Asthma & Allergies | BAPSwellNESS Conversations
From the channel: BAPS UK & Europe
From the channel: BAPS UK & Europe
From the channel: BAPS UK & Europe
From the channel: BAPS UK & Europe
From the channel: BAPS UK & Europe
Across Australia and New Zealand, BAPS Balika Mandals organised ‘Matru Devo Bhava: A Friendship of a Lifetime’ celebrations for women during May 2026.
Held across 16 centres, the celebrations brought women and girls together to honour the special relationship between mothers and daughters and to reflect on the values of love, respect, gratitude and companionship that strengthen this lifelong bond.
The programmes were proudly organised by Balika Mandal, giving young girls an opportunity to take the lead in creating and presenting an event for women of all ages. Through their involvement, the balikas demonstrated creativity, teamwork, responsibility and a spirit of seva while celebrating the women who have inspired and supported them.
The theme ‘Matru Devo Bhava’ reflects the timeless Hindu teaching that regards the mother with the highest respect and reverence. The celebrations provided an opportunity for daughters to express their appreciation for the sacrifices, guidance and unconditional love of their mothers, while also recognising the friendship that can develop between mothers and daughters over the course of their lives.
The events brought together multiple generations of women in an atmosphere of warmth, devotion and celebration. Through cultural presentations, thoughtful activities and shared experiences, participants reflected on the importance of family relationships and the values passed from one generation to the next.
The celebrations were held across BAPS centres in Adelaide, Auckland, Atwell, Ballarat, Brisbane North, Canberra, Geelong, Griffith, Melbourne, Melbourne East, Melbourne South, Melbourne West, Perth, Shepparton, Sydney and Wellington between 3 and 23 May 2026.
By placing young girls at the centre of the organisation and presentation of the programmes, ‘Matru Devo Bhava’ provided a meaningful platform for the next generation of women to appreciate their mothers while developing their own confidence, leadership and seva skills.
The initiative celebrated not only motherhood, but also the enduring friendship, mutual respect and shared values that connect women across generations.
BAPS representatives participated in the East Africa Youth Forum on Drugs 2026, a three-day forum that brought together 205 delegates from eight countries – Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, South Africa, Turkey and Seychelles – to discuss the growing challenges of substance abuse and explore collaborative solutions for prevention and youth empowerment.
The forum was organised by the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) Tanzania, Care for All, Slumchild Foundation and Apar Foundation. It brought together youth leaders, government representatives, civil society organisations, health professionals, faith-based organisations and community stakeholders to exchange ideas and strengthen partnerships aimed at creating drug-free communities.
Throughout the three-day forum, participants engaged in discussions on drug prevention, mental health, youth leadership, rehabilitation and community-based approaches to addressing substance-use challenges.
The sessions highlighted the importance of empowering young people with knowledge, positive values and supportive environments that enable them to make healthy life choices.
BAPS contributed to the discussions by sharing its commitment to character development, value-based education and youth empowerment. Through its spiritual, educational and community-service initiatives, BAPS continues to inspire young people to lead disciplined, purposeful and addiction-free lives.
The forum also provided an opportunity to highlight the important role that faith-based organisations can play in strengthening resilience and promoting positive social change among young people.
The forum concluded with a closing ceremony officiated by Mr Aretas Lyimo, Commissioner General of the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA). He commended the participants for their dedication and encouraged young people to remain drug-free and become ambassadors for prevention within their communities.
He also emphasised the collective responsibility of families, educators, faith-based organisations, governments and communities in safeguarding future generations from the dangers of substance abuse.
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, Nairobi, hosted its first Annual Health Awareness talk on Friday 11 March 2016 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Nairobi, Kenya. The aim of the event was to provide vital guidance to new and expectant mothers about some of the important issues surrounding one of the most significant times in their lives. Prof. […]
From the channel: BAPS Better Living
BAPS Charities, in collaboration with Delete Blood Cancer UK, hosted a recruitment drive at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London to enrol members of the South Asian community onto the National Bone Marrow Donor Register.
