Youths of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Sydney, participated in the Queen’s Baton Relay on 10 April 2010 at Harris Park Town Centre in the City of Parramatta.

The Queen’s Baton – which carries the Queen’s message to the Commonwealth Games athletes – passed through Parramatta on its journey to the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, India, in October 2010. Parramatta was selected as one of three Australian cities to host the Queen’s Baton. Parramatta City Council organized this special event featuring the official Baton Ceremony, with stage presentations and children’s performances.

As part of the celebration, Parramatta City Council invited BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir to offer prayers and its message of goodwill. BAPS youths recited Sanskrit verses, sang a traditional prayer in Hindi and briefly spoke of Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s message of sportsmanship, unity and cultural diversity.

They also informed the gathering that the Commonwealth Games Village in New Delhi is situated directly adjacent to the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Cultural Complex.

The BAPS youths also met dignitaries and officials, including Hon. David Borger MP, Member for Granville, Minister for Housing and Western Sydney, as well as His Worship Councilor Paul Garrard, Lord Mayor of the City of Parramatta. All were pleased to learn about the various global and local activities that BAPS organizes in collaboration with the Australian community.

The Queen’s Baton now continues its 190,000-kilometre journey, across 70 Commonwealth nations and over 340 days, towards New Delhi – making the Queen’s Baton Relay 2010 Delhi one of the longest relays in the history of the Commonwealth Games.