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January
3: Posh sud 15:
Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami Diksha Day, Poshi Punam
(Click here
to learn more)
Celebrates the day Mul Aksharbrahma
Gunatitanand Swami was initiated into the sadhu-fold by Bhagwan
Swaminarayan. |
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January
14: Posh vad
10: Makar Sankranti (Uttarayan) (Click
here
to learn more)
The day the sun begins to move
northwards, heralding the gradual increase
of daylight hours. It is a time to be charitable by giving grains,
clothes and
money. It is also the time
when kites are flown. |
|
January
23: Maha sud 5:
Vasant Panchmi (Click
here
to learn more)
Signifies the onset of spring.
For the Swaminarayan Sampraday it holds a special significance,
since, on this day Bhagwan Swaminarayan presented the 'Shikshapatri'
in its final form. It is also the birthday of Brahmanand Swami,
Nishkulanand Swami and Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj (founder
of the BAPS). |
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January
26: Maha sud 8: Republic
Day
The day the independent nation
of India adopted its constitution. |
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February
16: Maha vad 14:
Shivratri (Click
here
to learn more)
This is a festival in honor
of Lord Shiv whose marriage to Parvati took place on this day.
People observe a fast on this day and stay awake throughout the
night, praying to Lord Shiv. |
|
March
3: Falgun sud 15:
Holi, Bhagatji Maharaj's Birthday (Click here
to learn more)
Celebrates the protection of
Prahlad from his father, the demon-king Hiranyakashipu. Prahlad
was seated in a fire with his aunt, Holika. She perished in the
fire, but Prahlad survived.
In the Swaminarayan Sampraday, devotees celebrate the birthday
of Bhagatji Maharaj, the second spiritual successor of Bhagwan
Swaminarayan. |
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March
4: Falgun vad 1:
Dhuleti/Pushpadolotsav
(Click here
to learn more)
This is a spring festival,
in which people rejoice by spraying each other with colored water. |
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March
27: Chaitra sud 9:
Ramnavmi (Click
here
to learn more)
The birthday of Bhagwan Ram. |
|
March
27: Chaitra sud 9:
Hari-Nom (Bhagwan Swaminarayan's
birthday) (Click here
to learn more)
The birthday of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. |
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March
31: Chaitra sud 13:
Mahavir Jayanti
The birthday of Lord Mahavir,
founder of Jainism. |
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April
2: Chaitra sud 15:
Hanuman Jayanti (Click
here
to learn more)
The birthday of
Hanumanji, devotee of Bhagwan Ram. |
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April
19: Vaishakh sud 3:
Akhatrij (Click here
to learn more)
The day from which
the murtis of the Lord are adorned with sandalwood paste for one
month. |
| |
April
30 : Vaishakh sud
13: Nrusinh Jayanti (Click
here
to learn more)
The birthday of
Lord Nrusinh, conquerer of the demon-king Hiranyakashipu. |
|
May
2 : Vaishakh sud 15:
Buddha Jayanti
The birthday of
Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism. |
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May
14: Vaishakh vad
12: Yogi Jayanti
(Click here
to learn more)
The birthday of Yogiji Maharaj,
the fourth spiritual successor to Bhagwan Swaminarayan. |
|
June
18 :
Jeth sud 4: Pramukh Varani Din (Click here
to learn more)
The day Pramukh Swami Maharaj,
as a young 28-year-old, was appointed as the administrative president
of BAPS by Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj. |
|
June
26 : Jeth
sud 11: Bhim Ekadashi
|
|
July
16 : Ashadh
sud 2: Rathyatra (Click
here to learn more)
Annual festival in which murtis
of the Lord are paraded in decorated chariots around the city.
