Preston Hindu temple holds four-day festival for His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s birth centenary

Prominent guests and leaders from the community joined the local congregation for the His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj's birth centenary celebration — Prominent guests and leaders from the community joined the local congregation for the His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s birth centenary celebration

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Hindu Temple) near Preston city centre has commemorated the birth centenary of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj by bringing together members of the community for a four-day festival.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj travelled across the world to foster love, peace, harmony, righteousness and faith in God. His life’s credo was, ‘In the joy of others lies our own.’

Under his leadership, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) flourished into an international spiritual and humanitarian organisation with more than one million members, 55,000 volunteers and 3,850 centres around the world.

Throughout 2022, hundreds of thousands around the world will be honouring and celebrating Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s inspiring life of selfless service, devotion and spirituality through a series of uplifting programmes for the whole family.

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir event took place from Thursday 28 April to Sunday 1 May.

It included talks, traditional Indian folk dance and devotional singing presented by swamis from India along with performers of various ages from across the country.

Voices from the local community shared their personal experiences and explained how the work of Pramukh Swami Maharaj has supported the region.

Prominent guests and leaders from the community, including former councillor Peter Moss, joined the local congregation for the celebration.

The congregation marks His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj's birth centenary — The congregation marks His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s birth centenary

Sangeeta Limbachia-Patel said: “Pramukh Swami Maharaj has touched my life and so many others in Preston, as well as millions more across the world.

“This was a chance, on his 100th birthday to celebrate and learn from his extraordinary life and work and hear more about how he left his special mark on this part of the world.”

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Preston, has been established since 2015.

It provides various educational, community and spiritual activities for children, youths, families and the elderly. It is also a focal place of worship for hundreds of Hindus in Preston and surrounding areas.

Last year, part of Ribble Bank Street was renamed Pramukh Swami Place after His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

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