Over 500 people came together from across the UK to participate in the BAPS wellNESS Health Convention at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London, on Sunday 11 January 2026.
The convention – a full-day event dedicated to promoting healthier living – brought together NHS professionals, charities, public health leaders, and faith representatives to address key health challenges affecting the South Asian community, such as heart disease, diabetes, mental health, and many others.
Building on the success of conventions in
Manchester and Leicester in 2025, the London convention focused on the four pillars of the BAPS wellNESS initiative: Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, and Stress Management. Attendees participated in expert-led talks, interactive workshops, and practical demonstrations in the trusted setting of a mandir for accessible, culturally relevant health education. The aim is to support long-term well-being and healthy habit formation in individuals and families.
The day began with a video message of inspiration from Mahant Swami Maharaj and an address from Yogvivekdas Swami. Leading medical and healthcare professionals delivered engaging talks on heart health, diabetes, nutrition, cancer, and mental health. Speakers included Dr Niket Patel (Consultant Interventional Cardiologist), Dr Nirav Amin (General Practitioner), Sujata Din (Health Coach, Cancer Coach and Meditation Teacher), Dr Alexandra Pender (Consultant Medical Oncologist), and Dr Chandni Pujara (Consultant Psychiatrist).
Participants also joined interactive workshops on men’s and women’s health, meditation, exercise, breathwork, stress management, and live cooking demonstrations. The resuscitation training proved especially popular, with enthusiastic engagement from participants of all ages.
A highlight of the convention was the ‘Health Marketplace,’ supported and attended by 25 NHS, academic and charity partners as well as local services providing personalised guidance and practical support. These included Alzheimer’s Society, Bowel Cancer UK, Breast Cancer Now, Brent Talking Therapies, British Heart Foundation, BHF Clinical Research Team in Electrophysiology and AI, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust Health Inequalities Team and Recovery & Wellbeing College, Harrow Carers Support Group, Hillingdon Stroke Support, Hope2Sleep Charity, Imperial National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial Patient Experience Research Centre, Jain and Hindu Organ Donation Alliance, Kidney Care UK, London North West Healthcare Charity, Marie Curie, NHS North Thames Genomic Medicine Service, Rare Dementia Support, Royal Osteoporosis Society, Prostate Cancer UK, Stroke Association, and The Menopause Charity.
Joining the convention through a video address, The Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said, “I know firsthand from having spent time with the brilliant team of volunteers, many of them expert clinicians in their own right, the difference that you are making for your community, but also the wider community as well.” He went on to speak about the BAPS wellNESS project, adding, “This initiative is so important and the work that you’re doing is pioneering and leading, and I’m determined to share your experience right across the country because there’s so much that we can learn.”
Dr Niket Patel, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, who spoke on heart health during the day, said, “Events like this play a vital role in empowering people with accurate and practical knowledge to make positive changes to their lifestyle.”
One attendee shared her feedback on the convention: “Today’s convention was fantastic, especially the workshops! I will definitely start practising the breathing exercises that I have learnt today, make healthier cooking swaps, and talk to my family about mental health. Thank you so much for organising this convention!”
Professor Sejal Saglani, Head of BAPS Healthcare activities in the UK, shared, “The large attendance shows community-led health initiatives are important and effective, and highlights the key role that faith settings play in helping people understand more about a healthy lifestyle and disease prevention by enabling education in a trusted and culturally sensitive environment.”
The BAPS wellNESS Health Convention forms part of an ongoing commitment by BAPS to support healthier communities through education, collaboration, and practical action. Recently, the BAPS wellNESS project received the ‘
Health & Well-Being’ award at the London Dangoor Awards 2025 at the Royal Society of Medicine, for outstanding service to Greater London’s communities.