Communities and well-wishers worldwide are celebrating the momentous occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj. His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj traveled to New York many times and has left an indelible impact on Long Island by inspiring service and value-based living. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Long Island, located at 2 Deshon Drive, Melville, NY, serves as a bastion of peace and reformation for people of all ages, backgrounds, and beliefs. Community members sought a way to highlight the sheer magnitude of Pramukh Swami Maharaj's impact on Long Island.
Pramukh Swami Maharaj was loved and respected as one of the world's great spiritual leaders. He lived by and preached the message: "In the joy of others lies our own." He traveled worldwide, dedicating his life to the well-being of others, visiting more than 250,000 homes and personally counseling and comforting more than 810,000 people. In addition, he created over 1,100 Hindu mandirs internationally and ordained more than 900 youths into the monastic order to serve society and strive spiritually. Driven by his genuine care and compassion for humanity, he inspired many international projects of public service and spiritual uplift, and is remembered as a "people's guru", reaching out to all, irrespective of age, class, color, or creed.
Huntington Town officials renamed Deshon Drive, a street in Melville, NY, to "HH Pramukh Swami Drive" to commemorate the Centennial Celebrations of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj. Councilman Salvatore Ferro hosted the ceremony attended by state, county, and town officials who praised Pramukh Swami Maharaj and the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville for their exemplary social and spiritual activities.
Township officials present during the dedication ceremony included Town of Huntington (TOH) Supervisor Ed Smyth; Councilwoman Joan Cergol; Highway Supervisor (TOH) Andre Sorrentino.
Other political leaders, dignitaries, and well-wishers who were present included: Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone; Deputy County Executive Jon Kaiman; Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi; District Attorney for Suffolk County Raymond Tierney; Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr; Chief Assistant District Attorney Allan Body; Suffolk County Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey; New York State Senator Mario Mattera; New York State Assemblyman Keith Brown; New York State Assemblyman Steve Stern; President NAACP Tracy Edwards; Former Supervisor of the Town of Huntington Frank Petrone.
Also present were Town Clerk (TOH) Andrew Raia, Consulate of India's representative Vipul Dev; Inspector Timothy representing the office of Inspector Bill Scrima; Attorney (TOH) Deborah Misir; Director of Human Services (TOH) Carmen Kasper; Receiver of Taxes (TOH) Gillian Guthman; Town Clerk of North Hempstead Ragini Shrivastav.