Month-long ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Celebrations:

Festival of Inspirations’ on a 600-acre site in Ahmedabad

Extraordinary Attractions of the Festival Site ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar’

● PM Shri Narendra Modi to inaugurate Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Celebrations in Ahmedabad in the presence of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj at 5pm on 14 December.

● An extraordinary Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar opens from 15 December 2022 to 15 January 2023 due to the dedication of 80,000 volunteers and hundreds of swamis.

The five-year international centenary celebrations of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj will culminate in a grand month-long festival from Thursday 15 December 2022 to Sunday 15 January 2023 in Ahmedabad, honouring the life and work of the globally revered Hindu guru who personified his teaching, “In the joy of others lies our own.”

Pramukh Swami Maharaj inspired millions around the world to live a life infused with love, peace, harmony, faith in God and service to humanity. Many of these millions from around India as well as other countries are expected to participate in the festivities to offer their heartfelt gratitude to Pramukh Swami Maharaj and draw further inspiration from his life, work and wisdom through the various engaging attractions and programmes at the festival.

 

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Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar: Attractions and Programmes

● Festival Site

The month-long ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Celebration’ is being hosted on a gigantic 600-acre site called ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar’ along the Sardar Patel Ring Road on the western edge of Ahmedabad.

The site has been transformed into a cultural wonderland that promises to be the centre of attraction for the entire state of Gujarat. It hosts an exciting variety of attractions and national- and international-level programmes on various facets of Indian culture and Hindu spirituality, with something to inspire and entertain visitors of all ages and backgrounds.

The festival has been made possible through the generous support of more than 250 farmers and builders who have generously offered their land for use as the festival site.

● Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar Overview

The 600-acre Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar is a confluence of art, science and spirituality made possible by the service and dedication of over 80,000 volunteers and swamis. With its grand, artistic gates, inspirational exhibitions, giant replica of Akshardham Mandir, unique Bal Nagari (Children’s Cultural Adventureland), vast assembly arenas hosting a variety of cultural and spiritual programmes, mesmerising light and sound show, glow garden, and national and international academic and professional conferences, Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar will transport visitors into a wondrous world of inspirations.

As a humble tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s lifelong commitment to service, culture and spirituality, the festival site is an extraordinary expression of Indian culture and Hindu spirituality.

● Cultural Gates

A total of seven large, artistic gateways will welcome and guide visitors across the various zones of the festival campus. The main gate, ‘Sant Dwar’, is 380 feet long and 52 feet high, and is visible from the SP Ring Road. It holds 28 statues of some of the great spiritual luminaries of India, such as Adi Shankaracharya, Sant Tulsidas, Bhagwan Shri Buddha, Shri Mahavira Swami, Swami Vivekanand, and others.

Each of the other six gates will be 116 feet long and 38 feet high, and will host inspiring depictions from the life and work of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

● Pramukh Swami Maharaj Maha-Murti

This 30-foot-tall life-like murti of Pramukh Swami Maharaj on a 15-foot pedestal will be encircled by an arcade of archways, each housing inspirational depictions from his life.

● Replica of Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi

Murtis of various Hindu deities will be enshrined in this 67-foot-tall massive replica of Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi, allowing visitors to have darshan and offer devotion. This replica is a befitting tribute to Pramukh Swami Maharaj who created more than 1,200 mandirs across the world.

● Five Exhibition Pavilions

Five immersive shows with interactive exhibits will inspire personal integrity, family harmony, community service and cultural awareness.

1) Sant Param Hitkari – A display of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s generous heart, whose love encompassed both the individual and the entire world. Includes an artistic murti of Pramukh Swami Maharaj created by devotees from England by filling eight hundred thousand pockets with colour.

2) Broken Hearts, Broken Homes – Live performances and video presentations will highlight Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s priceless wisdom for attaining family harmony.

3) Come, Break Free from These Bonds – As Pramukh Swami Maharaj freed millions from the destructive bondage of addiction, this exhibition inspires one to break free from the web of addictions.

4) Our India, My India – Through live performance, video and creative dance, this exhibition reaffirms our duty and devotion to our nation through the life and teachings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

5) Sahajanand Jyoti Mandapam – This exhibition offers visitors an inspiring glimpse of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s life.

● Bal Nagari: Children’s Cultural Adventureland
The Children’s Cultural Adventureland – ‘Bal Nagari’ – is spread across 17 acres and 3 pavilions that will be run by more than 4,500 children. It will host fun exhibitions, educational shows and interactive games for children of all ages that inspire values such as respect, hard work, teamwork, kindness and moral living.

The 60-foot-tall Bal Nagari Welcome Tower is a greeting spot that reflects joy, inspiration and unity. The unique display of the Five Pillars Plaza represents five areas of personal development:

● Sanskar (Civic and Family Values)
● Shikshan (Educational Excellence)
● Swasthya (Health and Wellness)
● Sanskruti (Heritage)
● Satsang (Spirituality and Faith in God)

Three Extraordinary Children’s Shows

● ‘The Sea of Suvarna’: A cast of more than 270 girls will perform an enchanting musical show with ocean animals that provides the message of achieving success by combining hard work with prayers.

