BAPS UK’s Ladies Wing participated in an event entitled ‘Capital Woman’ organised by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, to celebrate International Women's Day on Saturday 8 March 2008 at the Queen Elizabeth II Exhibition Centre and Central Hall. After an opening plenary with the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, and a range of guest speakers, the day offering women a chance to have a say in the way the Capital – London – is run and in the issues that affect them. The day featured a stimulating programme of exhibitions, non-traditional careers and business advice and workshops as well as music, fashion, comedy and dance. Over 4000 women of all ages, cultures, races and religions braved a cold Saturday to attend this exciting event.
This year, for the first time, the women of BAPS were invited to be part of this event by hosting a traditional Indian dance performance and workshop in the marketplace area of the Central Hall. Over 30 BAPS volunteers participated in the vibrant and fun filled dances and workshops, which ran hourly. The underlying theme for the workshop was "BAPS Empowering Women" and a specially produced leaflet celebrating the achievements of the BAPS Women’s Wing was distributed to highlight this. The overall atmosphere was colourful and lively, and a variety of women from all backgrounds were able to observe and participate in this demonstration of Indian culture.
In addition, the event covered a wide range of topics related to housing, the environment, equal opportunities, health, childcare, transport, careers, education and crime which proved to be very informative for everyone. Capital Woman and the BAPS Dance Group workshops were a huge success and provided an excellent platform for empowering women.
