The word Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali and literally translated means a row of lights. For this reason, the Diwali festival is sometimes referred to as the Festival of Lights.
This year, Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury’s Diwali and Hindu New Year Celebrations are dedicated to the upcoming Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Suvarna Mahotsav celebrating 50 years of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi, and in support of the NHS and other front-line heroes that have been immense, tireless and selfless over the recent month of the pandemic.
The Diwali festival lasts for five consecutive days. Each day has a significance that was derived from various episodes of Hindu legends. Depending on the region of India, these legends will vary. However, the essence behind each story is the abolishment and conquering of evil and darkness, replaced by the goodness and light.
Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Suvarna Mahotsav
Shree Swaminarayan Gadi is eternal, just as Lord Shree Swaminarayan is eternal. Shree Swaminarayan Gadi is the throne that Lord Shree Swaminarayan Presides upon in Akshardham in; the lustre from His Murti takes the form of a Gadi, as stated in the Vachanamrut scripture.
On 31st December 1801 CE, the Lord revealed His true name, Swaminarayan; He also said that the throne that He was sitting on would now be called Shree Swaminarayan Gadi. In 1972, Jeevanpran Swamibapa gave physical embodiment to Shree Swaminarayan Gadi.
To celebrate 50 years since this momentous and auspicious event, Acharya Shree Jitendriyapriya Swamiji Maharaj has inspired a grand festival to take place in Maninagar, Ahmedabad, India from 19th -25th September 2022. This was a Mahotsav that Ved Ratna Acharya Swamishree had initially announced, and so it is with added fervor that Acharya Swamiji Maharaj has inspired the entire worldwide Shree Swaminarayan Gadi family come together to celebrate what promises to be a magnificent and spectacular festival.
This year’s celebrations, while much close to normal than has recently been possible, will still be different due to the current circumstances. For the convenience and safety of all, and in order to minimize congestion at the Mandir during the Diwali and Hindu New Year period, we are pleased to take donations online via the donations page.
You will receive a receipt and instructions for collecting Annakut prasad by email.
Schedule & Opening
Dhan Teras
Tuesday 2nd November
The first day is called Dhan Teras. It is also sometimes called Dhantrayodashmi. Dhan literally means wealth. In the past, the number of cattle that was owned determined one's wealth; therefore, the cow was offered worship on this day. Over the centuries, this has evolved to offering poojan to Laxmi, the deity of wealth. In this context, Laxmi is personified through currency and a ceremony involving money is traditionally performed on this day. The sentiments behind this are that we must remember never to obtain money in any manner that contravenes the path of morality, of dharma.
Kali Chaudas
Wednesday 3rd November
This day is the final day of the Hindu year and Kali Chaudas. Kali is the deity of strength. Hence this day focuses on acquiring the divine strength to abolish idleness and immorality. Historically people offered poojan to Hanuman. It is said that this removes all fear of evil spirits and establish auspiciousness within us. By eradicating evil, we become internally enlightened. This internal evil refers to the evil spirits that reside within us, lust, anger, greed, avarice, etc. Once these have been banished from within us, we can offer true devotion unto the Lord.
Diwali, Sadguru Din and Chopda Poojan
Thursday 4th November
Traditionally the New Year's accounts ledgers are sanctified on this day. Fireworks are exploded; a symbol of the burning of evil, and the resurrection of good light, the truth and divinity of the Lord. Divas are lit in homes and temples. Rangoli, elaborate patterns are artistically created using powdered paint at the entrance of homes as a welcoming symbol. The sky during this night would be moonless, therefore the lighting of the divas eradicates this darkness; yet another symbol of good over evil. The sentiment for a disciple of the Lord when lighting a divo is to pray for forgiveness of past misdeeds and for spiritual strength and wisdom for the coming year so that he can please the Lord more and more.
Nidar Sidhantvadi Sadguru Shree Ishwarcharan Swamibapa relinquished His human darshan on this day in Samvat 1999. Therefore, disciples of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan also commemorate Shree Sadguru Din on this day.
Today is Samvat 2078 the 1st day of the New Year, Kartik sud 1.
The new crop that had been planted after the monsoon season would have grown during the final month of the year, Aso, and would now be ready. This crop is harvested and first offered to the Lord on the first day of the year. This is the origin of annakutotsav, the offering of a vast array of elaborate dishes to the Lord. Ann literally means food (grain) and kut translates as mountain. Hence a vast mountain of different foods is placed before the Lord.
This auspicious day is filled with happiness and joy. It is said that he who remains joyous on this first day will also remain so for the rest of the year. But he, who wastes it by being miserable, will encounter the same sentiments for the forthcoming 12 months. For a disciple of the Lord, the sentiments are slightly different. They would spend the day visiting the Mandir, take part in the singing of kirtans, and performing devotional practices to the Lord. That way, the rest of the year would also be filled with the same divinity.
Bhai Beej
Saturday 6th November
The final day of the Diwali festival, Bhai beej falls on the second day of the year. Traditionally, a sister would serve her brother with food on this day. Disciples of the Lord come together in the Temple and partake in the prasad of the Lord, as all of the Lord's children are brothers and sisters.
Acharya Shree Jitendriyapriyadasji Swamiji Maharaj is the current spiritual leader of Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan. He is the heir to Acharya Shree Purushottampriyadasji Swamishree Maharaj, and sixth in the lineage of ascetic Acharyas, which descends directly from Lord Shree Swaminarayan.
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Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury
Shree Swaminarayan Sidhant Sajivan Mandal
211 Kingsbury Road
Kingsbury, London
NW9 8AQ
T: +44 (0) 208 200 1991
London@SwaminarayanGadi.com
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