More than 2,000 volunteers gathered for an inspiring Karyakar Shibir hosted in multiple locations across the UK and Europe – in London (UK), Leicester (UK), Manchester (UK), Paris (France), Heidenrod (Germany), and Lisbon (Portugal) – over the weekend of 22-23 March 2025.
Themed ‘Upasak Karyakar’, the event aimed to deepen the understanding of what it means to be a devoted volunteer who firmly upholds and practises Akshar-Purushottam upasana as revealed by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Participants reflected on Shastriji Maharaj’s immense hardships in propagating the eternal truth at the foundation of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, strengthening their conviction and commitment to seva.
The programmes began by exploring the rich history of BAPS, helping karyakars understand its journey and progression. The focus then shifted to the four key principles of Shastriji Maharaj, explained by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, namely: faith in upasana; versatility and perseverance in one’s seva; humility and empathy whilst performing one’s seva; and remaining dedicated and loyal.
The shibir featured a diverse range of engaging sessions, including panel discussions that explored the practical application of upasana in one’s daily life, inspiring presentations on seva and spiritual resilience, discourses by swamis reinforcing the importance of humility, dedication and steadfastness, and impactful videos bringing to life the legacy of Shastriji Maharaj and his spiritual principles.
These powerful sessions instilled inspiration amongst the delegates who departed with a renewed feeling of empowerment to perform their respective seva with conviction, humility, and unwavering faith. The shibir reinforced the importance of remaining rooted in upasana while excelling in seva, ensuring that the spiritual legacy of Shastriji Maharaj continues to thrive.
Pooja Parmar from Munich, Germany, who attended the event in Heidenrod, shared, “The compassionate and selfless service of Shastriji Maharaj and his spiritual successors is so relevant today – their principles serve as a guiding light and were beautifully presented. It was also very inspiring to hear personal testimonies from fellow karyakars who perform their seva with such diligence and dedication whilst remaining steadfast in their own spiritual endeavours as well as devoted to their families and successful in their careers.”