Hindola

 

Ashad Vad 1 - Shravan Vad 2

This festival marks numerous occasions where Lord Swaminarayan was placed on a swing and rocked to fro for the pleasure of the Satsangis.

There are two prominent stories. Once when Lord Swaminarayan was staying in Vadtal, a decorative swing was tied between two mango trees. Satsangi's rocked Lord Swaminarayan to and fro and so pleased was He with their devotion that He blessed the devotees by showing his twelve divine forms. Lord Swaminarayan also sat on a swing tied between two tamarind trees in Laxmivadi at Gadhada.

Today in our Mandirs in India and abroad we celebrate this by decorating Hindola in various ways throughout the whole month. They are decorated with any theme that can be thought of, from flowers to Gold Coins. Satsangis come to the mandir daily to rock the Lord on the swing, perform Aarti and to prepare the most elaborate Hindolas to please Lord Swaminarayan. Songs of Hindola, which were sung by Great Saints like Premanand Swami, are sung accompanied by musical instruments.