Over 1,300 women of all ages and diverse backgrounds came together at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London – popularly known as Neasden Temple – to celebrate the UN’s International Women’s Day (IWD) over the weekend.
The day began with welcoming the WOW Girls Festival Bus of the Women of the World (WOW) Foundation, chosen by the temple to be a part of the bus’ last leg of its UK-wide tour. With the patronage of Queen Camilla as President, WOW Foundation champions gender equality and celebrates the achievements of women and girls globally.
The event, on March 9, included an inspiring programme entitled ‘Celebrating Women: Uplifting Communities’ focussed on how everyone can be an advocate for harmony by drawing inspiration from women past and present. The programme delved into the challenges faced by individuals and communities amid the pandemic and ongoing cost-of-living crisis. It specifically underscored the significance of cultivating a positive mindset and emphasised the transformative power of small acts of kindness in fostering unity and positively impacting society.
Guest speaker Ravi Kaur Mahey, Solicitor-Advocate and Director in Family Law at Duncan Lewis Solicitors, said: “Everything we know in life is learned. The only way to be inclusive and create space to help our communities is to unlearn [negative paradigms]. Don’t underestimate the importance of faith in communities in female empowerment. Use your values and take them into the community. As a collective, we [women] can empower and engage.
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“The fact that you have opened up this platform to celebrate International Women’s Day at the Mandir [Neasden Temple] is so important. Empowering our future generations is key.”
The programme was made up of uplifting video presentations, inspiring testimonies, and an insightful panel discussion with panellists Colette Bailey, Executive Director, the WOW Foundation; Heena Solanki, Founder, Events Guru; Shushma Patel, Community Pharmacist and Coronation Champion awardee for volunteering); Marian Cohen, Cofounder of Homeless in Action Barnet; and Vanita Patel, Chair of British Transport Police Hindu Police Association.
Rena Amin, a senior volunteer at BAPS UK & Europe, noted: “His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj regularly reminds us that we should always be striving to selflessly serve others for the greater good of the world and teaches us that unity in diversity is our biggest strength.
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“Together, we can build bridges and foster understanding, enabling us to pave the way for making a meaningful difference and uplifting our communities. In celebration of International Women’s Day this year, we hope this programme empowered women to take that small step and positively impact the society we live in.”