Over 1,900 yuvaks and yuvatis attended the BAPS North American Youth Convention from July 11th to July 14th at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta, GA. The convention focused on the spiritual theme of “Ekantik” and was part of a larger 11-day convention organized for Hindu youths of different ages.
Delegates to this convention, primarily young adults with varying professional backgrounds, learned to strengthen their spiritual foundations and enrich their daily lives through insights from spiritual concepts found in Hindu scriptures and emphasized by Bhagwan Swaminarayan nearly 200 years ago. Centered on the core teachings of Ekantik Dharma, attendees learned various ways to balance their spiritual and personal identities by incorporating aspects of Gnan (knowledge), Bhakti (devotion), Vairagya (detachment), and Dharma (righteousness) into their daily lives.
Alongside spiritual discourses from Sadguru Pujya Mahant Swami (Pujya Keshavjivan Swami), Pujya Anandswarupdas Swami, as well as other senior Swamis of BAPS from around the world, participants were also treated to a number of cultural activities, practical workshops, and special programs including a maha-arti held at the reflection pool in front of the mandir.
Planning and organizing the convention started three years ago and took hundreds of dedicated volunteer hours to accomplish. This was the 16th such convention of its kind organized by BAPS specifically for youth in North America. Inspired by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS encourages today’s youth to understand and embrace their roots, helping them preserve their identities and remain grounded in their faith and culture.