On Saturday, March 24, 2012, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha hosted the fifth annual BAPS Women’s Conference contributing to the world wide celebration of the 101st International Women’s Day. Centered on the theme of “Purusharths - A Balanced Living”, the conference was attended by over 3000 women at 9 centers across North America.
The four purusharths (goals of life), namely Dharma, Artha, Kaam, and Moksha, which are deeply rooted in Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagvad Gita and Upanishads, were presented through pragmatic applications by experts and engaging panelists ranging from college professors to health care professionals.
Speakers elaborated on Dharma, following the path to righteousness within scriptural parameters; Artha, accumulating wealth responsibly; Kaam, fulfilling one’s desires while observing self-control; as well as Moksha, pursuing liberation from the cycles of birth and death. Balancing these four aspects is challenging for women of all walks of life. However, the conference helped bridge the gap between the younger and older generations and facilitated discussions on ideas of how to overcome these barriers.
The conference concluded with a Hindu prayer for peace and paved the way for attendees to network and socialize with one another. Attendees were impressed with the participation of young women in organizing the event and expressed the importance of holding such forums to address issues impacting women.