More than 70 karyakars from Paris immersed themselves in a day-long workshop on 28 January 2024 graced by the presence of swamis from BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London. The training aimed to deepen their understanding of forthcoming responsibilities, particularly in the lead-up to the construction of Paris Mandir.
The event commenced with an insightful speech on the history of Paris Satsang Mandal, tracing its journey to the present day. This historical perspective provided delegates with a profound appreciation of the upcoming mandir’s spiritual significance and cultural heritage.
Updates on the Paris Mandir project, including architectural details, were presented to help participants visualise the final result. These insights into the project’s progress added a tangible dimension to the karyakars’ understanding, creating a shared vision for the future.
Manoharmurti Swami led team-building games to reinforce unity and unleash creativity. These engaging activities served as a constructive and enjoyable way for karyakars to enhance their teamwork and problem-solving skills.
The training day also included presentations outlining the next stages of development and how to begin preparations for Paris Mandir. This comprehensive overview equipped attendees with the knowledge and readiness required to actively contribute to the upcoming phases of this monumental project.
A noteworthy and historical aspect of the day was the first-ever Europe-wide Satsang Pravrutti Online Conference. More than 250 karyakars from across 18 European countries gathered online to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments and gain valuable updates on new policies, structures and upcoming projects, as well as to understand the core principles and ethics of BAPS to better serve the community.
The training day concluded with video guidance from Sadguru Tyagvallabhdas Swami and video blessings from His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. Their encouraging words resonated deeply, infusing the karyakars with inspiration and a profound sense of purpose and responsibility.
Vaibhavi Parekh, a dedicated volunteer from Paris, sharing her experiences of the day, said, “This training workshop and conference proved to be really valuable for me. Even after so many years in Satsang, we need these events to refresh and strengthen our understanding of our core principles. Most importantly, it has inspired me to carry out my seva with dedication and sincerity. I’m so excited to be helping create Paris Mandir, another of Swamishri’s visionary projects.”