BAPS Flushing Mandir felicitates Akshar and Purushottam images

October 14, 2024

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BAPS sants and devotees carried the twin images of Akshar and Purushottam on theri shoulders on their walk through the city neighborhood in Flushing, NY.
Photo: Courtesy Dr. Vipul Patel, President of BAPS Outreach and Public Affairs, NY.

The Bochasanwasi Swaminarayan Sanstha’s temple in Flushing, NY, celebrated the completion of the 50 years of its inception with felicitations of the twin images of Akshar and Purushottam on October 13, 2024.

The celebration included a ‘nagar yatra’ at 1:30 pm, replicating the historic ‘nagar yatra’ carried out by their guru Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1974. BAPS is one of the oldest temples in New York, the other being the Ganesh Temple, located a few blocks away in Flushing.

Established in 1974 by Pramukh Swami, the temple has worked hard to establish itself in the heart and culture of Flushing, NY, with many charitable undertakings and providing many humanitarian services, informed Dr. Vipul Patel, BAPS Outreach and Public Affairs Administrator to Desi Talk.

In 1974, after its inception, the Mandir had organized a ‘nagar yatra’ of its neighborhood in Flushing. The October 13^th ‘nagar yatra’ replicated the same, keeping the same route, said Patel. It went from Bowne Street where it is situated to Sanford Avenue, then to Kissena Boulevard, and 45^th Avenue, before turning back to Bowne Street.

“It was an amazing walk,” said Patel, describing it as a colorful walk with the twin images carried on the shoulders of the temple ascetics called ‘sant’, and then by devotees, including the ladies. Patel said the ladies were particularly excited, having followed the entire route singing songs and playing garba and raas. Even the men played raas,” Patel said.

BAPS organized a vibrant ‘nagar yatra’ through the streets of Flushing, NY, on October 13, 2024, to felicitate the twin images of Akshar and Purushottam.
Photo: Courtesy Dr. Vipul Patel, President of BAPS Outreach and Public Affairs, NY.

He said that Flushing residents of mixed cultural and ethnic backgrounds were excitedly watching from their windows 525 people walk in colorful festive clothes.

The celebrations continued within the temple’s front yard. Inside the temple, Senator John Liu presented the actual resolution passed by New York State Legislature commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the Flushing Mandir.

This was followed by a ‘maha puja’ performed by the sants with 1,008 names of all gods. That was followed by a celebration of the upcoming Sharad Purnima.