The event marked the ‘Festival of Light’ while also commemorating 30 years of BAPS’s partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), 25 years of General Consultative Status, and 25 years since His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s landmark address at the Millennium World Peace Summit in New York.
Diplomats, dignitaries, civic leaders, and community representatives from around the world attended. President of BAPS France, Shailesh Bhavsar, was among the chief guests on the dais – alongside Ms Peri Lynne Johnson, Assistant Director General and Legal Adviser of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Mr Yuko Yasunaga, Deputy Director General and Managing Director of the UN’s Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO); and Mr Vikram Jeet Duggal, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of India to the UN in Vienna – reflecting the Paris community’s engagement in Europe-wide interfaith and humanitarian initiatives.
Mr Yann Dubosc, Mayor of Bussy-Saint-Georges, sent a heartfelt video message celebrating BAPS’s work in France and worldwide. He reflected on Diwali as a festival where “light is not only something we see, but something we share – understanding, compassion, and hope that unite us beyond cultures and borders.”
He praised the forthcoming BAPS Swaminarayan Hindu Mandir in Paris, noting it will be the first traditionally designed Hindu temple in France and “a beacon of coexistence and a home for all who seek peaceand understanding.” Highlighting the Esplanade des Religions et des Cultures in Bussy-Saint-Georges, he emphasised that dialogue and respect are essential for peaceful communities and encouraged all to carry the light of Diwali forward “in our families, our cities, and our nations.”
The programme concluded with a video message from His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, encouraging all to “become a lamp of goodness that brightens the world around us.”
Reflecting on the celebration, Shailesh Bhavsar shared, “It was inspiring to witness the UN community come together in the spirit of Diwali. The values of peace, service, and mutual respect celebrated in Vienna are the same values guiding our work in Paris and shaping the forthcoming Mandir. We are honoured to represent France in this global family committed to harmony and understanding.”
Click here to learn more about the event and see videohighlights and a photo gallery.
