Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s Centenary Celebrated Across North America

In celebration of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s 100th birth year, BAPS centers across North America conducted cultural experiences commemorating his life and his guidance towards ‘Param Shanti’, or everlasting peace. In cities throughout North America, 133 events were organized, drawing in over 160,000 attendees.

Loved and respected as one of the world’s great spiritual leaders, Pramukh Swami Maharaj served as the spiritual leader of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha for over 65 years. His life’s work was always focused on uplifting and inspiring spirituality in the lives of individuals.

The ‘Param Shanti’ programs were a culmination of thousands of hours of planning and preparation by volunteers of all ages. The programs featured vibrant dance performances as well as archives of historical footage and audio clips of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s travels and interactions with people from all walks of life. Engaging skits and testimonials, presented relatable situations through the perspective of children, adolescents, and adults going through life’s trials and tribulations. Each portion of the program spoke to one of three qualities – humility, love, and faith – that allowed Pramukh Swami Maharaj to embody ‘Param Shanti’.

For some attendees & guests, the program was an introduction to a great soul whose life embodied a plethora of virtues to imbibe in their own lives. For devotees, this was the culminating moment of anticipation, celebrating the life and achievements of their beloved guru. Recalling the key themes of the event in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams said, “It is now time for us to live the life that he lived. We must be of that level of humility, faith, and love. The lesson he gave us we must pass on to our children. And we must be living examples of how we expect them to be.”

Through his spiritual guidance and leadership, Pramukh Swami Maharaj established the international presence of BAPS with the creation of over 1,100 traditional Hindu mandirs as centers of peace and worship around the world. Driven by his inclination to bring joy to everyone, he not only visited over 250,000 homes across more than 50 countries and personally replied to over 760,000 letters, he also inspired tens of thousands of volunteers to initiate numerous social and spiritual activities in communities across the globe.

In celebration of these efforts, during the event held in Toronto, Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivered felicitations via video message to the attendees. “Today we are celebrating the rich life of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj and everything he did to build and grow BAPS. Throughout his life, His Holiness left a mark in Canada and around the world he spread his lifelong message, ‘In the joy of others, lies our own’.”

“Pramukh Swami Maharaj's message of love and joy has inspired BAPS volunteers to partner with my office to serve those in need in our community. I have always been honored to partner with BAPS and proudly represent the mandir in Congress,” remarked US Congresswoman Young Kim at the celebration held at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, CA.

The programs culminated with an event in the United Nations in New York, NY on December 7. Entitled ‘The World Is One Family’, the program honored the work Pramukh Swami Maharaj did to serve humanity and to bring people from different backgrounds together in the spirit of harmony. Prominent speakers included Ruchira Kamboj, the current representative for The Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, as well as Bawa Jain, Bawa Jain, Secretary-General for the World Council of Religious Leaders and Founder and President of The Centre for Responsible Leadership.

Similar celebrations were held in cities around the world on the continents of Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia as well as in the Middle East & New Zealand. The final grand celebrations will be hosted in Ahmedabad, India as part of a month-long celebration stretching from December 15, 2022 through January 15, 2023 and is expected to be attended by millions from within India and abroad. An entire festival site across 600 acres has been prepared and dubbed as ‘Pramukh Swami Maharaj Nagar’.

Further information on the celebrations can be found at psm100.org

About BAPS 

The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a spiritual, volunteer-driven organization dedicated to improving society through individual growth by fostering the Hindu ideals of faith, unity, and selfless service. Its worldwide network of 3,800 centers supports these character-building activities. Under the guidance and leadership of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, BAPS aspires to build a community that is free of addictions as well as morally, ethically, and spiritually pure. For more details, please visit www.baps.org.

About Mahant Swami Maharaj 

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj is the sixth and current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. He was ordained a swami by Yogiji Maharaj in 1961 and named Sadhu Keshavjivandas. As he was appointed the head (Mahant) of the Mandir in Mumbai, he became known as Mahant Swami. His devout, humble, and service-focused life earned him the innermost blessings of Yogiji Maharaj and Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Mahant Swami Maharaj travels throughout the world inspiring people through his insightful spiritual discourses and disciplined conduct. His virtuous lifestyle and profound devotion to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and gurus are ideals toward which devotees strive. Mahant Swami Maharaj became the guru and President of BAPS upon Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s passing in 2016.

About Pramukh Swami Maharaj 

Pramukh Swami Maharaj was the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Under his leadership, BAPS grew into an international spiritual and humanitarian organization with over 3,300 centers worldwide. He dedicated his life to the well-being of others, traveling throughout the world to foster love, peace, harmony, righteousness, faith in God, and service to humanity. With genuine care and compassion, he reached out to all members of society irrespective of class, color, or age. Recognized and respected as one of India's greatest spiritual teachers, he lived by and promoted the principle: “In the joy of others, lies our own.”