BAPS Campus Fellowships hosted their Annual Diwali Celebration at 27 university campuses across North America. College-age kishores and kishoris in various states and often at remote campus locations, balanced their academic schedules to plan and organize the event. The student volunteers hand-prepared a variety of vegetarian food items to offer an annakut in upholding cornerstone elements of the Diwali tradition.
Many delegates arrived wearing traditional Indian clothing, and were welcomed in accordance with the Hindu custom by applying a chandlo (red vermillion mark) to their forehead and tying a nada chhadi (red sacred thread) on their right wrists.
The program was themed, “In the Joy of Others” as a tribute to the life of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Pujya Swamis reminded all faculty, staff, and students in attendance to think of each other during this festive time, and work for the betterment and advancement of society at large in setting personal and professional goals. Furthermore, Swamis shared their insights on Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s vision for youth development around the world. Students were encouraged to develop a practice of prayer and spiritual study in their daily lives, enabling them to find peace through faith over time. Spirituality and optimism inspire harmony and love within our families and communities. In this manner, the program inspired today’s youth to imbibe the motto of “In the Joy of Others” in their lives and experience the happiness and joy of Diwali every day of their life.