AFTER THE FLAG OFF!
After very divine and emotional flag off with excitement and jubilation with people shouting slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai, and waving off British and Indian flags to signify the Indo-British ties. We proceeded to BAPS Shree Swaminarayan temple, the world-famous Shree Swaminarayan temple, London (Largest Hindu Temple outside India).
As always, nothing in my life starts without visiting the Neasden Mandir. My sincere gratitude to Nishaben Saglani, for making the necessary arrangements for my visit the mandir, to do darshan and abhishek and get blessings. It was my privilege and honour to have blessing from the sant(swami ji) before my quest to raise much needed awareness. The no-vehicle zone was opened up only for my vehicle and the swami ji personally did the pooja of the vehicle.
I have always felt that chanting of Swaminarayan Mantra gives me inner strength and provide me protective shield. The BAPS Mandir Neasden has always been my greatest and strongest supporters.
I have always Focused key messages from His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj in my life – Think Big:-“Be the best”, Service:-"In the joy of others lies our own”, and Dedication:-“The future is bright”. Throughout my life and drive through 32 countries I adapted these the key values of Pramukh Swami Maharaj. I did not consume any food that was not pure vegetarian or if I had any doubts of there being slightest contamination of anything else. I was carrying a small rice coocker so used to make my own khichdi when possible otherwise survived on khakhra and fruits. In covering 35,383 kilometres in total, I have not knowingly allowed even a small birth or animal to be killed by vehicle. I and my children prayed to the God to give us the strength to live the values of Pramukh Swami Maharaj again during this expedition also.
The Neasden temple has played a key role in my life since I was young. I used to visit this temple as young girl without any identity but was equally loved and respected. The temple is an integral part of my life in past and in present. It is a feeling of contentment that I have lived up to the trust and confidence the temple and swami ji and everyone had shown in me. My solo drive was a driving force to bring changes to the society, to change the mindset of people and to be the catalyst for positive change in the society in terms of girls education and woman empowerment. The education, hard work, dedication and focus can change the life. Undertaking the historic solo drive in 2016 and my current drive with my children, I aim to demonstrate that there are no bounds to human endeavour performed by a woman.
As always extremely humbled for the great welcome at the temple who has been one of my strong supporters. I was touched by the humbleness of entire team at BAPS mandir, who had made all necessary arrangements.
What a lovely send-off it was from the world-famous Neasden Shree Swaminarayan Temple, London. As always, I am proud of my Gujarati heritage and values.