● ‘The Jungle of Sheru’: A cast of more than 300 boys will perform an exciting musical show with various jungle characters that inspire children to realize their limitless potential.

● ‘The Village of Buzo’: A hybrid film and live performance with a cast of 88 children telling the riveting story of a boy and his mother that encourages children to honour and care for their parents.

The Bal Mandal Express, a decorative train display, showcases BAPS Children Forum activities, which has grown today into a vast global community of more than 150,000 children and 20,000 adult mentors.

Chansad: An Abode of Peace inspires children to become ideal by following in the footsteps of the ideal child Shantilal (Pramukh Swami Maharaj).

The International Talent Stage features over 150 children and youths from around the world who will showcase their talents on two stages in various programmes featuring group singing, classical music, musical yoga, a dangi dance, an Indian symphony, gymnastics, etc. that will encourage children to excel in all facets of their life.

To ensure that the studies of these children are not disrupted, teachers from various education boards and fields are continuing their classes in the Nagar.

● Narayan Sabhagruh

Daily cultural performances of live music, dance and dramas as well as inspirational talks by renowned speakers will be hosted in this huge open-air arena.

● Professional and Academic Conferences

Professionals from various fields as well as scholars from various disciplines will convene to host a total of 22 conferences on topics that benefit society.

● Conventions and Seminars

Conventions will be held on 21 and 22 December for the empowerment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, in which representatives from various provinces of India will be present.

On 15 December, a national Sant Sammelan will be held in which hundreds of eminent swamis representing various Maths, Sampradays and Akharas from all over India will convene, over which Shrimad Shankaracharyaji Swamishri Sadanandaji Maharaj will preside. Pujya Swamishri Awadheshanandji Maharaj, Pujya Swamishri Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj, Pujya Avichaldasji Maharaj, Pujya Shri Paramatmanandaji Maharaj, Pujya Sri Sri Ravishankarji, Jainacharya Pujya Sri Abhaydevsurishwarji Maharaj and many others will also bless the convention with their august presence.

● Evening Cultural Programmes

Every evening of the 32-day festival will be filled with devotional songs, music and dances as well as inspirational speeches from renowned swamis and dignitaries. Many dignitaries will be participating in the festival programmes, including Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi, Vice-President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, Shri Amitbhai Shah, Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, as well as many dignitaries from outside India.

The grand closing ceremony of the festival will be on 15 January 2023 in the presence of hundreds of thousands.

● Light & Sound Show: “The Celebration of a Purna Purush”

Every evening a cast of more than 575 children and youths will provide a message of divine bliss with live performances combined with 3D projections in a massive 25,000-capacity open-air arena.

● Pramukh Glow Garden

This vast, enchanting garden spread over 30 acres will serve as a haven of natural beauty blossoming with the inspirational teachings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. As he illuminated countless lives with the radiance of faith, the garden inspires spirituality. Here, life-sized birds and animals, trees, and replicas display vibrant colours during the day and illuminate the night with colourful light.

● Landscape

Pramukh Swami Maharaj actively advocated for the nurture of nature. During his lifetime, he inspired and encouraged numerous environmental conservation projects worldwide. His message of environmental preservation has been reinforced by planting more than 1.1 million plants and trees throughout the Nagar. The nursery created in the Nagar is spread across 3 acres, and includes more than 200 species from locations across Gujarat and India. To conserve water, a drip irrigation system has been set up around the entire festival site to water these plants.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar Times

o FREE ENTRY
o Monday to Saturday: 2pm to 9pm & Sunday: 9am to 9pm
o The festival site will close every day at 10pm

Facilities for Visitors at Pramukh Swami Nagar
o Free Parking
o Premvati Food Court and Premvati Prasadam
Serving vegetarian cuisine from various regions of India and around the world, along with refreshments and cold drinks.
o Bookstall and Souvenir Shop
o Toilets and R.O Drinking Water Facilities at all gates and on three main pathways inside
o Emergency Medical Services
o Inquiry Booths
o PSM100nagar mobile app for navigation inside Nagar, available at psm100.org/app link

● Organizers: BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
This festival has been organized by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a worldwide socio-spiritual organization constantly endeavouring to motivate millions for living an upright life through various cultural festivals and social welfare activities. Under the guidance of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the celebration of this festival will inspire millions from India and abroad to enkindle moral values.

● Swamis and Volunteers: The Backbone of the Nagar

The backbone of the Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar is its dedicated force of 80,000 volunteers and hundreds of swamis. These volunteers and swamis form a diverse group of professionals and skilled workers who come from different geographical, academic, and social backgrounds, resulting in an effective mosaic of leaders and workers. Out of the thousands of volunteers serving in this Nagar, many have professional careers and businesses, while others have left such positions to serve full-time by admirably balancing their personal, family, social, professional and volunteer duties. These volunteers have been overseeing physical service, planning, management and implementation in almost 45 departments in the Nagar.

● Inspirer: His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj
The ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj Centenary Celebrations’ are inspired by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the sixth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and present guru of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha.

For over six decades, he served under the guidance of his gurus Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj, tirelessly visiting villages, towns and cities throughout India and the world. His striking humility, serene spirituality and profoundly insightful discourses continue to inspire and strengthen faith and better living in countless people of all ages around the world.