A mammoth festival is held in Jagannathpuri. |
|
|
July26
: Ashadh sud 11: Devpodhi
Ekadashi
The first day of
Chaturmas - the four holy months. During these months, extra devotional
observances are undertaken. |
|
July
29 : Ashadh sud 15:
Guru Purnima (Click here
to learn more)
The day on which devotees honor
their guru. They pay their respects and offer their gratitude
for the spiritual guidance the guru gives. |
|
|
August
15: Shravan
sud 3: Independence Day
The day on which
India became an independent, democratic nation. |
| |
August
28: Shravan sud 15: Raksha
Bandhan (Click
here
to learn more)
Sisters tie an amulet (called
rakhi or raksha) around the wrist of their brothers, and pray
for their protection from surrounding evil. |
|
September
4 : Shravan vad 8:
Janmashtami (Click here
to learn more)
The birthday of Bhagwan Krishna. |
|
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September
13 : Bhadarvo sud
2: Sam-Shravani
Sadhus and Samvedi Brahmins
change their janoi (sacred thread) on this day. |
|
September
15 : Bhadarvo sud
4: Ganesh Chaturthi (Click
here
to learn more)
The birthday of Lord Ganesh,
son of Lord Shiv and Shri Parvatiji. |
|
September
23: Bhadarvo sud 11:
Jal Jhilani Ekadashi (Click
here
to learn more)
The midpoint of
chaturmas. The Lord is taken for a boat ride. |
|
|
September
23: Bhadarvo sud 11: Vaman
Jayanti ( Click here
to learn more ) |
|
October
12:
Aso sud 1: Start of Navratri (Click
here
to learn more)
Festival of the nine nights. A period in which special prayers
are offered to Shri Parvati, also called Goddess Durga. It celebrates
her victory over the demon, Mahishasur.
|
|
October
21:
Aso sud 10: Vijaya Dashmi (Click
here
to learn more)
The 10th day celebrates the victory of goddess Durga over the
demon Mahishasur. On this day the murtis of the goddess Durga
are taken on a victorious procession. On this day, Bhagwan Ram
returned to Ayodhya after spending 14 years in exile and destroying
Ravan. Today is an auspicious day to commence any academic activities. |
|
October
25: Aso sud 15: Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand
Swami's Birthday, Sharad Punam (Click
here
to learn more)
The birthday of Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami, the ideal devotee
and first successor in the lineage of Gunatit Gurus established
by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
The night Bhagwan Krishna graced the Gopis of Vrundavan by playing
the Maha Raas with them on the banks of the sacred Yamuna. |
|
|
November
6 :
Aso vad 12:
Vagh Baras (Click here
to learn more)
Cows, symbolizing Mother
Nature, are worshipped on this day. |
|
November
7 :
Aso vad 13: Dhan
Teras/Lakshmi
Pujan (Click here
to learn more)
On this day, one's wealth
is worshipped and prayers are offered to God for the wisdom to
use one's wealth for noble and virtuous purposes only. |
|
|
November
8 : Aso vad 14: Kali
Chaudash (Click here
to learn more)
Prayers are offered
to protect one from the evil forces of life. |
|
November
9 : Aso vad 15: Diwali(Click
here to
learn more)
Diwali symbolizes the
victory of Good over Evil. The goddess of wealth, Lakshmiji, is
worshipped on this day to receive blessings for future prosperity. |
|
November
10 : Kartik sud
1: Annakut
and Bestu Varash (Click
here to
learn more)
Offering of different
varieties of food to the deities. The first day of the Hindu New
Year. |
|
|
November
11 :
Kartik sud 2: Bhai
Beej (Click here
to learn more)
The day on which brothers are
invited to dine at their sister's house.
|
|
November
15 : Kartik sud 5:
Labh Pancham (Click here
to learn more)
An auspicious day to commence
any noble venture. |
|
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November
21: Kartik sud 11:
Prabodhini Ekadashi
(Click here
to learn more)
The last day of Chaturmas,
after which all extra spiritual observances undertaken over the
previous four months may be relaxed. |
|
November
24 : Kartik sud 15:
Dev Diwali (Click here
to learn more)
Signifies the return
of God after spending Chaturmas with King Bali. Today is a day
to resolve to free oneself of base instincts. |
|
December
17 : Magshar sud 8:
Pramukh Swami Maharaj's Jayanti
(Click here
to learn more)
The birthday of Pramukh Swami
Maharaj, the 5th and present spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. |
