As a part of its ongoing health awareness campaign, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK (BAPS), launched a new project in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) on Saturday 20 June 2009 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London. Called ‘Social Cooking’, the aim of this project is to encourage communities to use recipes that are healthier, specifically by being lower in salt and saturated fat content. The project also aims to provide information on the impact of excessive salt and fat on health and offer guidance on how to change shopping, cooking and eating habits at home – while still enjoying tasty traditional meals.
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Every year, 5 June is celebrated by millions internationally as World Environment Day (WED). Established in 1972 by the United Nations, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN raises worldwide awareness for the environment and enhances action.
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The Children’s Forum of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK (BAPS), based at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London, has been announced as one of 95 volunteering groups from across the country – and only one of two in London – winning this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The Award recognises the outstanding contributions made to local communities by groups voluntarily devoting their time for the benefit of others.
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The CEO of the London’s Air Ambulance Service, Mr. Andrew Cameron visited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London on Saturday 9 May 2009. The London’s Air Ambulance Service began in 1989 and is based at the Royal London Hospital. Since its inception, 21,000 flights have been completed to attend various incidents.
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The festivals of Swaminarayan Jayanti and Rama Navmi were celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion on Friday 3 April 2009 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London. To mark this auspicious occasion, a grand variety of food was offered to the deities, and at 12 noon, the sadhus performed a special arti to commemorate the birth of Shri Ramchandraji.
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In addition to the celebrations at London Mandir, Shri Swaminarayan Jayanti and Ram Navmi were celebrated at various mandirs and centres across the UK.

Shri Swaminarayan Jayanti and Ram Navmi were celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Soni Samaj Centre in Leicester on Saturday 4 April 2009. A short kirtan bhakti programme was performed before a youth delivered a speech illustrating the six objectives of Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s birth on earth. Vishwaprakash Swami discussed the manner in which Bhagwan Swaminarayan transformed the evil nature of countless souls and Shukmuni Swami emphasised the importance of building a chaitanya mandir within one’s heart.
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BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London joined major landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House and local neighbour Wembley Stadium in joining Earth Hour 2009 at 8.30pm on Saturday 28 March, as homes, office towers across the globe and more than 1,000 cities in over 80 countries turned off their lights for an hour starting at 8.30pm local time to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions. Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative.
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His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, accompanied by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, visited The Swaminarayan School, London, on the afternoon of Wednesday 4 March 2009 to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi. The festival of Holi celebrates the arrival of Spring where people celebrate the changing season and the beauty associated with Spring blossoms by spraying colour.
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As the 21st century advances, families struggle to find happiness together with so many issues to contend with. One look in society tells us that there is a shortage of happy families with many challenges at home and with youngsters.
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Dr Rob Davidson, a consultant physician since 1992 in Infectious Disease at Northwick Park Hospital was invited to raise awareness about tuberculosis (TB) at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on Saturday 14 February 2009. Dr Davidson qualified in South Africa and trained in the UK. He has participated in many research projects into the diagnosis and treatment of TB, and is an expert in this area.
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BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, celebrated the Hindu festival of Uttarayan as a fun day of kite flying for all the family on Sunday 18 January 2009. The chilly but clear skies above The Swaminarayan School grounds filled with thousands of colourful kites as over 500 people gathered to join in the celebrations.
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The international financial crisis has dominated the world’s news in recent months with increasingly worrying statistics and stories creating a sense of panic for many families and business owners. At the heart of the discussion is the topic of the ‘Credit Crunch’ – a new buzzphrase of our times. To address the true meaning, significance and impact of the economic downturn on the community at large, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK (BAPS), organised a special seminar on the evening of Saturday 3 January 2009 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London. The aim was to provide a professional insight into the matter and to address the concerns of the people.
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BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK (BAPS), hosted its first Mother and Baby Welfare Workshop on Saturday 20 December 2008 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London.
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The statistics are shocking. Most worrying about the recent findings from Ofsted is that these habits are formed in childhood and the early teens. For example, the majority of people who take up smoking do so in adolescence; almost no one starts as an adult.
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A number of key volunteers and teaching facilitators from BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK (BAPS), undertook an impressive academic challenge over the weeks from October to December 2008. They enrolled on a module of Hindu Studies classes in London to learn about ‘Understanding Hindu Identity’.

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Following the Special Prayer Assembly after the tragic series of attacks in Mumbai earlier in the week, over 350 children and their dedicated voluntary teachers from the BAPS Swaminarayan Sunday School also held a prayer assembly on Sunday 30 November 2008 at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London.

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After the horrific and tragic series of terrorist attacks in Mumbai between Wednesday 26 November and Saturday 29 November 2008, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK (BAPS), held a Special Prayer Assembly at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London, on Saturday 29 November 2008.
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