50th Anniversary of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (Baps)

Floor Speech

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Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). BAPS is a worldwide Hindu denomination dedicated to fostering faith, inspiring service, and promoting better living. Over the last 50 years, BAPS has opened over 100 Hindu Temples or ``mandirs'' across the United States. The Revered Pramukh Swami Maharaj (1921-2016), established the first BAPS mandir in the United States of America on August 4, 1974, in New York City. BAPS mandirs bring His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj's words, ``In the joy of others lies our own'', to life, by supporting those in need, organizing health fairs, food drives, and disaster relief work. BAPS mandirs offer a welcoming spiritual space for thousands of families, as well as worship, fellowship, education, community, and social activities for the youth and elderly.

At this time, I also wish to reaffirm the shared values of democracy, religious pluralism, and respect for human rights, between India and the United States. The United States and India have a strong partnership as the world's oldest and largest democracy, respectively. Both countries share the values of pluralism, human rights, liberty, and respect for the rule of law. The people-to-people connections between the United States and India are stronger than in any other time in history. Indian Americans embody the American dream, and flourish in all areas of American life. Indian Americans come from diverse backgrounds, including Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Zoroastrians, Jains, and Bahai's. These hardworking communities enrich the fabric of our nation. I wish our friends at BAPS a joyful anniversary.

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