Sunday 6 July 2003 saw the Annual
Sponsored Walk being held at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden,
London, along with walks at other centres in Leicester, Ashton,
Preston, Birmingham, Wellingborough, Loughborough and Cardiff.
Inspired by His Holiness Pramukh
Swami Maharaj, this year's walk was once again an outstanding
success. The walk commenced at 9 a.m. from the Ceremonial Gate
of the Mandir with the performance of Vedic rituals in the presence
of Pujya Atmaswarup Swami. Nationally, over 2,500 walkers participated
in this 10km. Sponsored Walk. In London some 1,500 took part.
Walkers aged between 7 and 93 participated in the basking sunshine.
The route was arranged by the Mandir
volunteers and medical assistance was also organised on the route.
Arrangements for cold drinks and fruits were also provided at
rest points. The event was managed by 100 volunteers. The last
walkers completed their walk at 5 p.m.
This year, participants contacted
more than 50,000 people to obtain sponsorships. The funds raised
from this year's Sponsored Walk will be used by The Swaminarayan
Hindu Mission in their various socio-spiritual activities across
the UK of which one is The Swaminarayan School.
Trophies were given to those walkers
who had made considerable efforts in collecting sponsors. Those
were awarded during the festival of "Guru Purnima" celebrated
at the Mandir on Sun 13 July.
During the festival day, beautiful
dresses of flowers adorned the Murtis in the main shrines of the
Mandir.
|