The summer of 2008 saw 20 balaks and 20 balikas together with four sanchalaks and sanchalikas from the UK embark upon an inspiring spiritual experience around India. The theme was “Apni Parampara” and the objective was to introduce the children to their glorious Satsang heritage and ancestry in India. This was accomplished by taking them through a spiritual journey to major BAPS centres in India and some of the most important places of pilgrimage associated with the Swaminarayan Sampradaya. These included Rishikesh in north India, and the sacred birthplaces of Bhagwan Swaminarayan and the Gunatit Parampara.
The four memorable weeks spent travelling and appreciating India were a life-enhancing experience as the participants were able to appreciate up-close the unique culture and traditions that India has to offer – from the urbanity of her bustling metropolises to the rural life of her villages.
The children also spent six inspiring days with Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Bochasan and Vallabh Vidyanagar. Here they were fortunate to celebrate the festival of Raksha Bandhan and also sit through an eclipse assembly with Swamishri from 1.00am to 4.00am!
The four weeks spent in India by the balaks and balikas along with their sanchalaks and sanchalikas were a tremendous success. The trip also allowed them to grow in maturity and self-reliance, to learn to live and work with one another in sometimes difficult situations, and also to gain an invaluable insight into Indian culture as well as Hindu and Satsang values and traditions.