The historic inauguration of the new Yogi Youth Center at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Little Rock, AR, took place on October 30, 2021. The celebration commemorating the Yogi Youth Center opening attracted devotees and well-wishers locally and regionally.
Since the inauguration of the mandir in 2007, there has been a need for a youth activity center to provide a place for youths to play indoor sports year-round while building supportive friendships. Since the groundbreaking in 2018, college-aged students to elderly individuals contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to make the youth center a reality.
After the Vedic mahapuja, Pujya Yagnavallabhdas Swami inaugurated the youth center amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras and prayers. Addressing the inaugural assembly, Pujya Yagnavallabhdas Swami stressed the importance of instilling values in our children and young people to allow them to mold their lives for a better future.
The new Yogi Youth Center will facilitate youth activities so that future generations can be anchored in their faith and spirituality and continue to strive and grow as good citizens while retaining valuable traditions and culture. The youth center will also help meet the community's needs by providing a facility for local events like walkathons, health fairs, and conferences, to name a few.