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BAPS Celebrates International Women’s Day Lilburn, Ga. – The BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir hosted its fourth annual Women’s Conference on Saturday, March 19, 2011 to celebrate the centenary year of the International Women’s Day. Over 550 women from across the Southeast attended this event. “BAPS has made a long-term commitment to promoting and empowering women,” said conference organizer Archna Patel, in her opening remarks, “This is but one opportunity for our local Lilburn community to participate in a global initiative that celebrates our achievements.” International Women’s Day is customarily observed on March 8 every year, and is celebrated with aplomb around the world. As an organization with consultative status with the United Nations, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha recognizes and honors the many accomplishments and multifarious contributions of women in different spheres. BAPS has over 160 humanitarian programs oriented towards the larger cause of women’s development – with special focus on women’s literacy, health and wellness education, post-disaster relief and support, and assistance for women to secure livelihoods for their families -  The imaginatively conceived theme of this year was “Honoring the Past, Envisioning the Future.” The conference provided ample scope for exchange of constructive ideas and sharing of valuable information. The three keynote speakers highlighted the role of women in India’s cultural history, the impact of Hinduism in the life of women, and the opportunities and challenges that face the Indian female diaspora today. Sheetal Desai, a practicing attorney and partner at a law firm in the Atlanta area, expatiated at length on the accomplishments of women across all professional spectrums despite many formidable challenges. Speaker Reshma Patel, a mechanical engineer and IT professional spoke of her efforts to inculcate in her children the best of both American and Indian cultures. Similar sentiments were expresses by other participants including Dhvani Patel. 
 It is noteworthy that the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir has hosted the Women’s Conference annually since 2008. Past conference themes emphasized the importance of women empowerment, the role of women in their family and community, women’s health and all other issues pertaining to women’s development. BAPS volunteer Sangita Patel aptly summed up in her concluding remarks, “So many remarkable women gathered with the same goal: to build a sustainable future for women. Our guru, Pramukh Swami Maharaj has told us that ‘The Future is Bright.’ This conference makes it easy to visualize that shared vision.” In 2011, BAPS hosted a Women’s Conference in 20 of its North American mandirs, including New York City, Chicago, Toronto, and Washington, DC. ### About BAPS The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a worldwide socio-spiritual organization in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, is dedicated to community service, peace and harmony. Motivated by Hindu principles, BAPS strives to care for the world by caring for societies, families and individuals. Through a number of social and spiritual activities, BAPS endeavors to produce better citizens of tomorrow who have a high esteem for their roots - their rich Hindu culture. Its 3,300 international centers support these activities of character-building. Under the guidance and leadership of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS aspires to build a community that is morally, ethically and spiritually pure, and free of addictions. About Pramukh Swami Maharaj His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, has inspired millions of people across the world to lead a God-centered, morally pure life. As the present leader of BAPS, Pramukh Swami Maharaj travels from village to village, continent to continent, emphasizing the importance of family harmony, community service and spiritual progress. He embodies the essence of Hindu life. His compassion for humanity, universal wisdom and striking simplicity have touched many world religious and national leaders. For more details visit www.baps.org |