VIJAYAWADA: As many as 525 varieties of vegetarian food items were prepared by the women members of BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, and offered to Bhagwan Swaminarayan to mark the festival of Diwali and Gujarati New Year.
Addressing the press here on Thursday, Swaminarayan Mandir Trust Board member Jagath Bhai Seth said a variety of food items were offered to Bhagwan Swaminarayan as ‘naivedyam’ or as offering to God every year.
To mark the 25th anniversary of Swaminarayan mandir, a two-day Maha Yagnam would be organised on January 6 and January 9, he said, adding that according to Swaminarayan’s preachings, one should be righteous, honest and peaceful.
Another trust board member Naveen Bhai Patel said there are about 1,100 Swaminarayan temples in 55 countries in the world and under BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir, there are 1,100 seers who perform pujas for universal peace and teach Swaminarayan’s preachings to disciples.
On January 6 and 7, 125 people will perform Vishwashanti Yagnam for the development of Andhra Pradesh, he said. ‘Vachanamrut’ and ‘Pravachan’ by the senior most seers would be performed, he added.