Preston’s BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir joined thousands of celebrants last weekend by lighting a beacon to mark the Jubilee.

On Thursday, 2 June 2022, the temple joined others across the UK and the Commonwealth and formed part of the official programme announced by Buckingham Palace for the Jubilee Weekend.

Andrew Pratt MBE, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, and Mr Vinubhai G. Limbachia, BAPS volunteer, lit the beacon at the Mandir, forming part of a unique community celebration organised by the Mandir to pay a personal tribute to The Queen.

Read more: Platinum Jubilee beacons lit in and around Preston

Andy Pratt said: “It was a privilege to light the beacon, representing hope, prosperity and happiness.”

More than two thousand Beacons were lit by charities, communities and faith groups all over the UK.

In addition, Beacons were lit in all 54 Commonwealth capitals, with the Principal Beacon lit in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening.

Read more: In pictures: Preston celebrates and hosts Platinum Jubilee street parties

Neetal Parekh, a lead BAPS volunteer, said: “Her Majesty’s longevity of leadership has provided comfort and assurance to the nation.

“We are delighted to have all BAPS Hindu mandirs around the UK join in the international celebrations and pay tribute to her seven decades of uncompromising public service.”

The lighting ceremony included guests Mrs Heather Pratt, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Director of Public Health at Lancashire County Council, and his wife, Dr Sathiya Karunanithi.

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

The event started with a prayer followed by a countdown, with all the devotees waving a flag.

The ceremony ended by singing the national anthem in unison.

Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of The Queen’s Jubilee Platinum Beacons, said the event was ‘building on a long tradition of lighting beacons to mark significant royal celebrations for local communities to join together to pay tribute to Her Majesty as part of the official programme of events’.

Read more: Part of street renamed in honour of Preston temple’s inspirer

The lighting ceremony coincided with the start of a series of yagnas – Vedic peace prayers offered to a sacred flame – marking the centennial birth anniversary of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the inspirer of the Mandir in Preston.

The temple said he also lived a life dedicated to selfless service, embodying his teaching: ‘In the joy of others lies our own’.

To learn more about the Queen’s Jubilee Beacons, visit – https://www.queensjubileebeacons.com/

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