Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bhuj together with 11 other Swaminarayan mandirs hosted an event on 27th November, to facilitate His Excellency Peter Cook, the new British Deputy High Commissioner to Gujarat and Rajasthan at Shree Kutch Swaminarayan Mandir, Kenton, Harrow. He was formally introduced to the various mandirs representatives by the outgoing High Commissioner His Excellency Mr Geoff Wain who leaves the position in Ahmadabad in January 2019.
The event was organised by Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bhuj on behalf Mahant Sadguru Purani Swami Dharmanandandasji, the Mahant Swami for Bhuj Swaminarayan Mandir.
Participants included representatives from Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Oldham, Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Willesden, Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple (Mandir) Kenton London, Shree Swaminarayan Satsang – Stanmore, Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple – Woolwich, Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple East London, Shree Swaminarayan Temple Cardiff, Shree Swaminarayan Temple Bolton. International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisations (Crawley), International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisations (Leicester), International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisations (Streatham) and International Swaminarayan Satsang Organisations (Brighton).
The event was an opportunity for the community to personally thank the outgoing British Deputy High Commissioner, His Excellency Mr Geoff Wain for the assistance he has given in past few years to the UK mandirs and community; and to facilitate a formal introduction to the original Swaminarayan Sampraday to the new incoming British Deputy High Commissioner Mr Peter Cook.
Jethalalbhai Savani said, “Geoff Wain had created such a positive impression and we really want to take the opportunity today to thank you for what you have done for the Swaminarayan Mandir and to say what a privilege it is for us to be able to thank your Government in such a special way.”
Other speakers also praised Geoff Wain’s service to the Gujarati community over the last four years and look forward to maintaining the same positive relationship and dialogue with the new Deputy British High Commissioner for Ahmedabad His Excellency Mr Peter Cook.
Mr Cook said that he officially starts his position in January 2019 and has already received an invitation to visit Bhuj Swaminarayan Mandir. He confirmed that he plans to go to Bhuj Mandir at the earliest opportunity after taking over the position. He said that he has been brief by Geoff Wain and was greatly looking forward to visiting Bhuj and meeting Mahant Swami and other swamis at Bhuj Mandir.
Both dignitaries Peter Cook and Geoff Wain personally thanked Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Bhuj for arranging the event. They then went on to praise and show gratitude to Shree Kutch Swaminarayan Mandir Kenton Harrow for their exquisite hospitality and for providing the delicious meal for the function.
