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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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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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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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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The Swaminarayan School has consistently produced outstanding results at GCSE level and this year’s results have again been of an exceptionally high standard. Just like last year, a full 100% of all students who sat the exams achieved five A* to C grades and 97.5% of grades across the range of subjects were within this band; nationally, 67.1% of all pupils met this level of attainment. Additionally, 54% of all results were in the A* and A band (compared to 21.6% nationally), with this increasing to 85.9% for the A*, A and B band.
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In January 2008, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK, began certified GCSE Hinduism classes for 33 children. The course, comprising of two units – Unit M on ‘Hinduism’ and Unit F on ‘Religion and life based on a study of Hinduism’ – with five sections in each unit, is accredited by Edexcel, the UK’s largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications to learning centres in the UK and internationally.
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From Ashadh Vad 2 to Shravan Vad 2 of the Indian Calendar (Wednesday 8 July 2009 – Friday 7 August 2009), the Hindolã Festival is celebrated. Various decorated swings are created in which the image of God is gently swung with love by the devotees.
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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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