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Celebrating Community: Faith, Service & Global Harmony, UK & Europe

24 May 2023

Celebrating Community

The evening began with a musical rendition of auspicious Vedic prayers for peace and harmony

Guests participated in the lighting of the sacred lamp – L to R: Deacon Jon Dal Din (Director of Interfaith, Catholic Diocese of Westminster); Swami Yogvivekdas (Head Swami, BAPS UK & Europe); Rabbi Steven Derby (The Liberal Jewish Synagogue); Imam Asim Hafiz (Islamic Religious Advisor to Chief of the Defence Staff)

L to R: Ervad Yazad Bhadha (Resident Priest, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe); Ven. Bogoda Seelawimala (Head Priest, London Buddhist Vihara); Avtar Singh Sian (Namdhari Sikh Sangat UK)

L to R: Superintendent Jonathan Cisco (Lancashire Police); Cllr Ramji Chauhan (Mayor of Harrow); Russ Miller (Head of External Affairs, University of Central Lancashire)

Charlotte Hill (CEO, The Felix Project); Kim Wright (CEO, Brent Council); Cllr Nweeda Khan (Head of Community Cohesion & Engagement, Preston City Council)

L to R: Samantha Wilcox (Community Defibrillation Manager, London Ambulance Service); Sapna Patel (Detective Inspector, Sussex Police); Narinder Dali (Borough Commander, London Fire Brigade)

L to R: Rev. Ali Taylor (St James Alperton Church); Julie Jones (All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief); Amanda Bowman (Vice-President, Board of Deputies of British Jews); Nicola Harmer (Headteacher, Brentfield Primary School)

L to R: Goldie Webb (Preston Chinese Community); Harveen Gupta (Business Support Manager, British Airways); Pippa Nightingale (CEO, Northwick Park Hospital)

Deputy Lieutenant Louise Ireland (His Majesty’s Representative for Greater London)

Guests from various professions, faiths and backgrounds joined the community celebration

Kamlesh Patel, a BAPS volunteer, introduced the proceedings of the programme

More than 1,400 guests and friends from around the UK had registered to be a part of the community event

Inspiring Hindu women shared a video of how their faith guides their professional, family and personal lives

Dillon Jivan, a BAPS youth leader from Leicester, shared his journey of transformative faith inspired by Mahant Swami Maharaj

Captain James Basnett, Director of Flying at British Airways, reflected on the longstanding partnership with BAPS to support various humanitarian efforts, including during the covid pandemic and the war in Ukraine

Professor Chris Butler, Professor of Primary Care at the University of Oxford, highlighted the essential contributions of BAPS during covid in serving the wider nation at a critical time

Damien Conrad, Community Partnerships Manager at The Felix Project, thanked Neasden Temple for helping to feed thousands of vulnerable people in London

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj presided over the assembly

Yann Dubosc, Mayor of Bussy-Saint-Georges in Paris, explained why the local district council chose BAPS to build the Hindu temple on the multi-faith esplanade

The Mayor from Paris thanked BAPS for its “dialogue with other communities to preserve and promote harmony” in the region

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj listened attentively to the esteemed speakers

Deacon Jon Dal Din, Director of Interfaith for the Catholic Diocese of Westminster, spoke of the collaborative relationship with Neasden Temple

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Public Policy at Royal Mail, recognised Neasden Temple as not just a global architectural icon, but a beacon of diversity and openness

Mr Gold explained why the Mandir had been featured in the Royal Mail’s ‘Diversity and Community’ Coronation stamp, one of four new stamps in a set marking the ‘The New Reign’ of His Majesty King Charles III

Andrew Davidson, the stamp’s artist, shared, “I thought this temple was the most perfect to represent your faith.”

Mahant Swami Maharaj appreciated the artistry and vision when observing an enlarged copy of the Coronation stamp

Neasden Temple features on the horizon of the ‘Diversity and Community’ Coronation stamp, among other places of worship and religious landmarks

Mahant Swami Maharaj presented the stamp to the audience and blessed the team from Royal Mail

Sadhu Paramtattvadas introduced His Holiness Maharaj as a global Hindu leader and the inspirer of all BAPS activities and events around the world

His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj thanked the guests for attending and prayed, “Together, may we continue to serve God, this country, and the whole of humanity.”

Yogvivekdas Swami, Head Swami of BAPS in UK & Europe, thanked the guests for attending and for their continuing support and goodwill

The evening concluded with the arti ceremony

The guests participated in the arti ceremony