While His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj continues his spiritual travels around India, devotees at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandirs across North America celebrated his 90th birthday on Sunday, December 19, 2010. Children, youth and adults dedicated their time and efforts to celebrate the anniversary of a guru who has touched millions through a lifetime of selfless service and devotion.

The celebrations around the continent were designed around the sentiment, “Evo tãro sneha chhe amit,” exploring Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s limitless love for all. At each center, BAPS youth spent weeks preparing dances, dramas, and devotional songs honoring the life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. “No one who has met Pramukh Swami Maharaj can fail to be touched by his limitless love for all. It is the inspiration that has powered not only my own spiritual transformation, but the spiritual quest of so many around the world,” asserted Chirag Shah, youth coordinator in Edison, New Jersey.

Every year, Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s age also becomes a focal point for devotion, as devotees pay tribute to the guru’s many years of sacrifice by performing that many hours of personal spiritual observances. This year, devotees participated in a 90-hour stretch of personal spiritual pursuits including extended prayer sessions, reading of spiritual books, and refraining from indulgent foods to name a few.

“I didn’t eat any candy for 90-hours,” ten-year old Deepak Solanki smiled. “At 90 years old he travels the world to be with us so I wanted to sacrifice my favorite thing to show him the same love he shows me.”

A volunteer in Houston expressed his enthusiasm after the program. “Even though my guru is in India, I was able to celebrate his life’s work through the cultural programs with my community,” said Viren Joshi. “This is a great way to commemorate the life of someone who inspires me every day.”

Anita Desai, a thirteen-year old girl, practiced her story-telling skills all week; as part of the celebration she narrated inspiring incidents from Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s life in front of her youth class at the mandir. “I was excited to share these stories with my friends because they remind me of how encouraging and motivating my guru’s life has been.” In the spirit of the occasion, her participation brought festive smiles to the devotees of the South Asian community in Atlanta.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj is an inspiration for countless people around the globe. During the course of his lifetime he has personally counseled countless people, having read and replied to over half a million letters from people of all walks of life.  Even at the age of 90, he continues to travel throughout India, inspiring people to lead lives grounded in spiritually and selfless service. Out of compassion for humanity, his life’s work aims to promote spirituality throughout society.

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About BAPS
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a worldwide socio-spiritual organization in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, is dedicated to community service, peace and harmony. Motivated by Hindu principles, BAPS strives to care for the world by caring for societies, families and individuals. Through a number of social and spiritual activities, BAPS endeavors to produce better citizens of tomorrow who have a high esteem for their roots - their rich Hindu culture. Its 3,300 international centers support these activities of character-building. Under the guidance and leadership of His Divine Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS aspires to build a community that is morally, ethically and spiritually pure, and free of addictions.

About Pramukh Swami Maharaj
His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, has inspired millions of people across the world to lead a God-centered, morally pure life. As the present leader of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj travels from village to village, continent to continent, emphasizing the importance of family harmony, community service and spiritual progress. He embodies the essence of Hindu life. His compassion for humanity, universal wisdom and striking simplicity have touched many world religious and national leaders.

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