Vadodara: A grand celebration to mark the 92nd birth anniversary of Mahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, will be held in Vadodara on Monday.The programme will take place at a sprawling 350-acre venue near BAPS Marg on National Highway 48. Chief minister Bhupendra Patel will be among the prominent dignitaries attending the celebrations, along with several other guests.Extensive preparations are under way for the mega event, with around 15,000 volunteers working round the clock.During the programme, officials from Guinness World Records are expected to felicitate Mahant Swami Maharaj with a certificate of honour. The recognition is for records related to the highest number of Hindu temples worldwide and the collective recitation of Sanskrit shlokas by over 15,000 children associated with the BAPS organisation.Inspired by Mahant Swami Maharaj, thousands of children memorised and recited a compilation of Sanskrit verses. His authored scripture, Satsangdiksha, comprising 351 shlokas, continues to serve as a guiding text for moral and spiritual living, organisers associated with BAPS said.“Late Pramukh Swami Maharaj oversaw the construction of more than 1,200 Hindu temples across the world until 2016. Following him, Mahant Swami Maharaj will now receive this honour. To date, Guinness World Records has awarded five records to Pramukh Swami Maharaj and the BAPS organisation for various cultural achievements,” an organiser said.An estimated two lakh devotees are expected to attend the event in person, while lakhs more from India and abroad will watch the programme through devotional channels, live broadcasts, and the official streaming platform. Volunteers also reached out to over one lakh households across Vadodara, inviting citizens to participate in the celebrations.
