October was a joyous and festive month for the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir.

The local community across Preston got together to celebrate the Hindu New Year and Diwali at the temple, and children from BAPS Preston were invited to a Preston North End Match.

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The festivities began on Monday 24 October. The event brought together friends and families of all faiths and backgrounds to enjoy the colours, sounds and flavours of Diwali.

Diwali is the Hindu ‘Festival of Light’, when hope, compassion and goodwill are harnessed and celebrated.

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On Wednesday 26 October 2022, Mayor of Preston, Councillor Neil Darby, the Director of Public Health for Lancashire, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, the Chief Executive of Preston City Council, Mr Adrian Phillips, representatives from Preston North End football club, amongst other dignitaries joined hundreds from the local community, got together to celebrate Diwali and the Hindu New Year at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Preston.

The Temple heralded the Hindu New Year. As part of the festivities, visitors were able to see the ‘annakut’ – hundreds of food dishes lovingly prepared, artistically arranged and devoutly offered to the deities by worshippers in thanksgiving as the first meal of the New Year. The sanctified food was later distributed among devotees, volunteers, and visitors.

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The BAPS Mandir embodied these themes during this year’s festivities which coincided with the centennial birth anniversary of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the creator of the world renowned Neasden Temple.

His message, ‘In the joy of others lies our own’, inspired the ‘Community Food Drive’ in which Neasden Temple and other BAPS Hindu temples around the country will donate food items to local foodbanks and shelters supporting those impacted by the ongoing cost of living crisis.

Addressing the congregation, Mayor of Preston, Neil Darby, said: “Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating and a happy new year.

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“It was a real pleasure to attend the celebrations in Preston at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. A wonderful celebration of the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and wisdom over ignorance.”

Continuing on in the spirit and values of Diwali, children from BAPS Preston were invited to attend the match between Preston North End and Middlesbrough FC, on Saturday 29 October.

In a show of community unity and tolerance, the children took part in a penalty shootout on the pitch during half time, parading the message ‘In the joy of others lies our own’, which was the life maxim of the former spiritual leader of BAPS, His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj.

The Community Engagement Officer for Preston North End, Mohammed Patel, said: “It was our absolute pleasure to invite you and your group. It’s been a lovely week coming to the temple and seeing your group take penalties.”

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