SWAMINARAYAN AKSHARDHAM

 

 I visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar, Gujarat on 1st December 2012.  It is a beautiful complex spread over 23 acres of land near Ahmedabad.  Very tastefully and nicely built with exhibition halls, theatres, gardens and a giant pink sandstone monument.  The monument is 108 ft tall, 240 ft long and 131 ft. wide.  They have used 6,000 metric tonnes of pink sandstone and it took six years and 8 million manhours to build the monument.  There are 97 sculpted pillars, 220 stone-beams, 57 stone-windows, 17 domes, 8 ornate balconies and a large podium.  In the main hall of the monument is the 7 ft high gold-leafed, serene and divine murti of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

The monument and all the halls surrounding it with huge garden at the middle and the sides is very nicely maintained.  There was huge crowd and the highlight of the visit was the "Water Show" with sound, light, fire, live performing artistes and a beautiful story line.  This show was for one hour with laser, 3D images, water, fire, light and sound and I have never seen a performance like this anywhere in the world so far.  It was a magnificent show and the only bad thing about the show is it is limited to only one hour.  I wish they had a story for more than one hour.

The Water Show which includes lasers, lights, water, fire, surround sound, animation, video projection and live characters is the first of its kind and is shown on a 80 ft. wide and 60 ft. high water screen.  I saw the gripping story of Nachiketa, a nine year old boy who confronts Yamaraj.  The boy and his father are real characters who perform in front of the water screen.

Nachiketa fearlessly faces Yamaraj and wants to know about what happens after death and how eternal happiness can be attained.  Yamraj tests the young boy Nachiketa to see if he is genuinely spiritual and then enlightens him with the knowledge of atman and paramatman - the source of immortality and eternal happiness.  It is a spectacular and unique show and was very fulfilling and entertaining.  See the sample video of the water show below:



WISHING YOU ALL A WONDERFUL, HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2013 AND BEYOND.

T.P.Anand
Dubai, U.A.E.
3rd January 2013