Vadtal Dham – Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Wheeling, IL celebrated Shakotsav on February 2nd. The festivities began in the afternoon with a 3 hour akhand dhun to commemorate the upcoming 35th Patotsav celebrations followed by the monthly Mahila Sabha. Parshad Shree Bhanu Bhagat then narrated the Mahima of shakotsav along with its origins tracing back to the village of Loya and the request of Sura Khachar. Similarly, the yuvaks and yuvatis also learned about the origins of this special utsav during Bal Sabha. Even in the frigid cold, over 475 people participated in this year’s Shakotsav and enjoyed the traditional mahaprasad of rotlo, ringan (eggplants), and khichdi.
Wheeling Mandir is also the first Laxminarayan Dev – Vadtal Gadi mandir outside of India and was inaugurated by H.H. 1008 Acharya Shree Ajendraprasadji Maharaj
