The Cleveland center held its first annual Health Fair on Sunday April 30 at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Brunswick, Ohio in conjunction with Association of Indian Physicians of Northern Ohio (AIPNO). 85 physicians provided their expertise to about 600 attendees.

The Health Fair provided a platform for the physicians to volunteer their services for a noble cause. The physicians came from various backgrounds of the medical field and performed exams/tests in their respective fields. The attendees were offered exam/tests in the fields of geriatrics, pediatrics, endocrinology, etc. The test/exams ranged from blood test to glaucoma screening. After the Health Fair, a Sunday meeting was held in the mandir, where talks were given by area physicians on important health-related issues to promote health-awareness in the Indian community.

Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) held festivities for Pushpadolotsav / Holi and Bhagatji Maharaj’s Birth Anniversary in the presence of Sadhu Uttamcharandas and Sadhu Kaivalyamurtidas on March 19, 2000 at the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Whittier.

The festivities began with the melodious dhoon, prarthana and devotional songs depicting the colorful and joyous spring season. It was followed by an inspiring discourse from Sadhu Uttamcharandas. The youth group presented a heart-warming "Holi dance" welcoming the spring.

Due to the confident faith in activities of BAPS throughout the world, the IDCA (association of the Diamond merchants with 110 members of Indian origin in LA,) has always chosen to extend their relief help through BAPS. With noble hearts, the IDCA members came forward with their generous donations of $10,001 to BAPS for the Orissa relief projects. BAPS has undertaken massive relief projects in the most recent cyclone in Orissa, where many people lost their lives.

The celebrations ended at 7.00 PM with aarti followed by mahaprasad. Approximately 1,200 people attended the festivities.