Bhakti festival will be celebrated during Shravan month at Vadtal Swaminarayan temple

Vadtal Swaminarayan Temple: Shravani Bhakti festival will be celebrated at Swaminarayan Temple from Monday 5th August 2024 to 3rd September 2024 on the occasion of Laxminarayandev Bicentennial Festival at Vadtal, the main temple of Swaminarayan sect.

Shri Harikrishna Maharaj, seated in Vadtaldham, will be worshipped with 1.5 lakh Tulsi leaves taken from the Janmangal source uttered by Bhudev and double Tulsi leaves will be offered at his feet.

Vadtal temple's head Kothari Dr. Santvallabhdasji Swami said that Shravani Bhakti Parv is being celebrated in Vadtal temple for the last 5 years and along with the singing of Janamangala Sutra, 1.25 lakh Tulsi leaves will be offered to Shri Harikrishna Maharaj by 11 Bhudevs at the feet of Maharaj. The atmosphere in the temple becomes devotional with the recitation of Janamangala Stotra brought from Vadodara throughout the day.

The Tulsi leaves offered to Harikrishna Maharaj are brought from Vadodara and are picked by the male and female devotees of the temple. After roasting these Tulsi leaves, they are kept in an AC room so that they remain fresh. Haribhakts from Charotar villages join the service of plucking Tulsi leaves. Shiva puja is performed in the temple during the month of Shravan.

In Shri Swaminarayan sect, devotion to Shiva has great importance. In Shikshapatri, Lord Shri Hari has ordered his devotees to worship Mahadevji with love using Bilvapatra etc. in the month of Shravan or worship the holy Bhudev. Vadtal temple president Devprakash Swami and Pujya Shyam Swami are organizing the entire devotional festival.