India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, Honorable Piyush Goyal visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Sydney during his trip to Australia.
This was the minister’s second visit to the mandir, during which he said, “I invited myself before anybody else could,” underscoring the warmth he feels from the BAPS community. His visit also celebrated the growing India-Australia relations, and the shared values of community spirit and cultural harmony.
Among the high-ranking dignitaries present were Dr. Andrew Charlton, Federal Member for Parramatta; Mr Gopal Bagalay, High Commissioner of India to Australia; Dr. S. Janakiraman, Consul General of India; and Warren Kirby, State Member for Riverstone. Dr. Charlton welcomed the minister on behalf of the local community and highlighted the remarkable contributions of BAPS to the social and spiritual fabric of the region. He also noted that September 2024 marked 40 years since Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s first visit to Australia in 1984.
The evening featured children reciting Sanskrit verses for universal harmony and youths offering prayers for peace and prosperity.
Reflecting on his enduring relationship with BAPS, Minister Goyal fondly recalled his personal experiences and ‘happy coincidences’, such as his impromptu participation in the opening of the traditional BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in London in August 1995. He remarked, “I suspect no other Indian ministers, except Prime Minister Modi himself, have been privileged to visit as many Swaminarayan temples across the world as I have.”
The occasion reflected the deep bonds that unite BAPS with local communities worldwide.