The summer of 2010 saw 15 balaks and 17 balikas together with three sanchalaks and three 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 Satsang heritage in India through a spiritual journey to major BAPS centres in India and important places of pilgrimage associated with the Sampradaya.
The participants were able to appreciate 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 seven inspiring days with Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Bochasan. Every balak was given the opportunity to meet Swamishri personally.
The balaks and balikas visited many holy sites and mandirs. The history of each mandir inspired the children and reinforced their Satsang knowledge. The enjoyable and educational experience was made possible due to four sadhus from Sarangpur who were present for the duration of the trip.
Some truly memorable experiences included visiting Chhapaiya, and Swaminarayan Akshardham in Gandhinagar and Delhi, which included the Sat-Chit-Anand Watershow which amazed everyone. The group also climbed 500 steps up Mount Girnar in Junagadh.
In Chhapaiya, the balaks and balikas visited many places that had been sanctified by Bhagwan Swaminarayan as a child. In Gondal, the children visited the Akshar Deri. The children also visited the Mandir that Bhagwan Swaminarayan had built in Vadtal.
The four weeks were a tremendous success, allowing the children 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.