Jetalpur, March 2, 2026:The historic Bicentenary Festival commemorating 200 years of the consecration (PranPratishtha) of RevatiBaldevjiHarikrishnaMaharaj at Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Jetalpur will be celebrated with great devotion and grandeur.Out of the nine temples built by Bhagwan Shree Swaminarayan himself, the temple at Jetalpur holds special significance as the fifth temple where he personally installed the idols of RevatiBaldevji and HarikrishnaMaharaj. On the auspicious day of Fagan VadAatham, VikramSamvat 2082 (March 11, 2026), the temple will complete 200 years since this historic consecration ceremony.
To mark this landmark occasion, a grand Bicentenary Patotsav will be organized from March 5 to March 11, 2026 with great enthusiasm and devotion. The celebrations will be held under the chairmanship of PujyaBhaviAcharya 108 VrajendraprasadjiMaharaj, with the blessings and guidance of Shree NarNarayanDevPeethadhishPujyaAcharya 1008 KoshalendraprasadjiMaharaj and MotaMaharajshreePujyaTejendraprasadjiMaharaj.
On this occasion, Governor of Gujarat AcharyaDevvrat stated that it is a matter of great fortune for everyone to be present at the bicentenary celebration of the Swaminarayan Temple in Jetalpur, which was established by BhagwanSwaminarayan himself. He highlighted that the SwaminarayanSampradaya not only contributes significantly in the spiritual domain but also actively works for social welfare through various initiatives. He also shared insights about his unique initiative of natural farming, explaining its positive impact on health and encouraging people to adopt it.
Delivering the welcome address during the Bicentenary celebrations, PujyaBhaviAcharyaVrajendraprasadjiMaharaj said that it is a remarkable coincidence that while the SwaminarayanSampradaya marks 200 years of the consecration at Jetalpur, the RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh (RSS) is also completing 100 years. He emphasized that both institutions have continuously worked towards spreading awareness about Hindutva and uniting the Hindu community. He called upon devotees and saints to work together to strengthen Sanatan Dharma and ensure its secure future.
Addressing the gathering, RSS SarsanghchalakDr. Mohan Bhagwat said in a light-hearted manner that meeting seniors brings joy to juniors, and he felt similar happiness because while the RSS has been working for 100 years, the SwaminarayanSampradaya has been carrying out similar work for 200 years. He emphasized that religion unites people rather than dividing them and that society must continue to strengthen unity and harmony. He added that all human beings are created by God, and discrimination based on caste or status should not exist. According to him, systems created in society were meant for organization, not discrimination. He further stated that in the present global scenario, India will inevitably have to show direction to the world, and society must prepare itself to undertake this responsibility. He also appreciated the remarkable work done in Gujarat in the fields of de-addiction and social service, attributing much of this progress to the influence of the SwaminarayanSampradaya over the past two centuries.
Expressing gratitude on the occasion, Shree NarNarayanDevPeethadhishPujyaAcharya 1008 KoshalendraprasadjiMaharaj stated that while there is the SwaminarayanSampradaya and the SanghParivar, the objective of both is ultimately the same. He noted that the vision of Akhand Bharat is not merely a dream but a reality rooted in cultural unity. He also remarked that the respect Indians receive abroad today is the result of decades of dedication, sacrifice, and efforts to spread awareness and unity. Under the leadership of Dr. Mohan Bhagwat, the SanghParivar has carried forward this work, and its impact is now visible globally.
The event was attended by several dignitaries including RSS Regional PracharakChintanbhai Parikh, Regional PracharakRameshbhaiBapa, Gujarat Government Minister Rishikesh Patel, Gujarat assembly MLA BabubhaiJamnadas Patel, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, and PradipsinhJadeja, among others.
