Baps Hamilton temple celebrates first anniversary
Baps Hamilton Mandir celebrates it’s first year anniversary this month.
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The Baps Hamilton temple will complete its first anniversary this month.
Baps (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha) is a Hindu religious and social organisation that aims to preserve Indian culture and ideology.
The Mandir (temple) in Te Rapa Road hosts more than 100 devotees every Sunday evening for worship gatherings called Satsang-Sabha. Devotees also share a meal (Maha prasad) together.
In this temple, regional Gujarati language and traditional Indian music classes are held for the community’s children.
Baps Hamilton co-ordinator Mr Jayesh Patel said the organisation was a global and well-established Hindu organization.
Baps actively engaged in a range of endeavors aimed at spirituality, character-building, and human welfare. Activities span religious, cultural, social, and humanitarian domains. Through these activities, Baps aims to preserve Indian culture and the ideals of the Hindu faith: family unity, selfless service, interfaith harmony, and peaceful coexistence.
“There are 55,000 volunteers and 1200 temples serving 3850 centers around the world. As of August 2018, the BAPS has approximately 1560 saints or Sadhus, among the most saints in one Sanstha in Hinduism.
“We celebrate the temple anniversary by the Hindu calendar, so we already celebrated it in the month of February. Last year Mahant Swami performed Murtipuja of this temple in Auckland.”
Hamilton professional Rakesh Solanki said his brother is a Sadhu in this organisation.
“And I am also connected with Baps since my childhood. Last year the two-day celebrations commemorating the mandir opening were attended by many devotees and well-wishers from the local and regional community. Satsang in Hamilton city began in 2002.
“This mandir was opened in June 2018. The inaugural celebrations began on the evening of June 16 with a cultural programme.
“On 17 June, BAPS swamis, devotees, and members of the local Hindu community participated in the Vedic consecration mahapuja ceremony. Thereafter, Brahmamuni Swami installed the auspicious murtis in the new mandir, to the accompaniment of Vedic verses. HH Mahant Swami Maharaj had previously performed the Vedic murti-pratishtha rituals of the murtis on 19 February 2018 in Auckland.”
BAPS was established on June 5, 1907 by Shastri Maharaj after leaving the Vadtal Gadi of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. Mahant Swami Maharaj is the current Guru and the president of the organization.
