The 2010 Family Fun Day took place on Sunday 11 July at Barnet Copthall Stadium, in London. The Copthall Stadium has been a popular venue for BAPS UK sporting events since 1987. This year, and for the first time, the Family Day included the annual Rath Yatra festival as well.
The aim of the Family Fun Day was to encourage family members of all ages to come together and participate in friendly games and competitions. Volleyball, cricket, football, tennis were some of the games on offer for the gents, while the ladies enjoyed rounders, kho kho, tug of war, garba, and also football.
The Rath Yatra festival began in the middle of the afternoon with Yogvivek Swami inaugurating the procession with a traditional ceremony. The sadhus pulled Thakorji’s Rath (chariot) for one lap, after which devotees had the opportunity several times round the 400m track.
Over one thousand kites were also available for members to fly, filling the sky with a mosaic of colours and shapes towering over members taking part in 60m track races and field games.
The glorious summer day ended with a picnic supported by an outdoor barbeque of fresh corn and spicy paneer – confirming the popular maxim of Pramukh Swami Maharaj: The family that eats, plays and prays together, stays together.