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BAPS to mark America 250 with nationwide volunteer drives
Volunteer drives and walkathons are planned in 100 U.S. cities as part of America250 commemorations.
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Staff Reporter - Wed, 20, May 2026
- 15:54 EDT
- 33
BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham / BAPS
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is planning volunteer drives, walkathons, and civic events in 100 cities across the United States to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary.
The initiative, being coordinated through BAPS Charities, is expected to mobilize nearly 50,000 participants during the May 30 weekend and support more than 100 local organizations, including hospitals, homeless shelters, youth foundations and fire departments.
Also Read: Suhas Subramanyam visits Orlando BAPS temple
BAPS said its America250 activities will focus on volunteerism and civic participation, continuing programs the organization already conducts through health fairs, blood donation campaigns and disaster relief operations.
According to the organization, a recent BAPS Charities blood drive collected 600 pints of blood, while volunteers also assisted families displaced by California wildfires in Los Angeles, Pasadena and Altadena.
Akshar Patel, a physician and BAPS volunteer, said the anniversary events are intended to highlight service and community engagement.
“It’s a moment to reflect on what it means to be American,” Patel said. “Service, unity, and gratitude are values we want to highlight as we approach this historic milestone.”
Several BAPS mandirs are also expected to organize flag tributes and civic recognition events around the July 4 celebrations.
Founded in 1907 in India, BAPS today operates in thousands of communities globally under the leadership of Mahant Swami Maharaj. The organization established its North American presence in 1974 and has since expanded to more than 100 temples across the United States.
The group has increasingly gained visibility in the U.S. through large-scale cultural and service initiatives, including the opening of the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in New Jersey in 2023.
Widely described as the largest Hindu temple in the Western Hemisphere, the complex was built over more than a decade with the involvement of thousands of volunteers.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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