Raj Sadosh/Abohar.

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, USA, marked a historic milestone with the celebration of the Shila Pujan - the sacred foundation-laying ceremony for the new mandir serving the Boston area. Satsang in the region began in early 1990 with weekly assemblies held in devotees’ homes and local venues. Later that same year, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj inaugurated a mandir, nurturing a growing spiritual community. Over the decades, this steady growth has inspired the development of a larger mandir to meet the needs of the expanding Hindu community in the Boston area.

More than 1,000 devotees and well-wishers gathered for the Shila Pujan, which was graced by Pujya Nilkanthsevadas Swami and other revered swamis. Traditional Vedic rituals included devotees placing sanctified bricks and rice into the foundation, symbolizing unity, devotion, and the spiritual grounding of the new mandir.

The Shila Pujan vidhi, the ritual sanctifying the foundation stones, was initiated by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj in Himmatnagar, Gujarat. Pujya Bhaktipriyadas Swami also sanctified the Shila in Robbinsville, New Jersey.

The celebration also featured a vibrant Annakut offering, with hundreds of vegetarian delicacies lovingly presented to Bhagwan Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami. Volunteers from across New England joined with devotion to make the occasion memorable and inspiring