BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, observed the UN’s International Women’s Day (IWD) on Sunday 10 March 2019 with an inspiring conference attended by over 1,100 women of all ages.

The celebration of IWD by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) represents its on-going commitment to women and matters of importance to women, as inspired and guided by BAPS’s spiritual leader, His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the celebrations organised by BAPS in the UK.

The event began at 1.00pm with the keynote address of chief guest Lucy D’Orsi, Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police Service. Ms D’Orsi shared her inspiring experiences of resilience in balancing various roles as a woman and urged others to also fulfil their dreams and duties.

Other distinguished speakers and panellists included some of the most accomplished and esteemed women in the country in their respective fields – Seema Sharma (dentist, entrepreneur, management consultant and philanthropist), Lois Stonock (international cultural and creative consultant), Babita Sharma (TV host, including newsreader for BBC News and BBC World News), Sonal Sachdev-Patel (author for HarperCollinsIndia and philanthropist), Smita Oza (Senior Director of Legal Operations for VeriFone), Abha Thorat-Shah (Executive Director at The British Asian Trust), Lakshmi Kaul (Head and Representative of the Confederation of Indian Industry in the UK), and Rupa Ganatra (entrepreneur, investor, consultant and Founding Board Member of the UK Guild of Entrepreneurs). They spoke about the importance of a positive perspective in times of adversity and encouraged the audience to find opportunity in failure by channelling their inner strength.

Overall, the conference centred on three key themes. The first, ‘Reflect’, focussed on the progress of women individually and collectively, and reflected on the personal strengths and achievements of women observed over the past 10 years. The second theme, ‘Progress’, explored ways in which women can enhance various skills and advance towards new goals. The third theme, ‘Shine’, set a forward-looking vision for women to achieve their full potential. “The underlying message,” explained Rena Amin, one of the lead volunteers for BAPS in the UK, “is that every woman has the ability to be a light, not just for themselves but for those around them.”

These themes were artfully conveyed through a series of video presentations, cultural performances, panel discussions, and addresses by eminent guests who shared their inspiring testimonies and experiences. Various interactive stalls provided delegates with an opportunity to harness various life skills relating to health, music and lifesaving. Younger participants enjoyed hands-on activities, including cooking, henna, cosmic painting, and other arts and crafts.

The conference also included an exhibition of ten elaborate silk scrolls designed and crafted by female members of BAPS in partnership with Kinetika, an internationally renowned arts organisation. The 4-metre scrolls depict the achievements and values of powerful women in the community. They were produced with the support of Arts Council England from handmade Indian silk using special techniques.

Amee Desai, a lead volunteer for the event, added, “We’re so grateful for the overwhelming support of so many inspiring women who presented and attended today. We hope the conference helped women of all ages to reflect on their personal journey, progress through perseverance, and continue to shine professionally, personally and in support of others through faith and courage.”

About International Women’s Day
Each year on 8 March, individuals and organisations across the world gather to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) in honour of the significant achievements that women have made throughout the course of history.

The day was ratified by the United Nations in 1977, but has been observed around the world since the turn of the 20th century.

To learn more about International Women’s Day, please visit internationalwomensday.com.

Disclaimer: BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.