The historic inauguration ceremony of the new BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada took place on August 31 and September 1, 2024. The inauguration ceremony consisted of the Hindu Vedic prayers for world peace, the Cultural Parade (Nagar Yatra)- a colourful procession where the murtis (sacred images) were carried in beautifully decorated floats to bless the community. The events culminated with the Murti Pratishtha, a ritual invoking God into the murtis. The ceremonies were performed by Swamis from the iconic BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Toronto and Swamis from USA in the presence of dignitaries, community leaders and well-wishers from across Canada.
The vibrant growth of the community in Brandon owes its flourishing to the visionary guidance of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj. His inspiration led to the uplifting spiritual visits of BAPS Swamis in the early 2000s, fostering unwavering dedication among the devotees. What initially commenced as humble spiritual activities within homes has now grown into dynamic weekly assemblies, drawing an ever-expanding congregation of devotees.
Inspired by the vision of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj and blessed by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the new BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Brandon will meet the spiritual needs of an ever-growing community. It will serve as a focal point for cultural and spiritual activities catering to all age groups, nurturing Hindu traditions, heritage, and values. From engaging children and youth in enriching activities to conducting language and traditional music classes, the Mandir will foster an environment of inclusivity, warmly welcoming individuals from all walks of life to experience spirituality and understand the universality of Hinduism's sacred principles. Additionally, humanitarian activities will also be organized to serve and support the local community.
Special guests attending the inauguration celebrations included:
- Larry Maguire, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris
- His Worship Jeff Fawcett, Mayor of the City of Brandon
- Jo-anne Lewis, Executive Director, Brandon Regional Health Foundation
- Connie Lawrence, CEO, Keystone Centre
Larry Maguire, MP for Brandon–Souris, expressed his admiration, stating, "Congratulations to all those who made this historical event possible. We appreciate your dedication and efforts to build the customs that you have, and the dedication and traditions that you have shown. Thank you for all your efforts in making this possible and providing such an international theme."
His Worship Jeff Fawcett, Mayor of the City of Brandon remarked, "Brandon has become more vibrant because the Mandir is here. This is a place to live and grow, be spiritually connected, be connected with your community, be very good neighbours and I applaud and I love watching it."
The creation of this Mandir is the culmination of the dedicated efforts of many volunteers along with the support of sponsors and well-wishers.