Care for Traditions
International Activities
In parts of the world where values like purity, character, and simple spiritual living can be hard to practice, many people still long for a deeper life beyond modern Western culture. In 1995, Gurudev Bapji began sharing satsang—spiritual teachings and community—internationally. Since then, the SMVS movement has grown across the globe.
Temples have been built in cities such as Jersey City, Atlanta, Boston, and Cherry Hill in the U.S., as well as in London, Canada, and Dubai. Satsang has reached other nations too, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, and Uganda. Today, there are eight SMVS temples outside India, and land has already been acquired for over ten more.
To help people abroad grow spiritually, sants and local leaders run various programs alongside temple activities. These programs teach values to all age groups—kids, teens, adults, and elders. They include spiritual teachings, life values, traditions, education, personal growth, and sports. Weekly satsang assemblies are at the heart of these efforts. There are separate sabhas (gatherings) for children, teens, youth, joint families, and more—drawing hundreds every week.
To make learning enjoyable for kids, summer and winter camps are held. These camps include games, storytelling, art, sports, and fun contests. Leaders also give one-on-one guidance to help kids grow spiritually. Annual satsang retreats and music classes are available, along with Gujarati language classes to help preserve the culture.
Youth can participate in speech competitions, family picnics, sports, PR projects, and music nights. Regular youth retreats are often led by visiting sants.
Each year, during overseas visits, sants host sabhas, celebration events, personal meetings, and retreats to energize local satsangis.
To support women in satsang, female sants from Bhaktinivas travel abroad annually, organizing special women’s sabhas and programs under their guidance.
Celebration Events
Spiritual celebrations are powerful ways to connect with divinity—through darshan (divine vision), seva (service), communal joy, and prasad (sanctified food).
Bhagwan Swaminarayan began the tradition of grand celebration events not just for joy, but as spiritual gifts that uplift souls. He personally served prasad and led these events, calling them “eternal charity.”
In this same spirit, Gurudev Bapji and HDH Swamishri continue organizing large-scale celebrations that carry forward this sacred legacy.
Major Celebration Events by SMVS:
- Bhagwan Swaminarayan Bicentennial Celebration
Date: April 5–13, 1981 (9 days)
Place: Ghanshyamnagar, Ahmedabad
Attendance: 4,500+ - Ghanshyamnagar 10th Anniversary Celebration
Date: April 20–27, 1984 (8 days)
Place: Ghanshyamnagar, Ahmedabad
Attendance: 9,000+ - Jivanpran Abjibapashri 150th Anniversary Celebration (Phase 1)
Date: December 21–27, 1993 (7 days)
Place: Lunawada, Panchmahal
Attendance: 390,000+ - Jivanpran Abjibapashri 150th Anniversary Celebration (Phase 2)
Date: April 27–May 9, 1995 (13 days)
Place: Vasna, Ahmedabad
Attendance: 1,800,000+ - Swaminarayan Mahamantra Bicentennial Celebration
Date: December 31, 2001–January 10, 2002 (11 days)
Place: Swaminarayan Dham, Gandhinagar
Attendance: 550,000+ - Vachanamrut Rahasyarth Bapashri Vani Centenary Celebration
Date: December 17–24, 2006 (8 days)
Place: Swaminarayan Dham, Gandhinagar
Attendance: 300,000+ - SMVS Silver Jubilee Celebration
Date: December 21–28, 2012 (8 days)
Place: Swaminarayan Dham, Gandhinagar
Attendance: 358,950+ - Vachanamrut Bicentennial Celebration
Date: October 30–November 3, 2019 (5 days)
Place: Swaminarayan Dham, Gandhinagar
Attendance: 80,000+ - Jivanpran Abjibapashri Centenary Amrut Celebration
Date: November 21–22 & 26–30, 2020 (7 days; held online due to COVID)
Place: Swaminarayan Dham, Gandhinagar
Attendance: 537,352 - Anadimukta Vishwam Shilanyas
Date: March 25, 2024 (1 day)
Attendance: 90,000+
Conferences and Councils
Since 1995, SMVS has organized a wide range of educational and social conferences to encourage personal and spiritual growth. These events have had a meaningful impact on individuals and communities.
Notable conferences include:
- Senior Citizens Conference
- Blind & Disabled Conference
- Teachers’ Conference
- Youth Awakening Conference
- Sants’ Council
- Character Development Council
Led by Gurudev Bapji and now by HDH Swamishri, these events invite experts in relevant fields, with Swamishri offering deep insights and spiritual wisdom.
These programs empower people of all ages to live with purpose, develop wisdom, and contribute positively to society. SMVS continues to be a truly life-changing organization, devoted to uplifting humanity through spiritual growth and service.
Sant Vicharan (Spiritual Journeys by Sants)
The traveling sants of SMVS have been a powerful force for positive change. Through their regular visits and uplifting spiritual talks, they’ve helped transform many households. Where there were once arguments, stress, and negativity, there is now love, understanding, and unity. Their clear, heartfelt guidance helps people truly understand who Bhagwan Swaminarayan is—and how to live a meaningful life connected to Him.
These sants guide everyone with equal care—no matter their caste, background, or religion. They lead with compassion, treating each person with dignity and helping them find the right spiritual path.
From the smallest villages in India to busy neighborhoods in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Kenya, Uganda, Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, Dubai, and Bahrain, SMVS sants are on the move. They personally visit homes, sharing the teachings of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and promoting values that build strong character and deep spiritual roots.
Thanks to their dedication, SMVS hosts over 16,000 satsang events annually. These spiritual gatherings help thousands—and even millions—better understand devotion, life purpose, and inner peace.
In addition to public events, sants hold more than 40,000 padharamani and special prayer visits annually. These one-on-one moments offer families personal support and practical advice. Many people give up harmful habits and begin living more mindful, positive lives. Homes become peaceful, spiritually uplifting spaces.
Every year, thousands let go of superstitions and fear-based beliefs. Instead, they begin to understand the true greatness of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and develop a direct relationship with Him.
Thanks to these travels and the personal mentoring of SMVS sants, thousands of families rise above spiritual confusion and emotional hardship. They discover lives full of clarity, peace, and purpose.
