AHMEDABAD: Organized under the inspiration of His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the BAPS festival celebrated a hundred years of service, sacrifice, and spirituality. In consonance with the Vedic teachings of Akshar and Purushottam (i.e. Bhakta-Bhagwan tradition) revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan (1781-1830CE), Shastriji Maharaj installed the murtis of Akshar (Gunatitanand Swami) along with that of Purushottam (Bhagwan Swaminarayan) in Bochasan, Gujarat, on June 6, 1907.

From that beginning, the organization came to be known as the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). Over the grand four-day BAPS Centenary Celebration, one experienced the struggles, service, values, memorable moments and contributions of BAPS’s hundred-year journey through a variety of media including dances, dramas, audio-visual presentations, interviews, speeches, and more.

Festival Site

The 300-acre festival site cannot be missed in Chandkheda on the Sabarmati-Gandhinagar highway. With great enthusiasm, more than 10,000 volunteers and sadhus offered a variety of services to prepare the site for the hundreds of thousands of attendees. Upon entry, one can see a grand stage with the ‘Akshar Deri’ (BAPS’s logo), Diva Pillars, Mandir Pinnacles, and other symbols intricately carved in its backdrop. The stage is 350 feet wide and 52 feet tall and includes eight different dance stages. This marvelous stage has been created through the voluntary efforts of BAPS sadhus and skilled volunteers.

Four-Day Festival

The four-day cultural program was held on this spectacular 350-foot long stage, with over 4,000 children and youth performers and in the august presence of BAPS guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj, many sadhus and dignitaries and hundreds of thousands of spectators.

December 13: The kick-off of the four-day festivities was a dazzling inauguration ceremony coupled with the celebration of BAPS Youth Day based on the theme "Inspiring Values". A 45-minute program of lively dances and enlightening commentary highlighted six of the values that have shaped BAPS and inspired millions through the last century, namely: Siddhant (Theology), Sadhuta (Saintliness), Seva (Service), Samarpan (Sacrifice), Samp (Unity), and Satpurush (God-Realized Guru). More than 2,000 youngsters performed in this vibrant cultural program with more than 500 youths presenting a series of unique folk dances using an array of spectacular props and costumes.

December 14: BAPS Women’s Day centered on the theme of "Empowering Women" was elegantly performed by the BAPS Women’s Wing. It presented inspiring messages of the spiritual, social and educational service performed in approximately 6,000 BAPS women’s forums worldwide. More than 1,000 women from the ages of 5 to 75 performed a variety of cultural programs including a grand parade with inspiring devotional and family values; traditional prayers by 100 young girls; a series of colorful folk dances by 900 young women highlighting the values of devotion, faith and unity; interviews and skits focusing on women’s achievements; and inspiring video presentations and speeches presenting women’s contributions to society.

December 15: This day witnessed BAPS Children’s Day focused on the theme of "Transforming Tomorrow". This day commemorated the more than half-century of BAPS Children’s Activities that has inspired children to elevate themselves and others to create a more promising tomorrow. In addition to the regular audience, more than 20,000 children from the 5,500 BAPS children forums worldwide attended this educational and inspiring event. More than 1,500 children performed on stage with 600 children in a parade highlighting the values of health, education, character, culture, and spirituality; 450 children in a vibrant costumed dance highlighting service, culture and character; various dances and skits showing how children have freed over a million people from destructive addictions; and video shows, testimonials and skits showing how BAPS children become ideal citizens who serve parents and society. BAPS children who have achieved excellence in the fields of sports, education, arts, character, culture, and service were also recognized on stage.

December 17: Guru Bhakti Day, the 87th birthday celebrations of BAPS leader Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the climax of the four-day festival. A series of cultural presentations paid tribute to the spiritual leaders who have shaped BAPS to this day; elaborate folk dances by more than 500 youths honored Pramukh Swami Maharaj; and testimonials and speeches explored Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s contributions to society through his spiritual ethos, "In the joy of others, in the progress of others and in the good of others lies our own."

Guinness World Records

Michael Whitty, member of the management committee of Guinness World Records, and Head of the Picture Media came especially to India to present two new World Records to Pramukh Swami Maharaj on the occasion of his 87th Birthday celebrated at the culmination of the 4-day BAPS Centenary Celebrations.

The following world records were presented by Michael Whitty to Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

Most Hindu Mandirs Consecrated by a Single Person

Pramukh Swami Maharaj, internationally revered spiritual leader and head of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha has created and consecrated, in accordance with Hindu rituals, a world record 713 mandirs (temples) in five continents between April 1971 and November 2007. Amongst these, the majestic ornately hand-carved Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi stands apart as the largest comprehensive Hindu temple in the world.

World’s Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple

BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Delhi, India, is the world’s largest comprehensive Hindu temple. It measures 356 ft. long, 316 ft. wide and 141 ft. high, covering an area of 86,342 square-feet. The grand, ancient-style, ornately hand-carved stone temple has been built without structural steel within five years by 11,000 artisans and volunteers. Pramukh Swami Maharaj, revered spiritual leader of BAPS consecrated the temple on November 6, 2005. Akshardham showcases the essence of India’s ageless art, borderless culture and timeless values.

Remarkable preparations

The thousands of exuberant children and enthusiastic youth who participated in the cultural programs sacrificed their Diwali vacation for 35 days of intensive training. Moreover, in the festival’s transport department, 1,000 volunteers organized parking and traffic flow so that on the days of the celebration thousands of vehicles can quickly and smoothly enter and exit the site. In the festival’s kitchen department, 1,900 men and 1,700 women volunteers prepared complete meals for all the spectators who attended the four-day celebrations.

The exquisite artwork of the main stage and archways were designed and crafted by the festival’s decoration department, consisting of 33 sadhus and 237 volunteers who spent two continuous months producing exquisite fiberglass work, painting, and intricate polystyrene carvings.

BAPS accommodations and reception departments professionally served the thousands that attended the festivities from Gujarat, other states in India and other countries around the world. To receive devotees coming from out of India, welcome centers were set up at the Amdavad airport and railway stations.

The centenary celebrations of this United Nations affiliated social-spiritual organization with 3,300 global centers, 700 mandirs, 780 sadhus, 55,000 volunteers and one million followers was a memorable and historic event.