Swaminarayan / BAPS — observances and vrat guides
Swaminarayan calendars combine Ekadashi discipline with celebrations connected to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, temple life and the guru tradition. BAPS and other Swaminarayan communities may publish schedules suited to their own mandirs. A festival's significance cannot be inferred from a matching Hindu date alone: the teaching remembered, assembly held and food offered can be different. Ekadashi menus are prepared according to the family's or mandir's accepted rules. Devotees may also give particular attention to darshan, reading and service rather than a more demanding fast. This collection keeps the named celebrations and recurring fasts individually discoverable.
The catalog currently includes 22 distinct entries in this collection. Examples are Swaminarayan Jayanti; Fuldol; Annakut (New Year); Ekadashi; Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj Jayanti. Their recorded devotional focus includes Swaminarayan Bhagwan (Sahajanand Swami); Swaminarayan Bhagwan / Lord Krishna; Swaminarayan Bhagwan / Lord Vishnu; Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj — founder of BAPS, the third Aksharbrahman guru. Follow the individual links below for the full description, calendar dates, mantra and allowed or avoided foods; each link leads to a dedicated observance page rather than a search result.
Calendar dates are references, not a substitute for the observance rules of your chosen city and community. Lunar days can cross civil-date boundaries, and regional practice can change which day is kept. Meal suggestions are optional ideas for an allowed meal, not instructions to eat during a complete fast. Children, pregnant people and anyone with a medical condition should seek appropriate advice before fasting. Compare the linked guides with your family or temple's practice and choose a discipline suited to your health.
All 22 observances in this collection
- Swaminarayan Jayanti — March 26, 2026
Swaminarayan Jayanti celebrates the birth of Sahajanand Swami — Swaminarayan Bhagwan — on Chaitra Shukla Navami (the same tithi as Ram Navami, 1781 CE). Mandirs resound with kirtans, discourses, the chanting of 'Swaminarayan Swaminarayan', and the offering of Chhappan Bhog (56 food items) to Swaminarayan Bhagwan
- Fuldol — March 3, 2026
Fuldol is the joyful Swaminarayan equivalent of Holi, celebrated on Phalgun Purnima. Instead of coloured powder, devotees shower each other and the deities with fragrant flower petals in an act of pure devotion. Mandirs are decorated with flowers, and the atmosphere fills with kirtans and the fragrance of marigold, rose, and chameli
- Annakut (New Year) — November 10, 2026
Annakut (literally 'mountain of food') marks the Swaminarayan New Year on Kartik Sud 1, the day after Deepawali. Mandirs display an elaborate mountain of 56+ food varieties offered to Swaminarayan Bhagwan. The New Year begins with darshan, kirtan, and prasad shared with all
- Ekadashi — January 14, 2026
Ekadashi — the 11th day of each lunar fortnight — is strictly observed in Swaminarayan tradition. Swaminarayan Bhagwan himself fasted on Ekadashi and gave specific Ekadashi niyams (rules) in the Shikshapatri (verse 80), making it one of the most important observances for all satsangis
- Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj Jayanti — February 22, 2026
Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj Jayanti — Maha Sud 5 (Vasant Panchami day) — the appearance day of the founder of BAPS, the third Aksharbrahman guru in the Akshar-Purushottam line. Celebrated at every BAPS mandir worldwide with grand katha, abhishek, and prasad. The day Shastriji Maharaj manifested in Mahelav village, Gujarat in 1865 — a soul who would single-handedly establish the Akshar-Purushottam Darshan as a separate institutional reality.
- Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj Jayanti — May 23, 2026
Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj Jayanti — Vaishakh Vad 12 — the appearance day of the fourth Aksharbrahman guru of BAPS, born in Dhari village, Saurashtra in 1892. Celebrated at every BAPS mandir worldwide with grand abhishek, special katha on his life, and the singing of his beloved kirtans. The 'guru of love' whose pure affection drew thousands of young men into BAPS sadhu life.
- Pragat Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj Jayanti — December 7, 2026
Pragat Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj Jayanti — Maha Vad 8 — the appearance day of the fifth Aksharbrahman guru of BAPS, born in Chansad village, Vadodara on December 7, 1921. The most attended utsav at every BAPS mandir worldwide. Pramukh Swami Maharaj built BAPS into the global movement it is today — 1,200+ mandirs, 4 Akshardhams, hundreds of educational and humanitarian projects, and a worldwide satsang of over a million followers.
- Pragat Brahmaswarup Mahant Swami Maharaj Jayanti — September 13, 2026
Pragat Brahmaswarup Mahant Swami Maharaj Jayanti — Bhadarva Sud 1 — the appearance day of the current sixth Aksharbrahman guru of BAPS, born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh on September 13, 1933. The most important utsav for the present generation of BAPS satsangis — the day to take darshan of (or watch online from) the pragat guru. Inaugurated BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi (Feb 2024) and continues the worldwide expansion of BAPS.
- Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami Jayanti — September 25, 2026
Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami Jayanti — Aso Sud 15 (Sharad Purnima) — the appearance day of the first Aksharbrahman guru of BAPS. Coincides with the cool full-moon night when devotees offer kheer prasad under the moon. The single most important guru-jayanti for BAPS theologically — Gunatitanand Swami is the eternal Akshardham, the dwelling of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, in human form. Bhagwan Swaminarayan declared: 'Where Gunatitanand Swami is, there am I.'
