Holi Utsav or Rang Utsav has a special significance in Swaminarayan Sampraday. This utsav is also very famous as Phuspadolotsav in Swaminarayan Sampraday. Lord Shree Swaminarayan celebrated Holi Utsav or Rangotsav on various occasions. Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul, Rajkot and its branches specially at Gurukul Surat celebrate this festival every year. This year to mark the various occasions Holi Utsav was celebrated in devotional and enthusiastic atmosphere.
The festival was started on 4th March by starting 70 hours continuous Raas to mark the 6th anniversary of Akhand Dhun (Continuous chanting of ‘Swaminarayan’ mantra with musical instruments) started by Pujyapad Shree Jogi Swamiji six years ago. Pujya Dharmavallabhdasji Swami and Pujya Naranprasad Swami started the Raas at around 3.00 in the afternoon after performing the Aarti of Thakorji. The students of Ahmedabad Gurukul concluded this continuous Raas on 7th March i.e. on Rangotsav day.
Around 45,000 verses were composed by nand santos. ‘Akhand Samuh Kirtan festival’ was celebrated on 5th March and completed on 6th at 7.00 in the evening. It was started at around 8.00 in the morning by saints, students and youths by performing raas with various musical instruments and chanted around 142 verses. Pujya Hariprasad Swami concluded the Akhand Raas by performing Aarti.
Since last three years in Surat Gurukul continuous Mantralekhan is going on, that’s the notable thing in the Sampraday and every day in at least one house of the Gurukul family organising twenty-four hours mantralekhan in true spirit and devotion. Till date around 400 million Matralekhan has been performed. To mark the offering of ten percentage of mantralekhan (Purshcharan) the yagna was organised on 5th March at 9.00 in the morning in front of Shree Ghanshyam Maharaj. Around 108 male & female haribhaktas have participated in this holy ritual daily . On 6th March at 6.30 in the evening Pujya Sdg. Shree Devkrishandasji Swami and Pujya Sdg. Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami have concluded the yagna by Aarti.
Everyday since 1999 in Surat Gurukul the Mahapooja shaped by Sdg. Shree Gopalanand Swami and Janmangal Yagna are being performed by four holy bhrahmins in great spirit and devotion. Mahavishnu Yaag was organised on 5th and 6th of March to mark the occasion of Rangotsav. Final aahuti (bidu) was offered by Pujya Sdg. Shree Devkrishnadasji Swami and Pujya Sdg. Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami.
The Abhishek of Ghanshyam Maharaj was performed at 6.00 in the morning on the Rangotsav day to celebrate the 7th and 1st Prathistha festival of Ghanshyam Maharaj based in the sadhu aashram and the main prayer hall respectively with many fluids like panchamrut- milk, curd, honey, ghee, sugar, kesar, rose, perfume, with different types of 51 juices by Sdg. Mahant Swami Shree Devkrishnadasji Swami and Pujya Sdg.Shastri Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami followed by all other saints.
After the Abhishek attractive Annakuts of around 223 items of sweets and savouries were offered. These holy annakuts were organised by Shree Bhakti Mahila Mandal and the parents of 10th standard students.
Sdg Shree Devkrishnadasji Swami and Sdg. Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami have worshipped Lord Shree Swaminarayan’s Chakhdi with Tulsi-Patra reciting Janamangal Stotra & Vedic chants. Haribhaktas have performed holy darshan and poojan of Chakhdi upto 8.00 in the evening. It has also been announced that from now onwards on every Rangotsav day this prasadi chakhdi of Lord Swaminarayan will be available for darshan and poojan.
Gurukul’s main object is to develop the child’s inner strength in a multifarious way. To keep this in mind the inauguration ceremony of Satsang hall ‘ Sahajanad Sanskrutic Bhavan’ was performed through the holy hands of Pujya Sdg. Shree Devkrishnadasji Swami and Pujya Sdg. Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami. On this occasion students have performed skate dance.
Rangotsav is also regarded as a Puspodolotsav in Swaminarayan Sampraday. On this occasion with around one tone of flowers beautiful stage showing seven swings suspended from the tree was prepared.
Once Arjun accompanied Shree Krishna to Raivatachal – Mt.Girnar. Here the Lord pleased the Yadavas with his divine lilas. To please the Lord in return Yadavas made a swing of flowers. Then they offered seats to Shree Krishna and Arjun on the hindolo (swing), performed pujan and swung the hindolo. Henceforth the two became renowned as Nar-Narayan and the Pushpadolotsav came into being. Pujya Sdg. Shree Devkrishna Swami and Pujya Sdg. Madhavpriya Swami have performed the aarti of Shree Narnarayan Dev.
Saints sang Bhajans, ‘Vadtal ni Phul vadi’ thrilled the haribhatas. All saints swung the hindolo by singing ‘Mahabalvant Maya Tamari’. Young haribhatas performed the pujan of saints by offering them flowers, dhani(parched grain) etc. Saints and haribhaktas sang the kirtan composed by Pujya Sdg. Madhavpriyadasji Swami ‘Vrundavan ma Kesuda naa Zaad’.
New stage show VCD and MP3 of Bhagvat Katha were released on the occasion. The students of Gurukul performed the play of ‘Mancha Khachar’ signifying the glory and importance of satsang. On this occasion the Saints awarded many students those who have performed well in ‘Satsang Dharmik’ examinations. Pujya Sdg. Shree Madhavpriyadasji Swami described the glory and importance of Pushpadolotsav and Paduka pujan of the Lord on the occasion. Gurukul students have performed the ‘Katchi Raas’ on the occasion. At last Pujya Guruvarya Sdg. Shree Devkrishnadasji Swami concluded the sabha by describing the glory of the occasion.
On the Rangotsav day at around 12.00 noon all saints and haribhaktas were participated in the Rangotsav festival. All have performed raas on the occasion and light the firecrackers. Saints coloured the devotees arrived from Rajkot, Mumbai, Vapi, Vadodra, Ankleshwar, Navsari, Ahmedabad and many more places. After male haribhaktas ladies haribhaktas have also participated in the colour festival.
More than 10,000 devotees attended the festival and departed after having maha-prasad.
Picture Gallery
