Shakotsav - Maninagar Dham Shakotsav - Surat

The Posh Vad Amas, Shree Sadguru Din commemorations were observed on Saturday 21 January 2023 in the divine presence of Gnan Mahodadhi Acharya Swamiji Maharaj. After performing continuous meditation, kirtan bhakti, dhoon and katha varta, the blessings of Gurudev Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa were heard, in which Swamibapa described the divine episode of Lord Shree Swaminarayan in Gadhpur, when He prepared a meal of aubergine curry (Shak) and served it to the sants and disciples Himself. This led to the Shakotsav celebrations being held within the Swaminarayan Sampraday each year during the winter season.

During His divine blessings, Gnan Mahodadhi Acharya Swamiji Maharaj also described the other famous Shakotsav episode, which took place in the village of Loya in Samvat 1878. This year marks 201 years since that Loya Shakotsav festival was held. On that occasion, Lord Swaminarayan Himself cooked an aubergine curry. He did this to highlight to everyone the importance of performing humble, selfless services. He used 18 Mahns (1 Mahn (unit of mass) is equivalent to 20 kg) of fresh ghee for just the vaghar. Into this, He placed cut aubergines, enough to fill 18 large carts. Lord Swaminarayan put in the salt, spices, sugar, chillies etc. and made a delicious curry. He then served the food Himself to the sants and disciples. He had asked Nityanand Swami and the other sants to make sweet ladus, so Nityanand Swami served those. However, the Lord had instilled a divine, delicious taste into the aubergine curry, and consequently, everyone asked for more and more of it, and refused to take any of the ladus. In this manner, a grand Shakotsav festival was held in the village of Loya.

Enacting the divine deeds of the supreme Lord Shree Swaminarayan exactly 201 years ago, sants and disciples of held a Shakotsav in the presence of Acharya Swamiji Maharaj in Maninagardham. A splendid display of different kinds of ‘Shaks’ – vegetable curries, different kinds of traditional breads, and of course aubergine curries was presented before the Lord in the main Mandir and also on the stage in the auditorium. Acharya Swamiji Maharaj lovingly offered these foods to the Lord whilst disciples sang devotional songs.

Shakotsav celebrations were held in many other Mandirs around India and around the world. Sants and disciples of Surat celebrated the festival on Sunday 8 Jan 2023.