Community Open Day – BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Adelaide, Australia

Following the inauguration ceremony of the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Adelaide, the first Community Open Day was held on Saturday, 13 June 2015.

The event provided visitors with an opportunity to explore the Mandir facilities and learn about the various activities performed by BAPS in Adelaide. The programme commenced with children reciting Sanskrit verses of shantipath for world peace, followed by a brief presentation introducing BAPS and its local activities in Adelaide.

Guests were then taken on a guided tour of the Mandir. The tour explained the significance of the sacred images in the shrine, as well as the Nilkanth Abhishek Mandapam, dining hall and various activity rooms. Visitors also appreciated the Mandir’s environmentally friendly features and its state-of-the-art modern construction.

Youths and children presented a range of activities to give guests an insight into the regular programmes conducted at the Mandir. These included playing traditional Indian musical instruments, singing devotional songs and participating in Gujarati language classes.

The visitors also learned about BAPS’s contribution to the wider local community through various community initiatives. These included tree plantation, blood donation and fundraising for local hospitals.

Guests commended BAPS for the planning and design of the Mandir complex and thanked the volunteers for their positive contribution to the local community.

The Community Open Day provided the wider Adelaide community with an opportunity to experience the Mandir, understand its cultural and spiritual activities, and learn more about the organisation’s ongoing contribution to the local area. BAPS activities had become an integral part of the community and were supported by people from both the local neighbourhood and the wider community.