When asked about their favorite time of year, the
immediate response for a majority of youth is summer.
Summer not only brings a break from school and work,
but also brings an abundance of pool time, theme
parks, vacations, and the simple joy of spending more
time with friends and family. This year, for more than
8,000 Hindu youths, summertime also included a dose
of spiritual enrichment at the BAPS North American
Youth Convention hosted at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan
Mandir in Atlanta, GA.
The 11-day event, unprecedented in the history of
Hindus in North America, took place from July 4th to
July 14th and consisted of three separate conventions,
each catering to different age groups and their specific
needs. The first convention saw 3,320 high school and
college students. That was immediately followed by a
gathering of 2,950 children, primarily in grade school,
at the second convention. Finally, over 1,900 young professionals
and families attended the third convention.
Including volunteers, over 8,000 Hindu youths from
North America participated in the event.
The theme of the convention centered around
the true meaning of becoming Ekantik, a spiritual
concept originally conceived in the Hindu scriptures
and further elaborated upon by Bhagwan Swaminarayan
over 200 years ago. Ekantik Dharma is comprised
of four pillars: Dharma (righteousness), Gnan
(spiritual knowledge), Vairagya (detachment from the
world), and Bhakti (devotion to God and Guru). Achieving
balance among these pillars leads to true progress
and fulfillment of one’s ultimate goal in life. “It gives a
new perspective on how to live a life true to your roots,
culture, and heritage, but at the same time be able to
succeed in this environment,” said participant Dhawal
Tank of Toronto, Canada, speaking of his experience at
the convention.
Regardless of age, with the relentless pressures of
day-to-day life as well as being constantly pulled in
various directions, this convention provided a platform
for all delegates to discuss these struggles and utilize
practical, spiritual methods to overcome them. Group
activities, games, and cultural programs gave the attendees
fun and engaging ways to learn more about
Hindu values. One special program was a maha-arti
held at the reflection pool in front of the mandir. Discourses
were also delivered by Swamis of BAPS from
around the world.
Sadguru Pujya Mahant Swami (Pujya Keshavjivandas
Swami), the keynote speaker of each convention,
explained that while the ideals of Ekantik Dharma are
derived from ancient scriptures, they are still equally
applicable to today’s generation. For example, Gnan
seems like it might be fairly simple to achieve, as facts
and information are easily attainable. However, the
true challenge lies in differentiating between knowledge,
which is interesting, and wisdom, which is necessary
for progress.
The concept of Dharma is the governing factor of
the way we conduct our lives and uphold our duties
and responsibilities. Throughout each of the conventions,
the overall message emphasized was that the
four pillars of Ekantik Dharma not only apply to spiritual
progress, but also help to ensure success when
applied to academics and professional careers. Pujya
Anandswarupdas Swami, mahant of Swaminarayan
Akshardham in Gandhinagar, India, explained it in
simple terms: “To live it, the Satpurush (guru) should be
the center point of our lives, nothing else. That is the
only way to be Ekantik.”
On the first day of the convention, attendees from
various regions demonstrated their talents of singing,
dancing, acting, and much more. Upon witnessing one
of the skits, Yogini Patel from Atlanta commented, “I
was taken aback because I didn’t expect it to be so relatable.
That’s one of the biggest differences that I have
seen in this convention is that it is really character-driven.
These characters—I relate to their lives; their
life is my life and their thoughts are my thoughts.”
Through a live video feed, His Holiness Pramukh
Swami Maharaj gave blessings from India to encourage
devotees. Planning for this convention started
three years ago and involved 700 volunteers from
North America. This was the 16th convention, each
held to strengthen spirituality and increase balance in
life. Understanding and embracing roots, preserving
identity, and remaining grounded in faith and culture
were encouraged.
