June 18, 2006
Atlanta, GA
Early Sunday
morning, yet another milestone towards the completion of the
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Atlanta was celebrated by saints
and devotees with the consecration of the first carved pillar.
On June 18, 2006,
first marble pillar was installed in the temple which is constructed
to stand for nearly 1,000 years. The ceremony, called the
Stambh Sthapan Vidhi, was blessed and conducted in accordance
with the traditional Hindu rituals by Pujya Bhaktipriya Swami.
While blessing the congregation, he expressed his joy for
the unity and sacrifice shown by the volunteers, saints and
devotees. He continued by saying, that those who come and
pray to these pillars will achieve peace of mind and purity
of heart.
Among distinguished
guests present, Pujya Bhaktipriya Swami garlanded chief guest
Dr. Naveen Nanda, an admired cardiologist with almost 700
publications to his name. Dr. Nanda expressed how humbled
he felt by being in the presence of such honorable saints
and devotees. He cited the event as being important steps
towards the preservation of Indian culture in the West and
the upliftment of society.
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