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                In 
                1907 Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj built the first BAPS Mandir 
                in Bochasan. To commemorate the completion of 100 years, a grand 
                patotsav celebration was held in the presence of Pramukh Swami 
                Maharaj.  
               As stated 
                in the Hindu Shastras, on completion of 100 years, the murtis 
                of the mandir should be offered a special abhishek of 1001 kalashes 
                using the extracts of special items. This ceremony is known as 
                Sahastrakalash Abhishek. 
              So, on Thursday 26 
                April 2007 a grand Vedic yagna was held in the presence of Pramukh 
                Swami Maharaj, in which over 1,500 devotees participated. 
              The patotsav was 
                celebrated on Friday 27 April 2007. At 7.30 am, Pramukh Swami 
                Maharaj performed the patotsav arti. Thereafter, over 1,500 devotees 
                participated in the Vedic patotsav mahapuja ceremony. At the end 
                of the mahapuja, Swamishri performed the special abhishek ritual 
                of all the consecrated murtis: Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Aksharbrahma 
                Gunatitanand Swami, Shri Harikrishna Maharaj, Shri Ghanshyam Maharaj 
                and Shri Lakshami-Narayan Dev. The entire ceremony was relayed 
                by CCTV to over 17,000 devotees seated in the mandir premises 
                and assembly arena. 
              After these special 
                Vedic rituals, Swamishri presided over the patotsav assembly. 
                The assembly featured speeches by the senior sadhus and traditional 
                dances by children and youths. Swamishri again performed the abhishek 
                of Shri Harikrishna Maharaj on stage and then blessed the assembly, 
                describing the glory of these Vedic rituals as well as the murtis 
                of God. He also talked about the devotion and saintliness of the 
                Guru Parampara as the reason for the growth of the BAPS over the 
                past 100 years  |