Deputy President Paul Mashatile will attend and speak at the official opening of the first phase of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Hindu Mandir and Cultural Complex this evening, 30 January 2025.
BAPS Hindu Mandir and Cultural Complex in North Riding, Johannesburg, will serve as a hub for spiritual, social, and charitable activities.
Deputy President Mashatile, a champion of social cohesion and national building initiatives in South Africa, will attend the event at the invitation of BAPS, a global non-governmental organisation with General Consultative Status.
General Consultative Status is the highest level of accreditation granted by the United Nations (UN) to international non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The BAPS is an international Hindu socio-spiritual organisation that includes a place of worship, offers language and music classes, and features a sports complex.
“Built by thousands of volunteers, the iconic centre is accordingly, the first of its kind in the African continent, and it brings together people from all walks of life,” the Deputy President’s Office said in a statement.
“The centre also stands as a symbol of hope, unity, and cultural harmony for all the citizens of different backgrounds, and it is built to inspire positive values of community service and nation building.”
Deputy President Mashatile will attend the event alongside His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current Guru and President of the BAPS, who will preside over the inaugural celebrations. – SAnews.gov.za
