News & Events

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London launches Green Travel Plan
Friday 27 November 2009

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK (BAPS), actively promotes and encourages its devotees to make a positive difference to the environment. Earlier this year, BAPS observed World Environment Day and continued its Go Veg… Go Green… campaign, affirming its commitment to raise awareness and take action for a safer, greener environment.
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‘PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST’ Celebrating Universal Children’s Day
Sunday 22 November 2009

In 1954, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed that all countries institute a Universal Children’s Day, to be “observed as a day of worldwide fraternity and understanding between children.” It recommended that the Day be observed also as a day of activity devoted to promoting the ideals and objectives of the UN Charter and the welfare of the children of the world.
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Archbishop of Westminster Visits BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London
Saturday 21 November 2009

The Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, visited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden on Saturday 21 November 2009.
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The Swaminarayan School Participates in Inter-Faith School Workshop
Tuesday 17 November 2009

On Tuesday 17 November 2009, The Swaminarayan School participated in an interfaith day called ‘Faithful Nurture’ at the London Inter Faith Centre as part of National Inter Faith Week (15-21 November).
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Launch of National Inter Faith Week at Lambeth Palace
Monday 16 Novemeber 2009

The UK’s first National Inter Faith Week was held this year from 15 to 21 November. Its stated aims were:
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BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha participates in National Inter Faith Week
15 to 21 November 2009

The Week was facilitated by The Inter Faith Network for the UK (IFN-UK) and the government’s Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in consultation with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, among other agencies. It was mainly community-led with local faith communities and non-faith groups seeking to reach out to each other and build strong bonds of understanding and cooperation. A host of events including seminars, forums, workshops, and sports and entertainment programmes had been organised to bring together diverse groups of people both locally and nationally.
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‘Brent in Bloom’ Garden Award
Thursday 12 November 2009

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London, has been awarded first prize in the category of Business/Public Premises in the ‘Brent in Bloom’ competition for 2009. The Mandir’s gardens also received a Certificate of Excellence from the ‘London in Bloom’ campaign for 2009.
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Brent’s Landmark for 2012 London Olympic Pin Badge
Tuesday 10 November 2009

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden has been selected as the landmark for the London Borough of Brent to be featured in a celebratory set of ‘London Landmark’ pin badges for the 2012 Olympic Games.
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Historic Diwali Celebrations at 10 Downing Street
Friday 16 October 2009

Prime Minister Gordon Brown celebrated the Hindu festival of Diwali by lighting the ceremonial lamp at 10 Downing Street amid chanting of Vedic prayers for world peace, thus becoming the first British Prime Minister to personally host the occasion.
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BAPS Volunteers Participate in Re-Opening of Marianne North Gallery at Kew Gardens
Sunday 11 October 2009

The Royal Botanical Gardens (popularly called Kew Gardens) at Kew, in London, invited BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha to mark the celebratory re-opening of the refurbished Marianne North Gallery on Sunday 11 October 2009. Drawing inspiration from her paintings, BAPS volunteers created traditional Indian designs (rangolis) and conducted henna painting workshops to contribute to the occasion.
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Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant Presents the Queen’s Award
Saturday 3 October 2009

Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Greater London, Sir David Brewer and the Deputy Lieutenant, Mei Sim Lai visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London on Saturday 3 October to present the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service to the BAPS Children’s Forum.
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The Swaminarayan Preparatory School recognised as a “Thinking School” by Cognitive Education Centre, University of Exeter
October 2009

The Swaminarayan Preparatory School has been recognised as a ‘Thinking School’ and deemed a ‘Centre of Excellence’ by the University of Exeter’s Cognitive Education Centre. It is currently one of only 23 such schools from over 26,000 primary and secondary schools in the UK to have been accredited with this award. This follows the exceptional GCSE results from older pupils of the School, which was founded by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 1992.
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“Keeping the Elderly Healthy” Health Fair
Sunday 20 September 2009

As part of its ongoing multifarious community outreach programmes, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK (BAPS), hosted a health fair on Sunday 20 September 2009 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, to help educate the elderly in keeping fit and healthy.
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Peace Begins at Home Observing International Peace Day
Sunday 20 September 2009

In 1982, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution declaring an International Day of Peace. In 2001, the General Assembly adopted 21 September as the permanent date for this annual event.
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Visitors appreciate beauty and spirituality of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, during Open House London 2009
Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 September 2009

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London featured once again as a part of the annual Open House London architecture festival held this year during the weekend of 19-20 September 2009.
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Fourteenth Anniversary
Sunday 16 August 2009

The fourteenth anniversary of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London – Europe’s first traditional Hindu Mandir – was celebrated with great devotion and festivities on Sunday 16 August 2009. Traditionally known as the patotsava, this year’s ceremony was held in the presence of Swayamprakash Swami (Doctor Swami), a senior BAPS sadhu visiting from India.
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Janmashtami Celebrations
Friday 14 August 2009

The birth of Bhagwan Shri Krishna was celebrated with great devotion at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, on Friday 14 August 2009. The day, traditionally known as Janmashtami, began with a grand Annakut offered to the murtis in the Mandir, where guests and devotees arrived throughout the day for darshan.
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