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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline NOVEMBER 11, 2022 | The Indian Eye 14

Colors, Lights and Food Mark Joyous Diwali

Celebrations at BAPS Mandirs across North America

OUR BUREAU

New York, NY
rom October 22 to October 26,
colors, lights and food fused
Fwith joy and tradition as Di-
wali – The Festival of Lights – was
celebrated at the BAPS Shri Swa-
minarayan Mandir in Robbinsville,
NJ. Diwali is the most widely cele-
brated festival by Indians and Hindus
around the world. October is being
celebrated as Hindu Heritage Month,
and community leaders, as well as
policymakers, including US President
Joe Biden, are participating in light-
ing lamps and offering best wishes for homes across more than 50 countries
the festivities. and replied to over 750,000 letters,
personally counseling individuals,
The mandir welcomed visitors helping them through struggles, and
inspiring them to live value-cen-
through the new, which had tric lives. His virtues and life’s work
over 2,700 diyas, a colorful transformed individuals, families,
and communities worldwide.
Rangoli and flower decoration. Ami Shah, a visitor said, “I start
my year at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan
In preparation for the festivities, Mandir in Robbinsville, NJ. The An-
many devotees, young and old, gave nakut is awesome and I love coming
their time to help create decorations, here. This year the exhibition on
prepare for children’s Diwali, and Pramukh Swami Maharaj was just
set the stage for the most significant too good. It was amazing to know
ritual of Diwali, ‘Annakut’. Annakut, that this was created by youths who
which literally means ‘a mountain were explaining various sections en-
of food’, is traditionally offered to thusiastically.”
God to celebrate the beginning of “I experienced my culture while
the Hindu New Year. Annakut was getting a taste of fine Indian cuisine.
celebrated on October 26, 2022, with Every person I met had an expres-
over 1500 food delicacies being of- sion of warmth and happiness on
fered to Bhagwan. their face. I truly felt at home,” said
This year, millions of devotees Jignesh Patel.
and well-wishers across the globe The multiple days of Diwali
are taking part in the centennial cel- are steeped in traditions and rituals
ebrations of His Holiness Pramukh that symbolize new beginnings and
Swami Maharaj, the spiritual guru a renewed commitment to fami-
and leader of BAPS Swaminarayan ly. The bright colors of Rangoli,
Sanstha. After darshan of the An- the lamps, the elaborate offering
nakut, visitors got to view an exhibi- of vegetarian food (Annakut) to
tion-themed “Century of Service,” Bhagwan, all mark a renewal of the
which gave an immersive experience good within and the goodwill to-
into the Life of Pramukh Swami Ma- wards all around us.
haraj. This year His Holiness Mahant
Pramukh Swami Maharaj lived Swami Maharaj celebrated Diwali
by the principle, “In the joy of oth- and Annakut in Gondal, in the state
ers, lies our own.” He dedicated his of Gujarat in India. He blessed the
life to selflessly serving others for the devotees for a happy and peaceful
greater good of humanity, traveling new year.
across the world as an ambassador of He also stressed that since this
peace, harmony, and faith; all while year is also the centennial celebra-
maintaining firm faith in God and tion of HH Pramukh Swami Ma-
adhering to His teachings. Pramukh haraj, may all be blessed to live ac-
Swami Maharaj visited over 250,000 cording to his virtuous life.

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