The Hindola utsav is celebrated from Ashadh Vad 2 to Shravan Vadh 2.

The origins of the divinity of Hindola go back to Vrindavan, 5000 years ago where the Gopis swayed Lord Krishna on a decorated swing. The Hindola utsav has a special status in the Hindu dharma due to this event because of the divine joy of rocking the almighty Lord for His pleasure. The back and forth motion is expressive of bliss, a flight away from the mundane worries of the world. The swinging motion creates elation and identification with spirituality. One experiences a tranquil state of mind because of the immersion into His lustrous murti swaying back and forth. The act of seating the idol upon the Hindola is in itself one of veneration.

During Swaminarayan Bhagwan’s time, once whilst in Vadtal, a decorative Hindolo was tied to a couple of mango trees and the devotees rocked the Bhagwan back and forth. Bhagwan became so pleased that He blessed the devotees by showing his twelve divine forms for this whole month.

During this month the Chal (mobile) murti of Bhagwan is seated upon the Hindola (decorated swing) and swayed back and forth to commemorate the event. Devotees sing hindola bhajans, and the whole mandir is charged with the extra vibrancy and energy of the extra special bhakti that surrounds this utsav. The Hindola is decorated differently everyday with great grandeur and splendour, using a variety of colours, shapes, form and material. Satsangis perform daily aarti of these richly decorated Hindolas for the blessing and merit of Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

Bhagwan Swaminarayan also often sat on a swing tied between two tamarind trees in Laxmivadi in Gadhada.