MELVILLE, NY(TIP): On November 8th, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York will be celebrating the Diwali Festival.  The Annakut Thaal will be held at 10:30am, with Murti Darshan from 11am to 7pm, and hourly Aarti starting at 11am and going until 7pm, with dinner to follow. There will be ample parking, so come receive blessings from the Saints for the New Year.  It is a community event to pray, meet and greet and enjoy the food and festivities. So, please come and join us to celebrate our most auspicious holiday, Diwali.

Diwali, traditionally a five-day celebration of various rituals and Hindu  practices  associated with  each  day, brings  in  the New  Year  for Hindus  and celebrates the triumph of good over evil.  The main celebration is the Annakut  festival.  Annakut, as practiced throughout BAPS Mandirs worldwide, is a unique and awe-inspiring sight of devotion wherein numerous vegetarian food dishes are prepared by devotees and offered to the Mandir’s sacred images. The  events  for children  and  families will  provide  an opportunity  for  community members  to engage with spiritual and cultural themes, thereby bringing positive energy into the New Year, learning  about  scriptural narratives related to  Diwali, and  participating  in rangolis and  other traditional decorations