News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Celebrates Ram Navami B APS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey, cel- ebrated the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Shri Ram and Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan. Drawing thousands of devotees and visitors from across the region for the two-day event. Prayers and cultural performances were part of the celebrations which unfolded in the majestic temple. The Gods Ram and Swaminarayan are believed to have appeared on Earth on the Hindu calendri- cal day of Chaitra Sud 9.The tradition was established in 1801 by Bhagwan Swamina- rayan, and this year, Ram Navami fell on April 6, 2025. On the first day of the celebrations, devotees gathered in the afternoon to participate in a special aarti ritual and worship. In the evening, a special cultural per- formance led by youths included spiritual discourses, musical performances, and devotional dances and vignettes, all high- lighting the teachings and life of Bhagwan Shri Ram and Bhagwan Shri Swami- narayan. During the assembly, a grand procession marched through the audience carrying images Ram and Swaminarayan. Among the many special guests were New Jersey State Senator Michael L. Testa Jr., and the Consul General of India in New York, Binaya Srikanta Pradhan. “What a magnificent event! I will come back again, and again, and again,” Senator Testa is quoted saying in the press release from BAPS. The second day of the celebrations at Akshardham included an abhishek ritual (pouring water over the sacred image of God) and hourly aarti rituals throughout the day in the massive Nilkanth Plaza, outdoors. Devotees gathered in front of the 49-foot tall image of Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan’s teenage form, Shri Nilkanth Varni. At the evening assembly Swamis delivered spiritual discourses on the significance of these divine birthdays, urging everyone to embrace the teachings of righteousness, compassion, and devo- tion in their everyday lives. The festivities concluded with a special ceremony at 10:10 pm – the birth time of Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan. It was a community celebration where families, children, and individuals from all walks of life participated in the celebra- tions, as did various Hindu organiza- tions, such as Sidhi Vinayak Temple in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Om Sri Sai Balaji Temple in Monroe, New Jersey, and Chinmay Mission Vrindavan in Cranbury, New Jersey. By a StaffWriter Shweta Rawat Joins Board Of Directors Of Highly Rated Non-Profit Americares I ndian American Shweta Rawat of NewYork City, was appointed to the Board of Directors of Americares, the health-focused relief and devel- opment organization announced April 10, 2025. The Americares Board of Directors oversees all aspects of the or- ganization’s health programs, including its disaster response work and support for 4,000 under-resourced hospitals and health clinics worldwide. “Rawat brings to the board a wealth of experience in developing and scaling social impact programs, philanthropy and advocacy, along with a deep commitment to Americares mission of helping people and communities around the world access health in times of disaster and every day,” the organization said in its press release. Americares is No. 8 on Forbes list of Top 100 Charities and has a 4-star rating—the highest possible— from Charity Naviga- tor—America’s largest independent char- ity evaluator. Since it was established in 1979, Americares has provided more than $23 billion in aid to 164 countries, includ- ing the United States. Rawat has been a staunch Americares supporter for over a decade. She is the founder and chairperson of The Hans Foundation, a public charitable trust that was created to provide a source of endow- ment for not-for-profit organizations in India. She is credited for leading the Hans Foundation to become one of India’s lead- ing philanthropic organizations commit- ted to creating sustainable solutions for the underprivileged, Americares said. Rawat also serves as the managing di- rector of the Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST), an organization that she helped establish in 2009. RIST supports poverty alleviation and the well-being of com- munities in India, through strategic and value-based partnerships in alignment with United Nation’s Sustainable Develop- ment Goals. Americares has partnered with RIST for over a decade to enhance health care services in Mumbai’s urban communities. This collaboration led to the development and expansion of Americares India’s Mo- bile Health Center Program, which grew from a single vehicle to a comprehensive primary care delivery program that deliv- ers care to tens of thousands of people in need each year, the press release said. “Shweta’s leadership and dedication to advancing health, equity and opportu- nity make her an outstanding addition to the Americares Board of Directors,” said Americares President and CEO Christine Squires. “Her extensive experience devel- oping large-scale social impact programs and forging strategic partnerships will be invaluable as we work to improve access to health for people around the world.” “I’m deeply honored to join and serve Americares and support our shared values of providing accessible health care to vulnerable communities,” saidRawat. “For over a decade, I have witnessed their criti- cal work as first responders for emergency and disaster relief by offering medi- cal assistance and aid to those affected and building sustainable social impact programs across the globe. I am grateful for this opportunity and will leverage my expertise towards Americares continuing growth and success.” Rawat holds a bachelor’s degree in in- ternational relations from American Uni- versity inWashington, D.C. and a master’s degree in human rights and politics from City University in the U.K. She also serves on the Museum of Art & Photography’s U.S. Advisory Board and is a board mem- ber of the Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health. By a StaffWriter Shweta Rawat A BAPS priest performing aarti at the Ram Navami celebration held at the Robbinsville Swaminarayan Akshardham. PHOTO:CourtesyAmericares PHOTOS:BAPS A palki yatra where youths welcomed the gods into the assembly took place during the Ram Navami celebrations at BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in Robbinsville April 5 and 6, 2025. Parts of the Ramayana were enacted at the Ram Navami celebrations held at Robbinsville BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham, April 5 and 6, 2025. Community News India Times (April 12, 2025 - April 18, 2025) April 18, 2025 13