- Brahmaswarup Bhagatji Maharaj Jayanti — February 16, 2026
Brahmaswarup Bhagatji Maharaj Jayanti — Maha Vad 11 — the appearance day of the second Aksharbrahman guru of BAPS, born in Mahuva, Saurashtra in 1829. A householder-tailor by profession who attained the supreme spiritual state through pure satsang with Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami. Demonstrates the BAPS principle that householders too can attain the highest spiritual realisation through guru-bhakti.
- Pragat Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj Punyatithi — August 13, 2026
Pramukh Swami Maharaj Punyatithi (Akshar-vihar Anniversary) — observed every August 13 — the day Pragat Brahmaswarup Pramukh Swami Maharaj returned to Akshardham at Sarangpur in 2016 after a 95-year life of guru-service. The most solemn day of the BAPS year. Observed at every BAPS mandir worldwide with extra jap, special remembrance kathas, and video presentations from his life.
- Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj Punyatithi — January 23, 2027
Brahmaswarup Yogiji Maharaj Punyatithi — Magh Vad 8 — the akshar-vihar (return to Akshardham) anniversary of the fourth Aksharbrahman guru of BAPS, who returned to the Lord on January 23, 1971 at Mumbai. Observed at every BAPS mandir with extra jap and special kathas on his life and ashirwad to the satsang.
- Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj Punyatithi — May 1, 2026
Brahmaswarup Shastriji Maharaj Punyatithi — Vaishakh Sud 5 — the akshar-vihar anniversary of the founder of BAPS and the third Aksharbrahman guru, who returned to the Lord on May 10, 1951 at Sarangpur. Observed at every BAPS mandir with special remembrance kathas on his founder-tapasya.
- Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami Punyatithi — October 25, 2026
Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami Punyatithi — Aso Vad 12 — the akshar-vihar anniversary of the first Aksharbrahman guru of the BAPS line, who returned to the Lord on October 14, 1867 at Gondal. The Akshar Mandir at Gondal — built around his samadhi place by Shastriji Maharaj — is the principal pilgrimage spot for this day.
- BAPS Sthapana Din (Founding Day of BAPS) — June 5, 2026
BAPS Sthapana Din — June 5 — the founding day of BAPS, celebrated annually at every BAPS mandir worldwide. Commemorates Shastriji Maharaj's establishment of the first Akshar-Purushottam mandir at Bochasan in 1907. Now 119+ years strong, BAPS operates 1,200+ mandirs across six continents, runs 80+ educational institutions and major humanitarian projects worldwide, and inaugurated BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi in February 2024.
- Swaminarayan Akshardham Delhi Pratishtha Mahotsav — November 6, 2026
Swaminarayan Akshardham Delhi Pratishtha Mahotsav — November 6 — the murti pratishtha anniversary of Swaminarayan Akshardham, New Delhi (consecrated 2005). One of the most visited religious-cultural complexes in India and listed by Guinness World Records as the 'World's Largest Comprehensive Hindu Temple'. Built in 5 years by 11,000 artisans on a 100-acre Yamuna-bank site under Pramukh Swami Maharaj's direct guidance.
- Swaminarayan Akshardham New Jersey Pratishtha Mahotsav — October 8, 2026
Swaminarayan Akshardham New Jersey Pratishtha Mahotsav — October 8 — the murti pratishtha anniversary of the largest Hindu temple in the western hemisphere (consecrated 2023, Robbinsville, NJ). 183-acre site built over 12 years by 12,500 BAPS volunteers — entirely by seva (no paid labour) — under Mahant Swami Maharaj's direct guidance.
- BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi Pratishtha Mahotsav — February 14, 2027
BAPS Hindu Mandir Abu Dhabi Pratishtha Mahotsav — February 14 — the murti pratishtha anniversary of the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East (consecrated 2024). 27-acre site at Abu Mureikha, gifted by H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (President of UAE). Inaugurated by H.H. Sheikh and Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. A historic moment for Hinduism in the Gulf.
- Hindola Utsav (5-Day Swing Festival) — August 9, 2026
Hindola Utsav — 5-day Sravan swing festival — when Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami are placed on artistically themed hindolas (swings) and gently swung by devotees. Each day's hindola is themed differently (flowers, fruits, sweets, mirrors, lights). Observed at every BAPS mandir worldwide.
- Pushpadolotsav (Flower Festival) — March 23, 2027
Pushpadolotsav — Phagan Sud 13 — the BAPS flower festival when Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Aksharbrahman Gunatitanand Swami are showered with thousands of fresh flower petals. Distinct from the broader Fuldol festival of the Swaminarayan tradition — Pushpadolotsav is the BAPS-distinctive flower-shower assembly. Observed at every BAPS mandir worldwide with thousands of petals carpeting the mandir floor.
- Brahmaswarup Bhagatji Maharaj Punyatithi — December 4, 2026
Brahmaswarup Bhagatji Maharaj Punyatithi — Margshirsh Vad 11 — the akshar-vihar anniversary of the second Aksharbrahman guru of BAPS, who returned to the Lord on 8 November 1897 at Mahuva. Observed at every BAPS mandir with extra jap and special kathas on his selfless seva of Gunatitanand Swami and his pivotal role in the formation of BAPS.
- Vachanamrut Jayanti — December 12, 2026
Vachanamrut Jayanti — Posh Sud 4 — the appearance day of the Vachanamrut, the foundational scripture of the Swaminarayan Sampraday. The day Bhagwan Swaminarayan delivered His first recorded discourse at Gadhada on 21 December 1819. Observed at every BAPS mandir with grand parayan assemblies — devotees recite all 273 Vachanamruts continuously across the day. The single most important scripture-day of the Swaminarayan year.