BAPS Celebrates 5th Anniversary
in Lilburn and Inaugurates Youth Activity Center

On Sunday, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Lilburn kicked off its fifth anniversary celebrations with a tribute to society's children and youth by inaugurating the new Yogi Youth Center.
Complete with a family foyer, 18 classrooms for youth assemblies and a brand new gymnasium and running track, this 50,000 square foot extension marks a new age in the development of a spiritually-conscious community that can contribute meaningfully to society as a whole.
"I would like to also congratulate BAPS for opening the Yogi Youth Center today because it is extremely important to keep our youth engaged with our society, our religion, our culture because they are the future," said Ajit Kumar, the Consul General of India in Atlanta.



His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj inaugurated the Mandir on August 26, 2007. Five years later, families came together to celebrate the Mandir and its achievements in the past five years. The day also included fun for families at the youth carnival, where children enjoyed many games, a moonwalk, face painting, and food stalls.
The Yogi Youth Center is an extension of the Family Activity Center. The Family

Activity Center will house facilities, where weekly sabhas (prayer assemblies), children’s activities, and other humanitarian and spiritual initiatives will be held.
“This entire campus is built on respect and community effort, which I think is the greatest test of being a human being. Everything here feels sacred," said Marie Peterson and John Stortz, who were visiting the Mandir.
The new addition fosters a youth-friendly atmosphere that will encourage learning in various fields such as Gujarati language classes and instruction on Indian classical music and instruments. Sunday youth assemblies for all ages will also be conducted there. The classrooms are equipped with state of the art technologies to facilitate a stimulating and interactive learning environment.
“I like how every classroom is constructed in helping the youth,” said Radha Swami, a BAPS youth, “from the warmly colored walls to the interactive SmartBoards, it’s just inspiring.”



The first five years since the opening of the Mandir have passed by quickly but have provided lasting memories. Many more memories are to be etched in the minds of future visitors. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Lilburn, Georgia is an awe inspiring place of worship that has welcomed scores of families during its first five years and will continue to welcome families for many years to come.

"When we build families we build communities. And when we build communities we build great nations," said Johnny Crist, Mayor of Lilburn, who was in attendance for the 5thanniversary celebrations.
For more information regarding upcoming events, directions, and Mandir times
 please visit http://atlanta.baps.org  or call 678-906-2277.

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 Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS aspires to build a community that is morally, ethically and spiritually pure, and free of addictions.