Swaminarayan Jayanti

Swaminarayan Jayanti, also known as Hari Jayanti, commemorates the birth of Bhagwan Swaminarayan as Ghanshyam in Chhapaiya near Ayodhya on Chaitra Shukla Navami in 1781, the same tithi as Ram Navami. Born to Dharmadev and Bhaktimata, Ghanshyam displayed a strong religious inclination in childhood. At about eleven he left home and travelled across India for years as the young ascetic Nilkanth Varni, visiting pilgrimage centres and studying spiritual traditions. He later met Ramanand Swami, received initiation as Sahajanand Swami and became leader of the fellowship that developed into the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. His followers remember his emphasis on devotion, disciplined moral living, non-violence, freedom from addictions and social service. Mandirs celebrate with kirtan, scripture reading, assemblies, annakut or special offerings and a birth-time aarti; many devotees also observe a fast.

Swaminarayan Jayanti is valued for devotion, family tradition and the spiritual or seasonal meaning attached to the day.

Kept in Swaminarayan temples with a fast until the birth at midday, then the aarti, a cradle, and mahaprasad after. The Shikshapatri is read. Both the older sampradaya and BAPS keep the day, in their own temples and in their own form.

Gujarat, and the Gujarati diaspora, where the sampradaya's temples are the largest institutions of the community - Ahmedabad, Vadtal, Bhuj, and abroad in London, Chicago and Nairobi.