A total of 59 new potential donors registered, meeting a key objective of the event – to address the lack of Asian donors on the Register which has made it difficult for children and adults of this ethnicity to find a life-saving match.
The initiative also highlighted the emotional story of Dushyant Mehta, a young boy from north-west London who has been diagnosed with Dyskeratosis Congenita – a condition which eventually leads to bone marrow failure. Prior to being diagnosed, Dushyant donated his own blood cells to his sister who also suffered from the condition. She sadly died in 2012.
Delete Blood Cancer is a bone marrow recruitment charity that serves to increase the pool of life-saving blood stem cell donors, and is part of the world’s largest donor centre. It previously partnered with BAPS Charities for a similar campaign in 2013.
A team of enthusiastic volunteers from both charities were present at the Mandir on Saturday 7 March supported by a vibrant information stall. They raised awareness about blood cancer and helped potential donors register by completing a simple form and taking a mouth swab.
The success of these campaigns is highlighted by the example of Vandan Popat, a university student who was recently called to transplant his bone marrow to a matching recipient, having registered at a previous recruitment drive organised by BAPS Charities at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London.
Vandan shared: “I was called in on the day following my 21st birthday. I could not think of a better way of celebrating my coming of age, by giving new life to someone in need.”
To learn more about the work of Delete Blood Cancer UK, please visit www.deletebloodcancer.org.uk. To see how you can contribute, see their motivational new video: What Are You Made Of.
BAPS Charities organised a seminar for ‘Achieving a Healthy Lifestyle’ on Saturday 20 September 2014 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London. In collaboration with MIND and Diabetes UK, the seminar raised awareness and provided practical guidance on working towards a healthy body and a healthy mind.
Dr Rajeev Dhar, consultant psychiatrist practising in Harley Street, was a guest speaker at the event. Dr Dhar’s lecture addressed the importance of recognising symptoms of poor mental health that can compromise daily functioning and, in turn, impact physical health.
Dr Dhar highlighted sleep disturbance, low mood and poor concentration as key factors that may represent early signs of poor mental health. He also stressed acknowledging that optimal mental health is as important as physical well-being and urged those suffering to seek professional help.
Dr Markand Patel, a radiologist and a volunteer at BAPS Charities, spoke of the importance of maintaining a healthy body. He firstly explained the vital signs of heart disease and stroke. After emphasising the high genetic risk of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure among the South Asian community, he went on to provide useful guidance on how each of these can be prevented or at least controlled by an active lifestyle, a healthy diet, and, if necessary, prescribed medication.
The concepts from both lectures were further reinforced during interactive workshops.
Members of the Harrow and Brent branches of MIND conducted a workshop on “Dealing with Chronic Pain” where they explained the emotional impact of chronic pain and shared practical tips on how to minimise its effects on daily living.
Volunteers from Diabetes UK led a workshop on “My Lifestyle as a Diabetic”. This included a Gujarati food quiz, testing the delegates’ knowledge of a balanced diet. Additionally, a recently diagnosed diabetic shared his personal journey through the condition helping further educate the attendees.
BAPS Charities volunteers also led a yoga session demonstrating how both body and mind can benefit from physical exercises and relaxation techniques.
The event was attended by approximately 40 people from the local community, with lots of positive feedback. Most shared that they were grateful that mental health and well-being were discussed so openly and given as much prominence as physical health.
Narendra Patel, a medical volunteer for BAPS Charities, commented: “Sadly, there’s still a stigma in the community attached to mental health problems and so too often they are swept under the carpet, meaning people who need the help the most don’t receive it. We wanted to break that taboo and bring both mental and physical health out in the open on par. We hope this seminar can be a step in that direction and are pleased we have been able to provide some practical guidance too with the help of these experts.”
To learn more about MIND and Diabetes UK, please follow the respective links.