The annual Chovis Gaam Ujamni was celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Shree Kutch Leva Patel Community Centre in Northolt on Sunday, 21st September 2025.
This year’s “Festival of Culture” theme drew over 9,000 attendees from 24 villages. Festivities began with a heartfelt Aarti at the Hanumanji and Ganesh mandirs, followed by a vibrant procession led by the Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple Harrow Girls and Boys Pipe Band and Boys and Girls Lazium performers, marking the joyful start and lighting of the diva.
The annual magazine launch and Expo featured over 40 community stalls and welcomed several esteemed guests. Councillor Anjana Patel, Mayor of Harrow, presented Mavjibhai Dhanji Jadva Vekaria, President of SKLPC UK, with the International Conclave on Good Governance and Excellence in Leadership award on behalf of Mr Bob Blackman CBE. Mavjibhai dedicated the honour to the community and the SKLPC Managing Committee.
Saints from Shree Swaminarayan Bhuj Mandir, Swami Nilkanth Charan Dasji and Swami Krushunswarup Dasji, delivered inspiring speeches supporting India Gardens. Additional blessings were received from Mahant Swami of Bhuj Mandir and the Bhuj Samaj.
Mavjibhai also addressed attendees, urging donations for the India Gardens project and SKLPC UK’s new community home, while updating the community on progress. Prominent guests included Samjibhai Dabasia (Jaysam), Jeetubhai Halai (Prime Glaze), Kishor Vekaria (Studio V Architects), Suresh Patel (Mendick Waring), and the President Sevak of Sardardham Ahmedabad, who praised the samaj’s unity and ongoing initiatives.
Additional dignitaries included Councillor Tariq Mahmood (Labour, Ealing Council), Shashtri Dhruvkumar Bhatt (Om Sanskardham Temple – Bhuj Kutch), Sanjay Kara (BAPS Swaminarayan Trustee), Gagjibhai Sutariya (President, Sardar Dham, Gujarat), Krupesh Hirani (London Assembly, Brent & Harrow), Councillors Chetna Halai, Heena Makwana, Kanti Rabadia, Sunita Hirani, Jayanti Patel, Harish & Dina Bhudia (Sewa UK), and Jaswantari Doshi (Navnat Vanik Association UK), who all praised the samaj’s work.
The SKLPC Managing Committee showcased year-round activities at their stand, including Cricket Club, Saturday School, Adventures, Volleyball, Badminton, Football Tournaments, Vadil Samelan, and Manav Sewa. Cultural highlights featured Saturday School and gaam performances, with Haribhaktos providing food and utensils and Stanmore Mandir serving breakfast to over 700 volunteers.
Shree Swaminarayan Mandirs in Woolwich, East London, and Harrow, along with gaam members, served a community lunch to over 8,000 people, including puri, siro, khichri, dhal, and vegan options, highlighting India Gardens’ progress. The meal was sponsored by SKLPC Managing Committee, Baladia Sarvodal Committee, the Vekaria Niyani family, Kamla and Meena Vekaria, Amaratben and Devjibhai Kanji Kerai, Shreeya, Krystal and Jenisha Vekaria, Kamla Kirit, Meena Arvind Vekaria, and Naran and Radha Hirani. Fast-food stalls offered dabeli, bhajia, chips, and chilli paneer, prepared on-site by volunteers.
The Kutch Exhibition showcased fashion through the years, Charka cotton wheel demonstrations, and techniques like bhandani, pit looming, and Ajrak. Children enjoyed bouncy castles, biscuit decorating, face painting, wipeout, and VR experiences, taking home gardening kits and journals.
Ujamni convenors Kiranbhai Devraj Pindoria, Neeraben Mohan Hirani, Mavjibhai Dhanji Jadva Vekaria, and Vaishali Versani thanked all advisors, team leads, and 700 volunteers, especially the car park team—for ensuring a smooth and safe event.
