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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 24, 2026 | The Indian Eye 20

BAPS Celebrates America 250 Through

Unity, Service, and Community

OUR BUREAU
New York, NY
s the United States commem-
orated the 250th anniversary
Aof the signing of the Declara-
tion of Independence, BAPS Swami-
narayan Sanstha joined in the Amer-
ica250 celebration through events
centered on faith, service, gratitude,
civic pride, and unity across the nation.
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
was proud to partner with Ameri-
ca250.org, the national, nonpartisan
initiative leading the commemora-
tion of America’s Semiquincentenni-
al. Through this partnership, BAPS
joined a nationwide effort to engage
Americans in one of the most inclu-
sive anniversary celebrations in the
nation’s history.
For South Asian Americans,
America250 offered a meaningful
opportunity to honor the freedoms,
opportunities, and shared values that
have enabled generations of families
to preserve their heritage while sup-
porting the American story. From
early immigrants seeking new begin-
nings to the millions of South Asian
Americans who today serve in med-
icine, education, business, public ser-
vice, technology, the arts, and civic unite Americans across backgrounds
life, their journey expresses a broad- and beliefs.
er American experience shaped via In Robbinsville, New Jersey,
resilience, service, opportunity, and BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham
belonging. hosted a flag-hoisting ceremony with
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a
Hindu organization that has served veterans and community members,
where devotees and families waved
communities in the United States American flags in a demonstration of
for more than 50 years, marked this gratitude and unity. In Los Angeles,
national milestone through mandir- the BAPS mandir held a flag-raising
based celebrations, open houses, ceremony with local veterans and
interfaith gatherings, service initia- opened its doors to the larger com-
tives, and community events. Since munity to share culture, values, and
beginning its activities in the United service. In Houston, four local may-
States in the early 1970s, BAPS has ors from Sugar Land, Missouri City,
expanded alongside the nation, es- Pearland, and Stafford joined the
tablishing mandirs, promoting civic celebration as the mandir was illumi-
engagement, and welcoming people nated in red, white, and blue, and the
of all backgrounds. National Anthem was played.
Across the country, BAPS Swa-
Many celebrations highlighted tice their faith, raise families, serve us that the freedoms and opportuni-
minarayan Mandirs commemorated religious freedom, pluralism, and neighbors, and contribute substan- ties of this nation have allowed our
America250 with civic gratitude and service. Through interfaith discus- tially to society. community to become part of the
community enthusiasm. Mandirs sions, community open houses, vol- One of its most treasured arti- American story—and that with those
were illuminated in red, white, and unteer efforts, and family-centered facts is a special letter from His Ho- blessings comes a shared responsibil-
blue, families participated in patriot- activities, participants reflected on liness Mahant Swami Maharaj, offer- ity to serve, strengthen, and uplift our
ic activities, and community members how America’s founding ideals have ing prayers for America on its 250th country.
gathered to reflect on the values that
allowed diverse communities to prac- anniversary. In the letter, he reminds Continued on next page... >>

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