On Saturday, August 9, 2014, women united to present the message that Hindu culture is eternal and can be upheld in a variety of settings, including today’s society. This two and half-hour Women's Cultural program consisting of numerous dances, dramas and speeches, was part of the larger inaugural celebrations of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville, New Jersey.
Themed “Pillars of Faith - Built to Last", the program began with the depiction of a Vedic village where a Guru-mata directed a few children to recite mantras, eventually leading to over 100 participants coming on stage to continue the recital of shlokas and devotional songs in various languages including Sanskrit, Gujarati, Hindi and English.
The vocal performance was accompanied by a variety of live musical performances including the traditional Indian harmonium and tabla, as well as a western cello and piano.
Throughout the drama, the theme of the relevance of Hindu traditions in a modern lifestyle is tested. Dances and speech narrations were also creatively interspersed throughout the program to reinforce the validity of Hindu traditions and the pride one should have in upholding them. For everyone in attendance, the program incited pride and respect for Hinduism and its timeless traditions and values.