are a very valuable asset and
contribute greatly to the cultural and social life of the area.
“Your work throughout the rest of the world is well known
providing spiritual and social care for millions of people.
Your residential homes for the elderly, your fundraising for
natural disasters such as famines or earthquakes is without
equal. Not only that, you run anti-addiction drives and build
hospitals and shelters in poorer countries. This work is on
top of making young people aware of their social responsibilities
together with training, education and good parenting skills.”
Finally Swamishri blessed the assembly, “Through this
mandir people will be blessed with good impressions (sanskars).
Mandir is a place that stills the mind, because God is still;
and one who is still can give stillness to others. The world
is unstable. God is stable so He controls and keeps countless
universes stable. The mandir is a place that stills the mind
because by offering devotion to God, praying to Him, seeing
Him and listening to His glory one is blessed with divine virtues.”
The pratishtha assembly was attended by 1500 devotees.
|
| |
|
|
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
