Members of the Swaminarayan Sampraday weave purity into every corner of daily life, treating it as the warp and weft of spiritual discipline. Come sunrise, hands and feet are washed before stepping into the home temple for a brief puja, offering fresh flowers and chanting the madhur mantra. A ritual bath follows, signaling a clean slate—not just of the body, but of the mind.

Dietary rules are notably strict. Vegetarianism is non-negotiable, with onion, garlic and root vegetables often excluded to maintain sattvic (pure) energy. Alcohol, tobacco and any intoxicants are strictly off the table—no exceptions. During Ekadashi fasts, grains and beans are set aside, and water intake is carefully timed. This isn’t simply old-fashioned austerity; it’s a way to keep the senses from running wild.

Clothing and appearance carry their own code. Daily dress is modest—dhoti or kurta for men, simple saris or salwar-kameez for women—with the forehead marked by the distinctive tilak-chandlo, a reminder of inner focus. Monastics adopt saffron robes, shave their heads or maintain neatly cropped hair, and pledge lifelong celibacy. Lay followers observe chastity in marriage, refraining from any relations outside wedlock.

Homes and temples undergo a thorough cleaning before any puja—sweep, mop and even a quick spritz of scented water, as if it’s spring cleaning every day. This literal cleanliness mirrors the symbolic purification of thoughts. Sacred texts like the Shikshapatri and Vachanamrut are read daily to “clean” the intellect, much like decluttering a digital inbox.

In recent times, the buildup to the BAPS Mandir opening in Abu Dhabi (pictured gleaming against the skyline) showcased volunteers scrubbing floors and organizing prasad with military-precision discipline. It was a live demonstration that purity isn’t a one-and-done affair but a continuous commitment.

Every act—no matter how small—feeds into a larger mosaic of self-control and devotion. When discipline becomes second nature, purity isn’t a chore but a natural byproduct of a life lived for something greater than oneself. Isn’t it something, how tiny rituals can shape an entire worldview?